Rule: Comparatives and Superlatives ShowHide

Short adjectives: -er, the -est

One syllable, or two syllables ending in -y.

• tall → taller → the tallest
• nice → nicer → the nicest (just -r, -st)
• big → bigger → the biggest (also fat, thin, sad)
• happy → happier → the happiest (also funny, easy, friendly)

Long adjectives: more, the most

Two syllables or more.

• interesting → more interesting → the most interesting
• also beautiful, boring, careful, comfortable, difficult, expensive, important

Irregular

• good → better → the best
• bad → worse → the worst
• little → less → the least

How to use them

• Comparing two: comparative + than. The blue car is cheaper than the black car.
• One from a group: the + superlative. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.

Never use both ways at once: more cheaper, the most tall, intelligenter.

Games on Comparatives and Superlatives

Ready-made games on this topic. Open one on the board and play in teams.

Open the Box · 15 boxesComparatives and Superlatives team game (A1)A team game for A1: open a box and answer – Comparatives and Superlatives.Play

Flashcards · 24 cardsComparatives and Superlatives practice (A1)Cards for A1: answer, then flip the card to check – Comparatives and Superlatives.Play

Play this exercise

The sentences of this exercise as a game – nothing to set up.

Open the BoxTeam gameOpen a box, answer, win points.Play

FlashcardsFlip and checkSay the answer, then flip the card.Play