DEGREES OF COMPARISON

A. Positive Form
Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the following
expressions:
1. as adjective as
Example: Jane is as tall as John.
2. not as adjective as / not so adjective as
Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.

B. Comparative Form and Superlative Form (-er/ - est)

1. One-syllable adjectives (clean, new, cheap)
2. Two-syllable adjectives ending in –y or –er (easy, happy, pretty, dirty, clever)

Positive Form Comparative Form Superlative Form

clean cleaner cleanest
new newer newest

C. Exception is spelling when adding –er/ -est

1. Silent ‘e’ is dropped
Example: late – later – latest
2. Final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes ‘i’
Example: easy – easier – easiest
3. Final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled
Example: hot – hotter – hottest

D. Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more / most)

Adjective of three or more syllables (and two-syllable adjectives not ending in ‘-y/-er’)

Positive Form Comparative Form Superlative Form

difficult more difficult most difficult
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

E. Comparative Form and Superlative Form (Irregular Comparisons)

Positive Form Comparative Form Superlative Form
Good/well better best
bad / ill worse worst
little (amount) less least
small smaller smallest
much/many more most
far (place + time) further furthest
far (place) farther farthest
late (time) later latest
late (order) latter last
near (place) nearer nearest
 old (people and older oldest
things)
old (people) elder eldest

Task 1: Fill out the right column with comparative form of the word in the left column!

happy happier
difficult ……………….
clean ……………….
early ……………….
beautiful ……………….
soft ……………….
intelligent ……………….
dirty ……………….
good/well better
careful ……………….
cheap ……………….
strong ……………….
interesting ……………….
hot ……………….
warm ……………….
expensive ……………….
fresh ……………….
kind ……………….
cold ……………….
honest ……………….
busy ……………….
young ……………….
near ……………….
funny ……………….
easy ……………….
bad worse
late ……………….
dangerous ……………….
weak ……………….

Task 2: Transform the words in the brackets into the correct degree of comparison to fill out
the blanks!
Example: She’s much younger than her husband. (young)
It’s a warmer day than yesterday. (warm)

1. The vegetables in this shop are …………than the ones in the supermarket. (fresh)
2. The train is……………… than the bus. (expensive)
3. This new TV program is …………. much the old one. (funny)
4. Ms. Davies is a………….teacher than Mr. Andrews. (good)
5. My office is………Helen’s. (near)
Task 3: Find the incorrect parts in every sentence and make them correct!

1. Christ is more cleverer than Scott.

Answer: .…………………………………………………
2. Jilly is prettier from Sylvia.
Answer: …………………………………………………
3. Chocolate ice cream is more delicious of all.
Answer:…………………………………………………
4. She is a very taller women.
Answer: …………………………………………………
5. The bust is longest than my car.
Answer: …………………………………………………

Task 4: Read the following passage, and then write the correct comparative and superlative
forms of the adjectives in parentheses in the brackets!

Paul likes playing football. He’s a very good player, but his friend Sally is a ………..(good)
player. She’s the ………..(good) player in the whole school. She is …………..(fast) and
………….(strong) than all the boys, eventhe boys who are …………..(old) and ……………(big)
than her. That’s why Paul likes her. Paul thinks all games are exciting, but football is the
…………….(exciting) game and it’s ………..(noisy) than all the other games he plays with his
friends. When the grass is wet, everyone gets dirty when they play football. But Sally gets
…………(dirty) and …………..(wet) than everyone else.