COMPARATIVE

AND SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVES
Adjectives are words that describe or modify other words.

• The comparative form of an adjective compares two

things.

• The superlative form of an adjective compares three or

more things.
 Examples / Adjectives
• The turtle is small but the
giraffe is big.

• The lion is smaller than

the zebra and bigger than
the turtle.

• The turle is the smallest

and the giraffe is the
biggest.
To form the comparative or superlative of
one-syllable adjectives (short adjectives)
add -er OR -est.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

tall taller tallest

short shorter shortest

cheap cheaper cheapest

 Rules to Remember!!
Adjective Comparative Superlative
One-syllable adjectives. Add -er: Add -est:
Examples: older, faster, taller, neater, cheaper oldest, fastest, tallest. neatest,
old, fast, tall, neat, cheap cheapest

One-syllable adjectives, ending in E. Add -r: Add -st:

Examples: later, finer, nicer latest, finest, nicest
late, fine, nice
One-syllable adjectives, with one Double the consonant, and add -er: Double the consonant, and add -est:
vowel and one consonant (CVC). hotter, bigger, fatter, thinner hottest, biggest, fattest, thinnest
Examples:
hot, big, fat, thin

Two-syllable adjectives, ending in Y. Change y to i, then add -er: Change y to i, then add -est:
Examples: happier, easier happiest, easiest
happy, easy

Two-syllable adjectives ending in a Add -er: Add -est:

vowel-sound that is not stressed. narrower, simpler narrower, simplest
Examples:
narrow, simple
 Some comparative and superlative forms are irregular and do
not follow any rules or patterns. These must be memorized.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better best
bad worse worst
much more most
little less least
far farther farthest
further furthest
To form the comparative or superlative of adjectives of three
or more syllables (long adjectives) use more and most.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

intelligent more intelligent most intelligent
practical more practical most practical
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
expensive more expensive most expensive
 COMPARATIVE
AND SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVES