LET'S DO THESE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE EXERCISES AND PRACTICE THEM
With AptisGo it is easier to study and to learn English in an easy way. In our daily routine, we tend to compare things a lot, we sometimes do it without even noticing it, that’s why we need to practice them. With these comparative and superlative exercises.
When do we use the comparatives and superlatives?
In an older post, we explained to you how to use comparatives and superlatives, and with this post we will revisit them.
We use these grammatical structures when we want to compare two or more subjects, and they address adjectives or qualities, that are the focus of comparison or difference between each subject.
To simply put it, this is how the structure is used:
- To use a comparative adjective, we have to talk about two or more subjects, which are the ones we have to compare. The objective of this structure is to determine which one of the characteristics is the most highlighted one between them.
We use the structure in the following manner:
First subject + verb + adjective in comparative grade (that describes the quality) + than (the preposition) + Second subject.
For example:
Laura is two years older than María
- We use a superlative adjective to talk about only one subject (the one that best fits the condition) in a group.
The structure is the following:
First subject + verb + the (connector) + adjective in superlative grade (highlight the quality) + second subject (even tough it is not necessary to write it).
For example:
Everest is the highest mountain in the world
- We can also use two comparative adjectives by separating them with “and”, when we want to describe changes or an evolution in the characteristics that we mentioned in the comparison, or if we want to take multiple qualities of a subject and use them in the comparative structure.
For example:
The balloon got bigger and bigger
He is taller and older than me
- Another use that comparative adjectives have is that they show that one event depends on another.
For example:
When you drive faster, your car becomes more dangerous.
Let’s review the application rules of the comparatives and superlatives
We have to highlight that both comparatives and superlatives follow a set of rules:
- In comparative form the adjectives finish with ‘-er’, and when we use the superlatives, we add ‘-est’ aat the end to transform them.
| Type of adjective | Structure |
| Comparative | adjective + “-er” + than |
| Superlative | the + adjective + “-est |
- If the adjective end with ‘e’, you just need to add an ‘r’ for comparatives and ‘st‘ for superlatives.
For example:
- For the comparative form of large → larger / we add the suffix “r” to transform it into comparative grade
- Whereas for the superlative large → the largest
- Remember that the adjectives that have the structure of consonant + vowel + consonant, have to change, so we have to multiply the last consonant, then we add -er and -est for comparative and superlative forms alike.
For example:
- For the comparative form of thin → thinner.
- For the superlative thin → thinnest.
- Keep in mind that when the adjective ends with “y”, we have to transform that ‘y’ into a ‘i’ and then we add ‘er’ for comparative grade and ‘est‘ for superlative grade.
For example:
- The comparative Happy → happier than
- The superlative grade of Happy → The happiest
- However, there are some adjectives have a different structure depending on the amount of syllables. If an adjective has three or more syllables, then you need to use ‘more’ for the comparative grade and ‘most’ for the superlative grade.
For example:
- The comparative form of Delicious → more delicious
- The superlative form Delicious → the most delicious
- There are some irregular adjectives that in fact are very common, and they also have a comparative and superlative, but their written structure does not follow the normal rules.
Some of them are:
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| Good | Better | Best |
| Bad | Worse | Worst |
| A lot | More | Most |
Now let’s us practice the comparatives and superlatives
Complete the information of the following questions by using the grammatical rules of comparative and superlative formation that we have just studied.
1 – Paul is ____taller________ than Nick. (tall)
2 – This street is ___ the longest _______ in our city. (long)
3 – This building is ___________ than that one.(high)
4 – Tom’s hair is _________than mine. (dark)
5 – My brother is _______ person I’ve ever known. (slow)
6 – Our house is _______ house in the street. (big)
7 – It is _______ day of the year. (cold)
8 – My skirt is _______ than yours. (short)
Answers:
3.- higher
4.- darker
5.- slowest
6.- biggest
7.- coldest
8.- shorter
Besides what we have just seen, we have a list of some of the most used adjectives in comparative and superlative grade, so you can broaden your vocabulary.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| angry | angrier | angriest |
| bad | worse | worst |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| bitter | bitterer | bitterest |
| brave | braver | bravest |
| brief | briefer | briefest |
| bright | brighter | brightest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
| calm | calmer | calmest |
| cheap | cheaper | cheapest |
| clean | cleaner | cleanest |
| clear | clear | clearest |
| cloudy | cloudier | cloudiest |
| cold | colder | coldest |
| cool | cooler | coolest |
| crazy | crazier | craziest |
| crispy | crispier | crispiest |
| cruel | crueler | cruelest |
| dark | darker | darkest |
| deadly | deadlier | deadliest |
| deep | deeper | deepest |
| dirty | dirtier | dirtiest |
| dry | drier | driest |
| dumb | dumber | dumbest |
| early | earlier | earliest |
| easy | easier | easiest |
| fancy | fancier | fanciest |
| far | further/farther | furthest/farthest |
| fast | faster | fastest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| few | fewer | fewest |
| fit | fitter | fittest |
| fresh | fresher | freshest |
| friendly | friendlier | friendliest |
| full | fuller | fullest |
| funny | funnier | funniest |
| good | better | best |
| great | greater | greatest |
| gross | grosser | grossest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| hard | harder | hardest |
| healthy | healthier | healthiest |
| heavy | heavier | heaviest |
| high | higher | highest |
| hot | hotter | hottest |
| hungry | hungrier | hungriest |
| large | larger | largest |
| lazy | lazier | laziest |
| light | lighter | lightest |
| little | littler | littlest |
| lonely | lonelier | loneliest |
| long | longer | longest |
| low | lower | lowest |
| messy | messier | messiest |
| nasty | nastier | nastiest |
| near | nearer | nearest |
| neat | neater | neatest |
| new | newer | newest |
| nice | nicer | nicest |
| old | older/elder | oldest/eldest |
| polite | politer | politest |
| poor | poorer | poorest |
| pretty | prettier | prettiest |
| proud | prouder | proudest |
| quick | quicker | quickest |
| quiet | quieter | quietest |
| rich | richer | richest |
That’s all for now with the comparative y superlative exercises. If you have any more questions then you can contact us or you can even join our newsletter, and we will gladly guide you and support you with anything you need. Take your English to the next level with B1B2. Good luck!