Grade 5 English Adjectives – Superative And Comparative Adjectives Notes
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Adjectives describe nouns (a tall tree, a happy child). Comparative and superlative adjectives help us compare.
Quick meanings:
- Comparative — compares two things. (e.g., My bag is heavier than yours.) 🔼
- Superlative — shows the most or the best among three or more. (e.g., She is the tallest in the class.) 🏆
How to form them
- One-syllable adjectives: add -er for comparative, -est for superlative.
Examples: tall → taller → tallest; small → smaller → smallest
- Adjectives that end with -e: add only -r or -st.
Example: large → larger → largest
- Consonant-vowel-consonant (short words): double the last consonant.
Example: big → bigger → biggest
- Adjectives ending in -y: change y to i and add -er or -est.
Example: happy → happier → happiest
- Two or more syllables: usually use "more" and "most".
Example: beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful
- Irregular adjectives: some change completely.
Examples: good → better → best; bad → worse → worst; little → less → least; many → more → most
Examples (Kenyan context)
Positive
tall
tall
→ Comparative: taller (The giraffe is taller than the zebra.)
→ Superlative: tallest (The giraffe is the tallest animal at the farm.)
Positive
big
big
→ Comparative: bigger (The elephant is bigger than the goat.)
→ Superlative: biggest (The elephant is the biggest animal in the reserve.)
Positive
happy
happy
→ Comparative: happier (She is happier today than yesterday.)
→ Superlative: happiest (He is the happiest boy in class.)
Positive
beautiful
beautiful
→ Comparative: more beautiful (That view is more beautiful than the city.)
→ Superlative: most beautiful (Mount Kenya is one of the most beautiful places.)
Common irregulars (learn these)
- good → better → best
- bad → worse → worst
- little → less → least
- many / much → more → most
- far → farther / further → farthest / furthest
Short practice (fill the blanks)
- My house is (big) __________ than yours.
- This book is (interesting) __________ than that one.
- She is the (young) __________ in the class.
- He is (good) __________ at football than his brother.
- That hill is the (high) __________ among the three hills.
- My bag is (heavy) __________ than your bag.
Answers:
- bigger
- more interesting
- youngest
- better
- highest
- heavier
Tip: If you are not sure, think how many syllables the adjective has. Short words often use -er/-est; long words use more/most. Practice with school and nature words you know.
Good luck — try making 5 of your own comparative and superlative sentences about things at your home or school! ✍️