Contrast and addition:

comparatives and superlatives

Inglés profesional 2
Marco Meza

2
 Comparatives
Comparatives are used to show the difference
between two objects.

A comparative is used to show the difference between

the two
“the blue is bigger than the green one”
The green is smaller than the blue one
 Comparison: Rule 1

If an adjective has 1 syllable:

• add the ending –er to the
adjective and the word than:
• small + er = smaller than
• hard + er = harder than
• tall + er = taller than

The ant is shorter than the hippo

The hippo is larger than the ant
 Comparatives: Rule 2

• For one syllable adjective ending with

a consonant + a vowel + a consonant,
• double the last consonant
• and then ad –er
big + er = bigger than
fat + er = fatter than
Thin + er = thinner than

The elephant is fatter than the giraffe

The girafe is thinner than the elephant
 Rule 3

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

happy –y + ier = happier than

funny –y + ier = funnier than

The boy is happier than the baby

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

The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog

 Rule 5

There are few exceptions

good = better than

bad = worse than
far = farther than

Australia is farther than India

 Remember
When using a comparative you must always follow it with
the word “than”
• Switzerland is smaller than Russia
• A killer whale is bigger than a dolphin.
• A humming bird is smaller than a thumb.
• The hyppo is fatter than the zebra.
• The dog is happier than the monkey.
• The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.
Superlatives
Inglés profesional 2
 Superlatives
They are used to show the difference between more than
two objects.

The truck is the biggest

Let’s learn to use these through five basic rules.

 Rule 1

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

adjective.
small + est = the smallest
hard + est = the hardest

The cat is the smallest

 Rule 2
If a one syllable adjective ends with a consonant + a vowel + a
consonant
Double the last consonant and add –est.
big + est = the biggest
fat + est = the fattest

The bear is the fattest.

 Rule 3

If an adjective ends with a “y”, remove the “y” and add –iest.
happy –y + iest = the happiest
funny –y + iest = the funniest

The male is the heaviest.

 Rule 4

If an adjective has two syllables or more without a “y” then add the word
“most” before the word.
• beautiful + most = the most beautiful
• expensive + most = the most expensive
If the adjective ends with a “y”, only add the word “most” if it has three
syllables or more.
• easy = the easiest
• satisfactory + most = the most satisfactory

The airplane is the most expensive.

 Rule 5
There are a few exceptions.

• good = the best

The best team

• bad = the worst

the worst earthquake ever

• far = the farthest

the farthest land in the world
 Remember
When using a superlative always precede it with
the word “the”.
• The Vatican is the smallest country in the world

• The blue whale is the biggest animal.

• The humming bird is the smallest bird

 Remember
When using a superlative always precede it with
the word “the”.
• The Vatican is the smallest country in the world

• The blue whale is the biggest animal.

• The humming bird is the smallest bird

 Autoevaluación
Fill in the gaps. Use the comparative of the word in brackets.
smaller than yours (small)
Example: My house is __________
a) more small
b) smaller
c) The most small
1. Sara is _________ than Tom (young)
a) younger
b) more young
c) The most young
2. Teresa is _________ than John (old)
a) older
b) more older
c) the most small
 Autoevaluación
Write sentences. Use comparatives.
Example: Karol/ thin/ Maria
Karol is thinner than Maria
___________________________________________________
3) Rob /funny/ Sam
___________________________________________________
4) My classroom/big/yours
___________________________________________________
5) Mary/happy/ Johanna
___________________________________________________
 Autoevaluación
Complete the sentences. Use the comparative of the word in brackets.

more difficult than English (difficult)

Example: Chemistry is ___________________

6) Brad Pitt is ___________________ than Marc Anthony (handsome)

7) Frank is ___________________ than Susan (intelligent)

8) Jennifer is ___________________ than Angeline (beautiful)

 Autoevaluación

Fill in the gaps. Use the comparative form of good, bad and
far.

farther
Example: China is ___________________ than Mexico (far)

9) Italian food is ________________ than North American food (good)

10) His handwriting is _________________ than Mabel’s (bad)

11) My school is _________________ from here than the park (far)

 Autoevaluación
Click on the answer you think is correct.
bigger than England.
Example: Argentina is __________
a) bigger
b) more big
c) biggest
12) Tomas is __________________ than his brother.
a) more attractive
a) intelligenter
b) most handsome
13) Villages are __________________ than cities.
a) quieter
b) noisier
c) Busier
 Autoevaluación
Click on the answer you think is correct.
as stupid as he looks!
• Example: He's not ___________________
a) as stupid as
b) more stupid as
c) as stupider

14) I'm almost ___________________ in science.

a) as good in Maths as
b) as better in Maths as
c) as good in Maths than
15) This book is not ___________________ the last one.
a) as exciting as
b) as exciting than
c) more exciting as
 Autoevaluación
Click on the answer you think is correct.
16) The cafeteria is not ____________________ usual.
a) as crowded as
b) more big
c) biggest
17) Russian is not quite ____________________ Chinese.
a) as difficult as
a) difficulter as
b) as difficult than
18) This book is not ____________________ the last one.
a) as exciting as
b) more exciting as
c) as more exciting than
 Autoevaluación
Click on the answer you think is correct.
19) That old machine works ____________________ the new one.
a) as well as
b) more good than
c) as better as

20) My friends live in a house ____________________ mine.

a) as big as
a) as bigger as
b) more big as
Answer key:
1) younger 11) Farther
2) Older 12) more attractive
3) Rob is funnier than Sam 13) quieter
14) as good in Maths as
4) My classroom is bigger than yours
15) as exciting as
5) Mary is happier than Johana
16) as crowded as
6) more handsome
17) as difficult as
7) more intelligent
18) as exciting as
8) more beautiful 19) as well as
9) Better 20) as big as
10) Worse