COMPARING ADJECTIVES

Oliver                Thomas                   James

Compare the heights of these three boys:     Oliver is tall.
                                                                        Thomas is taller than Oliver.
                                                                        James is the tallest.

TALLER is used for comparing TWO
TALLEST is used when comparing MORE THAN TWO

In the examples above –ER and –EST have been added to the word “TALL” to show the comparative height of each boy.

There are many adjectives where –ER and –EST can be added without any change in spelling:

            Cold – colder – coldest
            Clean – cleaner – cleanest

BUT! Look our for these spelling changes:

            Drop the e at the end of:
E.g.      Nice – nicer – nicest
E.g.      Fine – finer – finest

Change the y to i of:
E.g.      Lazy – lazier – laziest
            E.g.      Shady – shadier - shadiest    

            Double the last letter of:
            E.g.      Thin – thinner – thinnest
            E.g.      Slim – slimmer – slimmest

REMEMBER!  Some words cannot be changed at all so you must add MORE when comparing two and MOST when comparing more than two:
            E.g.      Beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful
                        Intelligent – more intelligent – most intelligent

You must learn these exceptions:
            GOOD – BETTER – BEST
            BAD – WORSE – WORST

 

Re-write the whole sentence into your book inserting the correct form of the adjective in bold type to complete each sentence.  Underline the comparative adjective.
Remember all the exceptions to the rule of adding –ER and –EST!

1.         The monk’s habit was made of the ______________ material I have ever seen.  COARSE
2.         This is the ______________ classroom in the school.  COLD
3.         James’s story is ______________ than Mark’s.            GOOD
4.         Miss Agnes is the ______________ of the two sisters.  SLIM
5.         King Solomon was the ______________ king who ever reigned.  WISE
6.         Harry has the ______________ clothes I have ever seen.  BAD
7.         Jane chose the ______________ slice of cake on the dish.  THIN
8.         High Street is a much ______________ street than West Street.  WIDE
9.         Only the ______________ ingredients are used in our cakes.  PURE
10.       Susan is the ______________ girl in the class.  INTELLIGENT
11.       Colin is the ______________ of the twins.  BIG
12.       The oak is a ______________ tree than the poplar.  SHADY
13.       Jenny is ______________ than Alice.  BEAUTIFUL
14.       Brighton is one of our ______________ seaside resorts.  SUNNY
15.       The apples were the ______________ of the bunch.  GOOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SL/CompAdjs/2006
ANSWERS
Re-write the whole sentence into your book inserting the correct form of the adjective in bold type to complete each sentence.  Underline the comparative adjective.
Remember all the exceptions to the rule of adding –ER and –EST!

1.         The monk’s habit was made of the COARSEST material I have ever seen.  COARSE
2.         This is the COLDEST classroom in the school.  COLD
3.         James’s story is BETTER than Mark’s.    GOOD
4.         Miss Agnes is the SLIMMER of the two sisters.  SLIM
5.         King Solomon was the WISEST king who ever reigned.  WISE
6.         Harry has the WORST clothes I have ever seen.  BAD
7.         Jane chose the THINNEST slice of cake on the dish.  THIN
8.         High Street is a much WIDER street than West Street.  WIDE
9.         Only the PUREST ingredients are used in our cakes.  PURE
10.       Susan is the MOST INTELLIGENT girl in the class.  INTELLIGENT
11.       Colin is the BIGGER of the twins.  BIG
12.       The oak is a SHADIER tree than the poplar.  SHADY
13.       Jenny is MORE BEAUTIFUL than Alice.  BEAUTIFUL
14.       Brighton is one of our SUNNIEST seaside resorts.  SUNNY
15.       The apples were the BEST of the bunch.  GOOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SL/CompAdjs/2006

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

Copy out these sentences and fill in the missing word with the correct form of the comparative adjective formed from the word in the bracket at the end of the sentence.  Remember the spelling rules and the exceptions!

 

1. My house is __________________ than yours.  (BIG)

1. This flower is __________________ than that one. (BEAUTIFUL)

 

1. This is the __________________ book I have ever read. (INTERESTING)

1. Tortoises usually live __________________ than humans. (LONG)

 

1. Which is the __________________ animal in the world? (DANGEROUS)

1. A holiday by the sea is __________________ than a holiday in the mountains. (GOOD)

 

1. A coca-cola is sometimes __________________ than a beer. (EXPENSIVE)

1. Who is the __________________ woman on earth? (RICH)

 

1. The weather this summer is even __________________ than last summer. (BAD)

1. He was the __________________ thief of all. (CLEVER)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SL/Comparativeadjectives#3/2007
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

Copy out these sentences and fill in the missing word with the correct form of the comparative adjective formed from the word in the bracket at the end of the sentence.  Remember the spelling rules and the exceptions!

1. Jeremy is 10 years old.  Julie is 8 years old.  Jeremy is ____________ than Julie. (OLD)

 

1. The Alps are very high.  They are the ____________ mountains in Europe. (HIGH)

1. An ocean is ____________ than a sea. (LARGE)

 

1. A Mini is the ____________expensive of cars. (LITTLE)

1. John’s results were bad.  Fred’s results were very poor.  Fred’s results were ____________ than John’s. (BAD)

 

1. This exercise is ____________ than I expected. (EASY)

1. The weather is not good today – it’s raining.  I hope the weather will be ____________ next week.

 

1. People are not friendly in big cities.  They are usually ____________ in small towns. (FRIENDLY)

1. In the government, the Prime Minister is the ____________ person. (IMPORTANT)

 

1. People say that Chinese is ____________ to learn than English. (DIFFICULT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SL/Comparativeadjectives#4/2007

 

 

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