Comparative and

superlative adjectives
When we use them?

As the name implies,

comparative adjectives are used
to show a direct comparison
Comparative Adjectives between two things. So you use
comparative adjectives when
there are only two things being
compared.
 Rule 1:
For most one-syllable words, the comparative
adjective is formed by taking the regular
adjective and adding '-er' to the end:

•The oak tree is taller than the maple tree.

The oranges are heavier than •Jane is smarter than John.

the apples.
•This book is shorter than the last one I read.
 Two notable exceptions to this rule are
'better' and 'worse', which are words
that only exist in the comparative form:

Exception! •I am better at table tennis than you.

•I scored worse on my math test than

John.
And one other note on this rule. When a
word ends with a vowel followed by a
single consonant, like 'big', you want to
double that last consonant:

•'Big' becomes 'bigger'

•'Hot' becomes 'hotter'

•'Fat' becomes 'fatter'

 For adjectives that are two syllables but
end in '-y', the comparative is formed by
dropping the '-y' and adding '-ier':
•The Mona Lisa is a prettier picture than
Rule 2 the Last Supper.

•Sarah acted sillier at home than she did

in school.
 For two-syllable words that do not end
in '-y', and for any words that are three
syllables or more, the comparative is
formed by putting the word 'more' in
front of the adjective:

•The sunset is more beautiful than it was

Rule 3 yesterday.

•We are going to form a more perfect

union.
•Mary outsmarted Josh because she is
more intelligent than he is.
Superlative Adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to

compare a group of three or more
nouns. Superlative adjectives describe
things that are the most of whatever
adjective you are describing them
with.
 The rules for using superlative adjectives
are similar to comparative adjectives, but
with one-syllable superlatives, you add the
ending '-est' instead of '-er:

•That is the tallest building I have ever seen.

Rule 1 •Many people believe Albert Einstein is the

smartest person who ever lived.

•Kevin is the shortest student in his class.

 Two notable exceptions to this rule are
"The best" and "The
worst", which are words that only exist i
n the Superlative form:
Exception! •I am the best at table tennis in the
whole school.
•I scored the worst on the math test of
the class.
As in comparative adjectives. When
a word ends with a vowel followed by
a single consonant, like 'big', you want
to double that last consonant:

•'Big' becomes 'biggest'

•'Hot' becomes 'hottest'

•'Fat' becomes 'fattest'

 For adjectives that are two syllables
but end in '-y', the superlative is formed
by dropping the '-y' and adding '-iest':

•The Mona Lisa is the prettiest picture of

Rule 2 the century
•Sarah is the silliest girl at her school
Rule 3
For two-syllable words that do not end in '-y', and for any words that are three syllables or
more, the superlative is formed by putting the word 'most' in front of the adjective:

•The spring is the most beautiful season of the year.

•We are going to form the most perfect union.

•Mary outsmarted Josh because she is the most intelligent in the class.