 On the latest stop in our grammatical safari, we peer into the enclosure where comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs run free, always trying to outdo one another. Show
(Photo: Unsplash) These terms are essential to descriptive writing, but they also cause a lot of confusion. So what are comparatives and superlatives? And how should they be used? What Are Comparatives and Superlatives?Comparatives and superlatives are used to describe things (nouns) or actions (verbs). Comparative terms are used when comparing two things. This can be done with ‘as’: That proofreader is twice as handsome as he is clever. But comparative adverbs and adjectives are usually paired with ‘than’: Spelling is harder than grammar. Here, the comparative adverb ‘harder’ is used to compare the difficulty of spelling and grammar. Superlatives are used when describing one thing as being something to the highest degree: I AM THE GREATEST GRAMMARIAN OF ALL TIME! In this case, our immodest grammarian is describing himself with the superlative ‘greatest’. Superlatives are generally used when comparing more than two things (e.g. comparing one grammarian with all other grammarians, not just one other grammarian). Comparative (-er) and Superlative (-est) FormsMany comparatives are formed by adding ‘-er’ to an adjective or adverb (e.g. ‘harder’), while many superlatives take an ‘-est’ ending (e.g. ‘greatest’). This applies to most single-syllable adverbs, as well as adjectives no more than two syllables long. For instance:
With some of these words, we can also see how the spelling of a term can change when adding a vowel suffix (e.g. doubling the ‘g’ in ‘biggest’ or changing the ‘y’ to an ‘i’ in ‘happiest’). More and MostWith longer adverbs and adjectives, as well as adjectives ending ‘-ful’, ‘-ous’ or ‘-less’, comparatives and superlatives are usually formed by using ‘more’ or ‘most’ before the word. The comparative and superlative forms of ‘interesting’, for instance, are ‘more interesting’ and ‘most interesting’, not ‘interestinger’ and ‘interestingest’. Other examples include:
There is some variation here, though it depends on context. For example, ‘quicker’ and ‘quickest’ are often used as comparative and superlative forms of the adverb ‘quickly’. But this is technically wrong, so ‘more quickly’ and ‘most quickly’ should be used in formal writing. Irregular Comparatives and SuperlativesThere are also some irregular comparatives and superlatives that play by their own rules. The adjective ‘good’, for example, becomes the comparative ‘better’ and the superlative ‘best’ (not ‘gooder’ and ‘goodest’). Other irregular terms include:
With these terms, you simply have to remember the correct comparatives and superlatives. But if you’re ever unsure, checking online or having your work proofread is advised.
Comparatives and superlatives are special types of adjectives used when comparing two or more things. The trickiest thing when using comparatives and superlatives is making sure we are writing them the correct way, but with a little practice, comparatives and superlatives can quickly be mastered. In this post we’ll review what comparatives and superlatives are, the rules for how to form these adjectives the correct way, and how to use them effectively in a sentence. After reviewing the information below, test yourself with a post-assessment quiz and practice with our high quality, standards-aligned questions here. The Basics of Comparatives and SuperlativesWhat is a Comparative?Comparative Adjectives are words used to describe a noun by comparing it to another noun. We usually think of ‘er’ words like bigger or smaller, but they can be a little trickier than that. The way we form comparative adjectives is based on the number of syllables in the adjective and whether or not the adjective ends with the letter ‘y’. What is a Superlative?Superlative Adjectives are words used to describe a noun when comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. Think: big, bigger, biggest, or small, smaller, smallest. Like with comparative adjectives, it’s not always as simple as adding ‘est’. The number of syllables and whether or not the adjective ends with the letter ‘y’ also help us determine how to form a superlative adjective. One Syllable AdjectivesLet’s look at a chart showing the comparative and superlative forms of the word for the most basic one syllable adjectives, where we add ‘er’ for the comparative and ‘est’ for the superlative. *Note: when the adjective follows the CVC, or consonant, vowel, consonant spelling, the final consonant is doubled.
Comparative Adjectives:
Superlative Adjectives:
Notice the other words around the comparative and superlative adjectives. Most comparatives are followed by ‘than’, and most superlatives follow the word ‘the’. Two Syllable AdjectivesNow let’s look at a chart showing the comparative and superlative forms of the word for adjectives with two syllables. Comparative adjectives with two syllables can be formed by making the ‘er’ ending or by adding the words ‘more’ or ‘less’ before the adjective. For superlative adjectives, you make the ‘est’ ending but use the word ‘most’ or ‘least’ instead of ‘more’ or ‘less’.
*Note: In many cases, either form of the comparative or superlative can be used, but there is generally a ‘most common’ usage. Additionally, the adjective does not need to end in ‘y’ in order to use the ‘er’ or ‘est’ usage, as the last example in the table shows. Your ear will often be able to recognize what sounds best. Comparative Adjectives:
Superlative Adjectives:
Notice again how the comparative adjectives are followed by ‘than’, and superlative adjectives follow the word ‘the’. Three or More Syllable AdjectivesThe chart below shows the comparative and superlative forms of the word for adjectives that are three or more syllables long. In these cases, we always add ‘more’ or ‘less’ before a comparative adjective and ‘most’ or ‘least’ before a superlative adjective.
Comparative Adjectives:
Superlative Adjectives:
Irregular AdjectivesWhen using comparative and superlative adjectives, it is important to note that there are a handful of irregular adjectives that don’t follow the rules above. The chart below shows these irregular adjectives along with their comparative and superlative forms.
Comparative Adjectives:
Superlative Adjectives:
Return to the Table of Contents 2 Tips for Recognizing and Using Comparative & Superlative AdjectivesTip #1: Rearrange your sentence to use different forms of the adjectiveWe can use different forms of the adjective if we adjust our sentence to fit the adjective. Here are some examples we used for one syllable adjectives: Comparative Example:
Now, let’s rearrange the sentence in a way that allows us to use the superlative form of the adjective.
Here, the comparison is still being made between two people; however, when we limit the nouns that we are comparing, we can use the superlative form of the adjective. Notice this sentence follows the other superlative characteristic of using the word ‘the’ before the adjective. Superlative Example:
Now, let’s rearrange the sentence in a way that allows us to use the comparative form of the adjective.
Here, the comparison is still being made to two or more movies, and we are still describing it to the lowest degree. By adding ‘any other’ before ‘movie in the series’, we can use the comparative form of the adjective. Notice that this sentence also now follows the other comparative characteristic of using the word ‘than’ after the adjective. Tip #2: Remember your spelling rules before making the comparative or superlative form of the adjectiveAny time we change the ending of a word, we need to take into account how the word is normally spelled. If the adjective already ends with an ‘e’, only add ‘r’ for the comparative and ‘st’ for the superlative.
If the adjective ends with a consonant + short vowel + consonant (CVC), we typically double the last consonant.
If the adjective ends with a ‘y’, we change the ‘y’ to and ‘i’.
Return to the Table of Contents Applying the Basics: Comparative and Superlative Adjective Review & PracticeNow that you understand what comparatives and superlatives are, and how to use them properly in a sentence, let’s practice identifying them and checking for proper usage. Remember, comparative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to another noun. Superlative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. Comparative Adjectives Exercises & ReviewComplete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of comparative adjectives. In the sentences below, select the option that accurately shows the comparative form of the adjective. Remember, a comparative adjective describes a noun by comparing it to another noun. 1. Lucas is (oldest/older) than Lily. 2. Alaska is (colder/more cold) than Florida. 3. I am (more worried/worrieder) about this exam than the last one. 4. This map is (more confusing/most confusing) than my calculus homework. 5. I ran (further/farther) than my best friend did yesterday. Superlative Adjectives Exercises & ReviewComplete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of superlative adjectives. In the sentences below, select the option that accurately shows the superlative form of the adjective. Remember, a superlative adjective describes a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. 1. Playing games with your family is the (funner/funnest) way to pass the time when you’re cooped up at home. 2. My brother is the (most annoying/annoyingest) person to have around when looking for peace and quiet. 3. As soon as possible, we hope to go to the (beautifulest/most beautiful) tropical island. 4. Reading a good book is the (most leisurely/more leisurely) way to relax. 5. Multitasking is the (less efficient/least efficient) method of productivity. Comparative & Superlative ExercisesUse your knowledge of both comparative and superlative adjectives in the exercise below. Identify the comparative and superlative adjectives in the sentences below. There may be more than one in a sentence. Make sure you specify which are comparative and which are superlative. 1. I worked on the least complicated homework before starting the more challenging work.
2. She is taller than the other girls in her class, but she is not the tallest student in the class.
3. I find direct instruction to be the most straightforward way learning new material.
4. I believe the most obvious answer is correct more often than not.
5. Finishing first in the finals was the most fulfilling accomplishment after a sectional performance that was harder than she expected.
For additional practice, check out the Comparative and Superlative content on Albert. Return to the Table of Contents Try for Yourself: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives QuizFeeling confident in your understanding of comparative and superlative adjectives? Take this short quiz to see what you’ve learned: 1. Do comparative or superlative adjectives show the highest degree of a quality?
2. Do comparative or superlative adjectives sometimes use the additional modifier ‘more’?
3. Does the following sentence use a comparative or superlative adjective? People from Chicago often agree that deep dish pizza is better than thin crust pizza.
4. Is the underlined section of the sentence below a comparative or superlative adjective? The tree in front of my house is the tallest tree in the neighborhood.
5. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a comparative adjective? A. I thought your portion was the biggest than mine. B. I thought your portion was bigger than mine.
6. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a superlative adjective? A. That was the least memorable movie I’ve seen in a long time. B. That was the less memorable movie I’ve seen in a long time.
For additional practice with comparative and superlative adjectives, check out our practice on Albert.io: Comparatives and Superlatives. Return to the Table of Contents Teacher’s Corner for Comparatives and SuperlativesWhile it’s true that comparative and superlative adjectives are a foundational grammar skill, the Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart shows that even elementary-level skills “require continued attention in higher grades as they are applied to increasingly sophisticated writing and speaking.” For specific standards addressing comparative and superlative adjectives, check out the Common Core State Standards site! Albert’s Comparative and Superlative practice can be used for much more than homework! Our assessments can be used as pre-and post-tests to measure student progress. Our pre-made quizzes can be used as bell-ringers, exit tickets, and more! In addition to our pre-made assessments, you can also use our assignments feature to create your own quizzes and assessments. Return to the Table of Contents A Comparative Adjective is a word that describes a noun by comparing it to another noun. Comparative adjectives typically end in ‘er’ and are followed by the word ‘than’. A Superlative Adjective is a word that describes a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. Superlative adjectives typically end in ‘est’ and are preceded by the word ‘the’. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives are words we often see and use in our writing. Make sure you are structuring your comparative and superlative adjectives appropriately for the number of syllables in the adjective. Practice makes perfect! Use our Comparative and Superlative practice on Albert’s grammar course! Need help preparing for your Grammar exam?Albert has hundreds of grammar practice questions with detailed explanations to help you master concepts. |
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