Name:
Class:
Degrees of comparison
A big ball. A small ball.
When we compare two nouns: comparative.
When we compare three or more nouns: superlative.
FORMATION
!! RULES !! Positive Comparative Superlative
Very short words (one syllable) Tall Taller Tallest
+ ER Small Smaller Smallest
+ EST Old Older Oldest
Short words (two syllables): Heavy Heavier Heaviest
Ending in –y, -‐ow, -‐er, -‐le Clever Cleverer Cleverest
+ ER Narrow Narrower Narrowest
+ EST
Short words (two syllables): Tired More tired Most tired
NOT ending in –y, -‐ow, -‐er, -‐le Awful More awful Most awful
MORE Famous More famous Most famous
MOST
Long words ( three or more syllables) Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful
MORE Expensive More expensive Most expensive
MOST Horrible More horrible Most horrible
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SPELLING
Spelling RULES !! The three degrees
positive comparative superlative
Ending in consonant after short
vowel: Big Bigger Biggest
Ending in –e: Large Larger Largest
Ending in consonant + y: Happy Happier Happiest
Ending in vowel + Y: Grey Greyer Greyest
!!! EXCEPTIONS !!!
positive Comparative Superlative
Good better best
Bad worse worst
Much/many more most
Little Less Least
Exercise 1: Complete the grid.
positive Comparative Superlative
Save Saver Savest
Large Larger Largest
Pretty Prettier prettiest
Sad sadde saddest
Horrible More Horrible Most Horrible
Lucky luckier Luckiest
Ugly Uglier Ugliest
Wonderfull More Wonderfull Most Wonderfull
Heavy Heavier Heaviest
Tired More Tired Most Tired
Colourfull More Colourfull Most Colourfull
Dangerous More Dangerous Most dangerous
Expensiv More expensive Most Expensiv
Nice Nicer Nicest
Old Older Oldest
Exercise 2: write sentences. Use the adjectives in brackets.
1) Russia/Belgium (larger than)
Russian Larger Than Belgium
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2) Rome/ London (warmer than)
Rome Warmer Than London
3) Taxis/ buses (expensive than)
Taxis More Expensive Than Buses
4) Driving/ flying (dangerous than)
Driving More Dangerous Than Flying
5) Britney Spears/ I (famous than)
Britney Spears More famous Than I
Exercise 3: write the correct form of the adjective for each sentence.
When I was younger I was a Better swimmer than anyone else in my school. (good)
The peanut-‐butter powered computer was More Rediculous than my science fair project. (rediculous)
Todd has a Newer computer than I do. (new)
I saw the More Amazing magic trick today. (amazing)
Michelle’s shirt is Greener than anyone else’s here. (green)
The dining room was More Elegant than we thought it would be. (elegant)
I think algebra is the Harder class I’ve ever taken. (hard)
Research has shown that we have the Better pizza in town. (good)
This lemonade is Tastier than any soda pop. (tasty)
The sequel was much More Interesting than the original movie was. (interesting)
Structure.
Compare 2 things, who are the same postitive degree
Example: This ball is as big as the other ball.
Compare two things with each other comparative degree
Example: This ball is bigger than the other ball.
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Compare 3 or more things superlative degree.
Example: This ball is the biggest of them all.
Russia is the biggest country in the World.
Bart is young Lisa is younger Maggie is the youngest.
Exercise 4: Complete each sentence so that it means the same as the one above. Use the positive degree.
Sweden is bigger than Belgium.
Belgium isn’t as big as Sweden.
1. The other students learn more quickly than me.
I don’t learn as quickly as the other students.
2. You’re very angry and I’m very angry also.
I’m as angry as you.
3. The Seats at the front are more expensive than the Seats at the back.
The Seats at the back aren’t as expensiv as the Seats at the front.
4. Central Park in New York is bigger than Hyde Park in London.
Hyde Park in London isn’t as big as Central Park in New York.
5. Her last film is very good and her new film is also very good.
Her last film is as good as her last film.
Exercise 5: Complete the sentences. Use the comparative.
1. (big) My house is Biger yours.
2. (beautiful) This flower is More Beautifull that one.
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3. (long) Non-‐smokers usually live Longer smokers.
4. (good) A holiday by the sea is Better a holiday in the mountains.
5. (expensive) It is strange but often a coke is More Expensiv a beer.
6. (bad) The weather this summer is even Worse last summer.
7. (smart) I’m Smarter my brother.
8. (long) Tortoises live Longer cats.
9. (difficult) I think mathematics is More Difficult English.
10. (warm) The summer is warmer the winter.
Exercise 6: Make comparative sentences.
1. Tom – tall – Jerry
Tom taller than Jerry
2. Europe – small – Asia
Europa smaller Than Asia
3. Vegetables – good – sweets
Vegetables Better Than Sweets
4. English classes – interesting – Chemistry
English Classes More Interesting Than Chemistry
5. Gold – precious – silver
Gold More Precious Than Silver
Exercise 7: Put the words in the right order.
(The world – Antarctica – coldest – is – place – the – in)
Antarctica is the coldest place in the world.
1. (city – the – Manchester – in England – is – the – friendliest)
Manshester Is The Friendliest City In England
2. (in New York – expensive – restaurant – The Manhattan – the – is – most)
In New York The Most Expensive restaurant is The Manhattan
3. (is -‐ river – the world – the – The Nile – longest – in)
The Nile is The World Longest in The River
4. (town – most – in Spain – Granada – beautiful – is – the)
Granada Is The Most Beautifull Town The Spain
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5. (painting – The Mona Lisa – the – famous – in – is – most – the – the world)
The Mona Lisa Is The World Most Famous Painting
Exercise 8: Look at the information in the box about three boats and complete the
sentences. Use the superlative.
Boats Length Top speed Price
Queen Anne 14 metres 35 knots £ 9 000
Red Devil 6 metres 72 knots £ 23 000
Jolly Jim 4 metres 28 knots £ 6 000
(long) The Queen Anne is the longest boat.
1. (short) Jolly Jim 4 Metres £ 6 000 boat.
2. (fast) Red Devil 6 Metres 72 Knots £ 23 000 boat.
3. (slow) Jolly Jim 4 Metres £ 6 000 boat.
4. (expensive) Red Devil 6 Metres 72 Knots £ 23 000 boat.
5. (cheap) Jolly Jim 4 Metres £ 6 000 boat.
