COMPARATIVE COMPARATIVE AND AND

SUPERLATIVE SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVESADJECTIVES

ComparativesComparatives

Comparatives are used to show the Comparatives are used to show the difference between difference between twotwo objects. Let’s objects. Let’s say that I have two cars. I have a little say that I have two cars. I have a little

Toyota and a big Ford. A comparative is Toyota and a big Ford. A comparative is used to show the difference between the used to show the difference between the two. The Ford is two. The Ford is bigbig so we can say so we can say “the “the

Ford is bigger than the Toyota”Ford is bigger than the Toyota”. . Because the Toyota is Because the Toyota is smallsmall, we can say , we can say “The Toyota is smaller than the Ford”“The Toyota is smaller than the Ford”. To . To learn to use these we need to learn five learn to use these we need to learn five

basic rules.basic rules.

Rule 1. If an adjective has Rule 1. If an adjective has 1 syllable we add the 1 syllable we add the ending –er to the adjective. ending –er to the adjective.

i.e. small + er = smalli.e. small + er = smaller er than than

i.e. hard + er = hardi.e. hard + er = harder er than than

The ant is smaller than the hippo.

Rule 2Rule 2. If a one syllable . If a one syllable adjective ends with a adjective ends with a consonant + a vowel + a consonant + a vowel + a consonant you must consonant you must double the last consonant double the last consonant and then ad –er. and then ad –er.

i.e. big + er = bigi.e. big + er = biggerger than thani.e. fat + er = fati.e. fat + er = fatter ter thanthan

The elephant is fatter than the giraffe.

Rule 3Rule 3. If an adjective . If an adjective ends with a “y”, remove ends with a “y”, remove the “y” and add –ier. the “y” and add –ier.

i.e. happy –y + ier = i.e. happy –y + ier = happhappierier than than i.e. funny –y + ier = i.e. funny –y + ier = funnfunnierier than than

The girl is happier than the duck.

Rule 4Rule 4. If an adjective has . If an adjective has two syllables or more two syllables or more without a “y” then add the without a “y” then add the word “more” before the word “more” before the word. If the adjective ends word. If the adjective ends with a “y”, you will only with a “y”, you will only add the word “more” if it add the word “more” if it has three syllables or has three syllables or more. more. i.e. beautiful + more = i.e. beautiful + more = more beautiful thanmore beautiful than

i.e. expensive + more = i.e. expensive + more = more expensive thanmore expensive thani.e. satisfactory + more = i.e. satisfactory + more = more satisfactory thanmore satisfactory than

The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.

•Rule 5. There are a few exceptions.

good = better thanbad = worse thanfar = farther than

•Remember, when using a comparative you must always follow it with the word “than”.

The Toyota is smaller than the Ford. The Ford is bigger than the Toyota.

The ant is smaller than the hippo.

The elephant is fatter than the giraffe.

The girl is happier than the duck.The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.

SuperlativesSuperlatives

Superlatives are used to show the Superlatives are used to show the difference between difference between more than twomore than two objects. Let’s say that I have three objects. Let’s say that I have three

cars. I have a little Toyota, a medium cars. I have a little Toyota, a medium size Jeep and a big Ford. A size Jeep and a big Ford. A

superlative is used to show the superlative is used to show the differences that exist in the group. differences that exist in the group. The Ford is The Ford is bigbig so we can say so we can say “the “the Ford is the biggest”Ford is the biggest”. Because the . Because the Toyota is Toyota is smallsmall, we can say , we can say “The “The

Toyota is the smallest”Toyota is the smallest”. To learn to . To learn to use these we need to learn five basic use these we need to learn five basic

rules.rules.

The ant is the The ant is the smallest.smallest.

Rule 1Rule 1. If an adjective has . If an adjective has 1 syllable we add the 1 syllable we add the ending –est to the ending –est to the adjective. adjective.

i.e. small + est = the i.e. small + est = the smallsmallestesti.e. hard + est = the i.e. hard + est = the hardhardestest

The hippo is the The hippo is the fattest.fattest.

Rule 2Rule 2. If a one syllable . If a one syllable adjective ends with a adjective ends with a consonant + a vowel + a consonant + a vowel + a consonant you must consonant you must double the last consonant double the last consonant and ad –est. and ad –est.

i.e. big + est = the bigi.e. big + est = the biggestgest

i.e. fat + est = the fati.e. fat + est = the fattesttest

The elephant is the The elephant is the heaviest.heaviest.

Rule 3Rule 3. If an adjective . If an adjective ends with a “y”, remove ends with a “y”, remove the “y” and add –iest. the “y” and add –iest.

i.e. happy –y + iest = the i.e. happy –y + iest = the happhappiestiest i.e. funny –y + iest = the i.e. funny –y + iest = the funnfunniestiest

The airplane is The airplane is the most the most

expensive.expensive.

Rule 4Rule 4. If an adjective has . If an adjective has two syllables or more two syllables or more without a “y” then add the without a “y” then add the word “most” before the word “most” before the word. If the adjective ends word. If the adjective ends with a “y”, you will only with a “y”, you will only add the word “most” if it add the word “most” if it has three syllables or has three syllables or more. more. i.e. beautiful + most = the i.e. beautiful + most = the most beautifulmost beautifuli.e. expensive + most = i.e. expensive + most = the most the most expensiveexpensivei.e. satisfactory + most = i.e. satisfactory + most = the most satisfactory the most satisfactory

Rule 5Rule 5. There are a few exceptions.. There are a few exceptions.

good = the bestgood = the bestbad = the worstbad = the worstfar = the farthestfar = the farthest

Remember, when using a superlative you must always Remember, when using a superlative you must always precede it with the word “the”. precede it with the word “the”.

The Toyota is The Toyota is the smallest.the smallest. The Ford is The Ford is the biggest.the biggest. Brad Pitt is Brad Pitt is the most handsome.the most handsome. The airplane is The airplane is the most expensive.the most expensive. Jim Carrey is Jim Carrey is the funniest.the funniest.