TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOUR CES Comparatives and Superlatives

Practice

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 COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

ESL / EFL RESOUR CES Comparatives and Superlatives

Practice

Comparatives and Superlatives

Adjectives are used to describe nouns. If two nouns are being compared to one another, we
use comparative adjectives. When comparing three or more nouns, we use superlative
adjectives.

Adjective form Comparative form Superlative form

Only one syllable,

ending in E. Add -st: widest, finest, cut-
Add -r: wider, finer, cuter
est
Examples: wide, fine, cute

Only one syllable, with

one vowel and one Double the consonant, Double the consonant,
consonant at the end. and add -er: hotter, and add -est: hottest,
bigger, fat- ter biggest, fattest
Examples: hot, big, fat

Only one syllable, with

more than one vowel
or more than one Add -er: lighter, Add -est: lightest,
consonant at the end. neater, faster neatest, fastest

Examples: light, neat, fast

Two syllables, ending in Y.

Change y to i, then add
Change y to i, then add
-est: happiest, silliest,
Examples: happy, silly, -er: happier, sillier,
lone- liest
lonely lonelier

Two syllables or more, not

Use more before the Use most before the
ending in Y.
adjective: more adjective: most
modern, more modern, most
Examples: modern,
interesting, more interesting, most
interesting, beautiful
beautiful beautiful

A. These adjectives don't follow the rules above. What are their comparative and superlative
forms?

Good

bad

fun

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B. Write the comparative and superlative forms of the adjectives below.

Adjective Comparativ Superlative

e
cheap cheaper cheapest

beautiful more most

beautiful beautiful
prettiest
pretty Prettier

easier easiest
easy
Bigger Biggest
big
Lighter Lightest
light
Heavier heaviest
heavy

fast

reliable

slow

new

dry

happy

old

nice

compact

tasty

bitter

advanced

suitable

warm
C. Complete the questions and answers with comparatives and superlatives.

1. A: What is the most interesting place you've ever been to? (interesting)

B:the most interesting place I've ever been to is Cali, Colombia .

2. A: What is the tallest building you've ever been in? (tall)

B: I've ever been in is .

3. A: Which is larger , the Sahara desert or the Gobi desert? (large)

B: The is .

4. A: Who is , Lady Gaga or Madonna? (famous)

B: is .

5. A: Which country has a population, China or India? (large)

B: has .

6. A: Which fruit has a smell, bananas or a durians? (strong)

B: have .

7. A: What is problem in the world today? (big)

B: The is .

8. A: Which is , Mount Everest or K2? (high)

B: is .
D. Which one do you prefer? Explain your answers using comparative

sentences. Which house would you choose and why?

A. B.
$300,000 $75,000

Which car is better and why?

A. B.

$50,000 $15,000

Which watch would you like to have and why?

A. B.
$400 $75
E. In pairs, use the prompts to write a conversation using comparatives and superlatives.

Two friends are at the shopping mall. One friend is looking to buy a new phone.

A: sees two phones and asks for their friend’s opinion on the colour

B: says which colour they prefer and why

A: sees three more phones and asks which one is the best

B: says which one is the best and why

A: prefers another one because it looks good

B: agrees, but says that it is more expensive

A:

B:

A:

B:

A:

B:

F. Now, present your dialogue to the class.