Describing People And Things Using Comparatives And Superatives Notes, Quizzes & Revision

A comparative compares two things. We often add -er to short words, or use more before longer words.

• One-syllable adjective: add -er. Example: tall → taller
• Two-syllable or more: use more + adjective. Example: beautiful → more beautiful
• -y ending: change y → i then add -er. Example: happy → happier

• Mount Kenya is higher than the small hill. 🏔️⬆️
• An elephant is bigger than a goat. 🐘 > 🐐
• The matatu is noisier than the bicycle. 🚐 🔊 > 🚲
• This mango is sweeter than that one. 🥭😋

A superlative talks about the top or the most of a group. Use -est for short words, or most before longer words.

• One-syllable: tall → tallest
• Long words: interesting → most interesting
• -y ending: happy → happiest

• Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya. 🏔️⭐
• The elephant is the biggest animal among these. 🐘👑
• This is the sweetest mango in the basket. 🥭🍯

• good → better → best (My tea is better today. This is the best tea.)
• bad → worse → worst (The road is worse. That was the worst road to drive.)
• little → less → least (I have less sugar. He has the least sweets.)

1. Short word (1 syllable): add -er or -est. Example: fast → faster → fastest.
2. Long word: use more / most. Example: beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful.
3. Change y → i before adding -er/-est. Example: happy → happier → happiest.
4. Learn irregulars: good, better, best; bad, worse, worst.

1. A cheetah is (fast) ______ than a dog. 🐆 vs 🐕
2. This mango is (sweet) ______ than that one. 🥭
3. She is the (tall) ______ in the class. 👧👦
4. My bicycle is (noisy) ______ than your scooter. 🚲 vs 🛴
5. Tea today is (good) ______ than yesterday. ☕

Write answers on paper, then check below.

1. faster → "A cheetah is faster than a dog."
2. sweeter → "This mango is sweeter than that one."
3. tallest → "She is the tallest in the class."
4. noisier → "My bicycle is noisier than your scooter."
5. better → "Tea today is better than yesterday."

Look at the adjective: if it is short, try -er/-est. If it is long, use more/most. Practice with things around you: people at home, animals, fruits and places in Kenya.