1. This restaurant is _________ than the other one. a) more big b) bigger 2. My uncle is _________ than my mother. a) more old b) older 3. This movie is _________ than the other one. a) more boring b) boringer 4. The meal that Marta made is _________ than the one that John made. a) more delicious b) deliciouser 5. I can't come now. I will come _________. a) more late b) later 6. Can you come _________? a) more soon b) sooner 7. You have to be _________ to your parents. a) more polite b) politer 8. This song is bad, but the other one is _________. a) more bad b) worse 9. This test is _________ than that last one. a) more difficult b) difficulter 10. You have to drive a little _________. a) more far b) farther bigger older m ore boring m ore delicious later sooner m ore polite w orse m ore difficult farther
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1. This restaurant is _________ than the other one. a) more big b) bigger
2. My uncle is _________ than my mother. a) more old b) older
3. This movie is _________ than the other one. a) more boring b) boringer
4. The meal that Marta made is _________ than the one that John made. a) more delicious b) deliciouser
5. I can't come now. I will come _________. a) more late b) later
6. Can you come _________? a) more soon b) sooner
7. You have to be _________ to your parents. a) more polite b) politer
8. This song is bad, but the other one is _________. a) more bad b) worse
9. This test is _________ than that last one. a) more difficult b) difficulter
10. You have to drive a little _________. a) more far b) farther
bigger
older
more boring
more delicious
later
sooner
more polite
w orse
more diff icult
farther
One Syllable Adjectives
add '-er' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel) remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'ier'
Example: cheap - cheaper / hot - hotter / high - higher
Example Sentences
Yesterday was hotter than today. This book is cheaper than that book.
Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y'
Example: happy - happier / funny - funnier
Example Sentences
I am happier than you. That joke was funnier than his joke.
Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives
place 'more' before the adjective
Example: interesting - more interesting / difficult - more difficult
Example Sentences
London is more expensive than Madrid. This test is more difficult than the last test.
Here is a chart showing how to construct the superlative form in English:
One Syllable Adjectives
place 'the' before the adjective and add '-est' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel)
Example: cheap - the cheapest / hot - the hottest / high - the highest
Example Sentences
Today is the hottest day of the summer. This book is the cheapest I can find.
Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives
place 'the most' before the adjective
Example: interesting - the most interesting / difficult - the most difficult
Example Sentences
London is the most expensive city in England. That is the most beautiful painting here.
Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y' place 'the' before the adjective and remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'iest'
Example: happy - the happiest / funny - the funniest
Example Sentences
New York is the noisiest city in the USA. He is the most important person I know.
IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS
There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important exceptions:
good
good - adjective better - comparative the best - superlative
Example Sentences
This book is better than that one. This is the best school in the city.
bad
bad - adjective worse - comparative the worst - superlative
Example Sentences
His French is worse than mine. This is the worst day of my life.
EXAMPLES OF IRREGULAR FORMSADJECTIVES COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVEMUCH/MANY MORE THE MOSTFEW/LITTLE LESS THE LEAST
GOOD BETTER THE BESTBAD WORSE THE WORST
ADJECTIVES
Regular forms requiring 'ER' or 'EST'
IMPORTANT GRAMMATICAL
POINTSADJECTIVES
COMPARATIVE FORMS
(........ER)
SUPERLATIVE FORMS
(THE .....EST)
Adjectives with one syllable only THIN THINNER THE THINNEST
Adjectives ending in a single consonant which must be doubled
FAT FATTER THE FATTEST
Adjectives with one syllable, but ending in E
FIERCE FIERCER THE FIERCEST
Adjectives with one syllable + Y (Y changes to I)
FRIENDLY FRIENDLIER THE FRIENDLIEST
ADJECTIVES
Regular forms requiring 'MORE' or 'THE MOST'
Adjectives with more than one syllable Adjectives ending with ED or ING
ADJECTIVES
COMPARATIVE FORMS
(MORE/LESS ........)
SUPERLATIVE FORMS
(THE MOST/THE LEAST .......)
DANGEROUS MORE/LESS DANGEROUS
THE MOST/THE LEAST DANGEROUS
BORED
(even though only one syllable is pronounced)
MORE/LESS BORED THE MOST/THE LEAST BORED
INTERESTING MORE/LESS INTERESTING
THE MOST/THE LEAST INTERESTING
STANDARD CONSTRUCTION EXAMPLES
1. The black dog is fat
2. The fat dog is in the road.
3. The black dog is fatter than the white dog
4. The white dog is not as fat as the black dog
5. The black dog is friendlier than the white dog, but the brown dog is the fiercest.
6. The white dog is the thinnest and it is less dangerous than the brown dog.
7.a) Those books are very interesting and this one is the least interesting of them all.
7.b) Those books are not very interesting and this one is the most boring of them all.
THE ANSWER KEY TO THE EXERCISE FOR PRACTISING ADJECTIVES
INSTRUCTIONS: Use the above rules and examples to complete the following exercise
SOLDIER: Hi, mate! Can't wait to get home. I haven't been home for six months.
SAILOR: Well, I have been away from home much longer than that.
SOLDIER: Where do you live? I live in Scotland.
SAILOR: Well, I live in Kent; it is a bit warmer than Scotland.
SOLDIER: Have you got a girlfriend or wife?
SAILOR: Yes, I have a girlfriend who wants to marry me, but she's taller than me.
SOLDIER: Is she a lot taller than you?
SAILOR: Oh, yes. 10 centimetres.
SOLDIER: Well my girlfriend is much taller than that. In fact she is the lankiest woman I know.
SAILOR: My girlfriend's very tall, too. Have you got a photo of your one?
SOLDIER: Yes, here it is. My girlfriend is 2-the prettiest girl in the world, but she is so lanky.
SAILOR: She reminds me of my girlfriend, but this woman has curlier hair. Let me look closer with my glasses. Hmmmm! This woman is definitely as pretty as my girlfriend! Just a minute! She is MY girlfriend, not YOUR girlfriend! You're the meanest scumbag I have ever met. Get a girlfriend of your own!
SOLDIER: Are you sure she's your girlfriend? Is her hair as dark as your girlfriend's?
SAILOR: Well, no, but she must have dyed it. It's usually much blonder than that. I have always preferred blondes.
SOLDIER: Well, there you are, then. She can't be your girlfriend - her hair's the wrong colour.
SAILOR: Maybe you're right, but she does look just like my Meg. Sorry, mate. Didn't mean to turn on you like that. I'm not usually as touchy as that. Look, here's a photo of Meg.
SOLDIER: Yes, she does resemble my Margaret a bit, but her hair is much lighter and she also looks chubbier in the face. (Thinks: You must bemore stupid than you look!)
SAILOR: Yes. You're right. Well then, bye mate. Nice to have met you.
SOLDIER: Bye, mate. (Thinks: You must be the most gullible man I have ever met!)
Degrees
Positive
Comparatives Superlatives Grado Positivo Compara
tivoSuperlat
ivo One-syllable adjectives
old older the oldest
Adjetivos de una sílaba
vieja/ omás
pequeña /o
el /la más
pequeña /o
cold colder the coldest frío más frío el la más fría
new newer the newest nueva/ o
young younger the youngest joven
small smaller the smallest pequeña/ o
high higher the highest alta /o Adjectives ending in -y
One-syllable adjectives.Form the comparative and superlative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er for the comparative form and –est for the superlative.
One-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
tall taller tallest
old older oldest
long longer longest
Mary is taller than Max.
Mary is the tallest of all the students.
Max is older than John.
Of the three students, Max is the oldest. My hair is longer than your hair.
Max's story is the longest story I've ever heard.
If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form and –st for the superlative form.
One-Syllable Adjective with Final -e Comparative Form Superlative Form
large larger largest
One-Syllable Adjective with Final -e Comparative Form Superlative Form
wise wiser wisest
Mary's car is larger than Max's car.
Mary's house is the tallest of all the houses on the block.
Max is wiser than his brother.
Max is the wisest person I know.
If the one-syllable adjective ends with a single consonant with a vowel before it, double the consonant and add –er for the comparative form; and double the consonant and add –est for the superlative form.
One-Syllable Adjective Ending with a Single Consonant with a Single Vowel before It
Comparative Form Superlative Form
big bigger biggest
thin thinner thinnest
fat fatter fattest
My dog is bigger than your dog.
My dog is the biggest of all the dogs in the neighborhood.
Max is thinner than John.
Of all the students in the class, Max is the thinnest. My mother is fatter than your mother.
Mary is the fattest person I've ever seen.
Two-syllable adjectives.With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.
Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
peaceful more peaceful most peaceful
pleasant more pleasant most pleasant
careful more careful most careful
thoughtful more thoughtful most thoughtful
This morning is more peaceful than yesterday morning.
Max's house in the mountains is the most peaceful in the world.
Max is more careful than Mike.
Of all the taxi drivers, Jack is the most careful. Jill is more thoughtful than your sister.
Mary is the most thoughtful person I've ever met.
If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative form. For the superlative form
change the y to i and add –est.
Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -y Comparative Form Superlative Form
happy happier happiest
angry angrier angriest
busy busier busiest
John is happier today than he was yesterday.
John is the happiest boy in the world.
Max is angrier than Mary.
Of all of John's victims, Max is the angriest. Mary is busier than Max.
Mary is the busiest person I've ever met.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, or –ow take –er and –est to form the comparative and superlative forms.
Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -er, -le, or -ow Comparative Form Superlative Form
narrow narrower narrowest
gentle gentler gentlest
The roads in this town are narrower than the roads in the city.
This road is the narrowest of all the roads in California.
Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest.
Adjectives with three or more syllables.For adjectives with three syllables or more, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.
Adjective with Three or More Syllables Comparative Form Superlative Form
generous more generous most generous
important more important most important
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent
John is more generous than Jack.
John is the most generous of all the people I know.
Health is more important than money.
Of all the people I know, Max is the most important. Women are more intelligent than men.
Mary is the most intelligent person I've ever met.
Exceptions.Irregular adjectives.
Irregular Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
good better Best
bad worse Worst
far farther Farthest
little less Least
many more Most
Italian food is better than American food.
My dog is the best dog in the world.
My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's cooking.
Of all the students in the class, Max is the worst.
Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These adjectives can be used with -er and -est and with more and most.
Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
clever cleverer Cleverest
clever more clever most clever
gentle gentler Gentlest
gentle more gentle most gente
friendly friendlier Friendliest
friendly more friendly most friendly
quiet quieter Quietest
quiet more quiet most quiet
simple simpler Simplest
simple more simple most simple
Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest. Big dogs are more gentle than small dogs.
Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the most gentle.
Comparative/superlative
Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two things. The two basic ways to compare are using as .. as or than. Examples of each are shown below:
She's twice as old as her sister. He's not as stupid as he looks! I'm almost as good in maths as in science. This book is not as exciting as the last one. The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual. Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.
This computer is better than that one. She's stronger at chess than I am. It's much colder today than it was yesterday. Our car is bigger than your car. This grammar topic is easier than most others. I find science more difficult than mathematics.
Today's ESL lesson was more interesting than usual.
Note: In each of the example sentences above, the comparative form of the adjective is shown. See the foot of this page for information about the comparison of adverbs.
When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not change. When comparing with than, however, some changes are necessary, depending on the number of syllables the adjective has:
1-syllable adjectives: add -er to the adjective
My sister is much taller than me.† It's colder today than it was yesterday.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in the comparative. Examples: big-bigger, fat-fatter, hot-hotter.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -ier
She's looking happier today. This grammar topic is easier than the last one. Why is everyone else luckier than me? †
Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y must be compared with the word more. Example: I drive more quickly (quicklier) than my brother.
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use more with the unchanged adjective
The shops are always more crowded just before Christmas. Is there anything more boring than reading about grammar? My sister is more careful with her writing than I am with mine.
Note: The comparative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er. Examples:simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be sure which comparative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use more with the unchanged adjective
Russian grammar is more difficult than English grammar. My sister is much more intelligent than me.† I find maths lessons more enjoyable than science lessons. The older you get, the more irritating you become.
In the superlative you talk about one thing only and how it is the best, worst, etc. You do not compare two things. The following guidelines apply to the superlative:
1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the adjective (plus the)
My sister is the tallest in our family.
Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -iest (plus the)
The richest people are not always the happiest. Which do you think is the easiest language to learn? She's the luckiest person I know.
Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y form their superlative with the words the most. Example: Of all the people I know my father drives the most quickly (quickliest).
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the unchanged adjective
The most boring thing about ESL class is doing grammar exercises. My sister is the most careful person I know.
Note: The superlative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er. Examples:simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure which superlative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use the most with the unchanged adjective
Some people think that Russian is the most difficult language. Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history. My most enjoyable class is English. You are the most irritating person I have ever met!
Following are two common irregular comaparative/superlative forms:
good-better-the best bad-worse-the worst
The following guidelines apply to the comparative/superlative of most adverbs:
1-syllable adverbs: add -er/-est
I can run faster than you. / I can run the fastest in my class. She works harder than me.† / She works the hardest of all students.
Other adverbs: use more / the most*
She ran more quickly than me.† / Of all the students she ran the most quickly.