GRAMMAR IN USE:COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES Notes, Quizzes & Revision
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GRAMMAR IN USE: COMPARATIVE & SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Topic: Family ยท Subject: English ยท For learners aged โ12 (Kenya)
What are comparatives and superlatives?
- Comparative adjectives compare two people or things. (Use than.)
- Superlative adjectives show the highest degree among three or more. (Use the and usually in or of.)
- My brother is taller than my sister. ๐ฆ>๐ง
- Grandma is the kindest person in our family. ๐ตโค๏ธ
- My father is older than my auntie. ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง
How to form them (easy rules)
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One-syllable adjectives: add -er (comparative) and -est (superlative).
e.g. tall โ taller, tallest.
mum is tall โ My mum is taller than my auntie. ๐ฉโ๐ง -
One-syllable ending consonant-vowel-consonant: double the final consonant.
e.g. big โ bigger, biggest (My brother is bigger than me.)
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Adjectives ending in -e: just add -r or -st.
e.g. nice โ nicer, nicest (She is the nicest cousin.)
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Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change y โ i and add -er/-est.
e.g. happy โ happier, happiest (Our granny is happier when we visit.)
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Adjectives with two or more syllables (usually): use more (comparative) and most (superlative).
e.g. beautiful โ more beautiful, most beautiful (My sister is more beautiful than the other cousins.)
Spelling quick checks
- If adjective ends with a single e, keep it: wise โ wiser, wisest.
- If it ends with consonant-vowel-consonant and is short โ double the final consonant: thin โ thinner, thinnest.
- If it ends with y after a consonant โ change to i: busy โ busier, busiest.
Irregular adjectives (important!)
Some adjectives do not follow rules. Learn these:
- good โ better โ best
- bad โ worse โ worst
- far โ farther / further โ farthest / furthest (We use farther for physical distance: My uncle lives farther from town.)
- little โ less โ least
- many / much โ more โ most
Special family note: elder vs older
- Use elder before a noun when talking about family: "my elder brother".
- Use older more generally: "My brother is older than me."
How to use them in sentences
- Comparative: Subject + verb + adjective + than + other.
My auntie is kinder than my neighbour. ๐ฉโ๐ฆณ๐ฌ
- Superlative: Subject + verb + the + adjective (superlative) + in/of + group.
He is the tallest in our class. (or) She is the oldest of my cousins. ๐
- Equal: use as ... as.
My sister is as clever as my brother. ๐ค
- Negative equality: not as ... as.
My brother is not as tall as our dad.
Practice (fill the blanks)
- My auntie is __________ than my mum. (kind)
- Grandpa is the __________ in our family. (old)
- My sister is __________ (happy) than my brother.
- Of all my cousins, Amina is the __________ (tall).
- My home is __________ (far) from school than your home.
- My elder brother is __________ (young) than our uncle.
- kinder โ My auntie is kinder than my mum.
- oldest โ Grandpa is the oldest in our family.
- happier โ My sister is happier than my brother.
- tallest โ Of all my cousins, Amina is the tallest.
- farther / further โ My home is farther (or further) from school than your home.
- younger OR "older" depending on meaning โ It is better to say: "My elder brother is younger than our uncle." (Or say "older" if uncle is older than brother.)
Tip: practise with words from your household โ mum, dad, auntie, uncle, sister, brother, cousins, grandma, grandpa. Try making comparatives and superlatives about size, age, kindness, and distance.