Grade 7 English FAMILY – GRAMMAR IN USE:COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: COMPARATIVE & SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Topic: Family · Subject: English · For learners aged ≈12 (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.)
Examples (family):
- My brother is taller than my sister. 👦>👧
- Grandma is the kindest person in our family. 👵❤️
- My father is older than my auntie. 👨👩👧
How to form them (easy rules)
-
One-syllable adjectives: add -er (comparative) and -est (superlative).
e.g. tall → taller, tallest.
mum is tall → My mum is taller than my auntie. 👩👧 -
One-syllable ending consonant-vowel-consonant: double the final consonant.
e.g. big → bigger, biggest (My brother is bigger than me.)
-
Adjectives ending in -e: just add -r or -st.
e.g. nice → nicer, nicest (She is the nicest cousin.)
-
Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change y → i and add -er/-est.
e.g. happy → happier, happiest (Our granny is happier when we visit.)
-
Adjectives with two or more syllables (usually): use more (comparative) and most (superlative).
e.g. beautiful → 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 → wiser, wisest.
- If it ends with consonant-vowel-consonant and is short → double the final consonant: thin → thinner, thinnest.
- If it ends with y after a consonant → change to i: busy → busier, busiest.
Irregular adjectives (important!)
Some adjectives do not follow rules. Learn these:
- good → better → best
- bad → worse → worst
- far → farther / further → farthest / furthest (We use farther for physical distance: My uncle lives farther from town.)
- little → less → least
- many / much → more → 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. 👩🦳💬
- Superlative: Subject + verb + the + adjective (superlative) + in/of + group.
He is the tallest in our class. (or) She is the oldest of my cousins. 🏆
- Equal: use as ... as.
My sister is as clever as my brother. 🤝
- 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.
Answers
- kinder → My auntie is kinder than my mum.
- oldest → Grandpa is the oldest in our family.
- happier → My sister is happier than my brother.
- tallest → Of all my cousins, Amina is the tallest.
- farther / further → My home is farther (or further) from school than your home.
- younger OR "older" depending on meaning → 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 — mum, dad, auntie, uncle, sister, brother, cousins, grandma, grandpa. Try making comparatives and superlatives about size, age, kindness, and distance.
Good luck! 👪