Comparative vs.

Superlative Adjectives

Group 8: Cynthia Riley, Patrick Duquette & Vanessa Marcotte

What are comparative and
superlative adjectives? What is
their purpose?
What comes to mind when you hear or see these terms? What words are familiar
to you and could give you an idea of what they are and what they are used for?
The definition of the comparative degree and
its rules:

• They are used to compare two nouns

• Example: The bear is stronger than the bird

• The two nouns which get modified by the comparative adjective

(stronger) are bear and bird
Therefore, the structure for comparative
adjectives is…

• Subject + Verb + Comparative Adjective + Object

How do we create comparative adjectives?

• Comparatives are adjectives. Knowing that adjectives can possess

many forms and can get modified, they need to display a certain form
to compare two nouns. Things need to be added to them!
The first rule: One syllable
• When the adjective in question consists of only one syllable, we
usually simply need to add the suffix –er

• For example: bold + er = bolder

• green + er = greener
• fast + er = faster
Exceptions for One-syllable adjectives! The ‘e’
ending:
• When the adjective already ends with an ‘e,’ we simply add an ‘r’ to
it!

• For example: nice + r = nicer

• (Example directly taken from: Comparatives and Superlatives. (n.d.). MyEnglishPages. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from
https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-comparatives-superlatiVes.php)
Exceptions for One-syllable adjectives! The
consonant + vowel + consonant ending:
• When the adjective consists of one consonant, followed by one vowel
and another consonant, we simply double the second consonant and
add the usual ‘er’!

• For example: big + er = bigger

• (Example directly taken from: Comparatives and Superlatives. (n.d.). MyEnglishPages. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from
https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-comparatives-superlatiVes.php)
So, in summary…

Most one-syllable comparative adjectives simply need to take ‘er’! The

ones that end with an ‘e’ simply need to take an additional ‘r,’ and the
ones that consist of one consonant, one vowel and another consonant
need to get the second consonant doubled and need to take ‘er’!
The second rule: Two-syllable adjectives! The
‘y’ ending:
• When the adjective has two syllables and finishes with a ‘y,’ the ‘y’
gets transformed into an ‘i,’ and we add ‘er’ to it!

• For example: fun/ny + er = funnier

The second rule: Two-syllable adjectives! The
other adjectives that do not end in ‘y’:
• When the adjective has two syllables but does not end with a ‘y,’ we
cannot simply add ‘er’ to it. We need to add more words to the entire
expressions, such as more and than to indicate the comparison
aspect.

• For example: more + se/rene + than = more serene than (…)

Exercise #1! How could you modify the
underlined terms?

Example directly taken from: Correcting Comparative and Superlative Errors.

(n.d.) Varsity Tutors. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from
https://www.varsitytutors.com/sat_writing-help/correcting-comparative-and-
superlative-errors
Exercise #2! How could you modify the
sentence?

Example directly taken from: Correcting Comparative and Superlative Errors.

(n.d.) Varsity Tutors. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from
https://www.varsitytutors.com/sat_writing-help/correcting-comparative-and-
superlative-errors
Exercise #3! How should we form the
comparative degree of these two adjectives?

Example directly taken from: Seonaid. (n.d.). Comparative

Adjectives Exercise 1. Perfect English Grammar. Retrieved
November 7th, 2020, from https://www.perfect-english-
grammar.com/comparative-adjectives-exercise-1.html
Exercise #3! How should we form the
comparative degree of these two adjectives?

older

larger

Example directly taken from: Seonaid. (n.d.). Comparative

Adjectives Exercise 1. Perfect English Grammar. Retrieved
November 7th, 2020, from https://www.perfect-english-
grammar.com/comparative-adjectives-exercise-1.html
Definition of the superlative degree
• The superlative degree of adjectives compares three or more items. It
can describe the MOST of something:

• Example: The fastest runner.

• Or the LEAST of something:

• Example: The slowest runner.

Superlative rules!
1. For one-syllable words, add –est to the end of the word.
• Example: High -> Highest

2. For one-syllable and two-syllable adjectives that end with a silent

"e", we add –st.
• Example: Fine -> Finest
Superlative rules –cont.
3. For two-syllable adjectives that end with "y", we replace the "y" with
an "I" and add –est.
• Example: Friendly -> Friendliest

4. For other two or more syllable adjectives, we add "most" or "least"

in front of it and keep the adjective unchanged.
• Example: Respectful -> most respectful or least respectful
Watch out! There are exceptions!
• Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms. Some examples are:
• Good -> Best
• Bad -> Worst
• Little -> Least
• Far -> Farthest/Furthest
In summary...
• There are only four forms that superlative adjectives can take.

• However! Remember to only use one form at a time! You cannot use
two at once.
• Example: I am the smartest person in class. GOOD! :)
I am the most smartest person in class. NOT GOOD! :(
Superlatives exercise #1
• Change these adjectives into their superlative form
• Firm
• Squeaky
• Fine
• Insane
• Far
• Funny
• Smart
Superlatives exercise #2
• Are the adjectives in these sentences Comparatives or Superlatives?

a) He is the funniest in his family.

b) He is smarter than his two siblings.

c) She is the prettiest girl he has ever seen.

Comparative VS Superlative
• How to recognize which is which?

Example: He is nicer than Isabelle. VS He is the nicest person I know.

• Comparative = -ER
• Superlative = -EST
Exercise #1: Comparative OR superlative?
Explain why. Use what you learnt earlier.
1. He is the fastest

2. My dog is cuter than yours

3. Basket-ball is better than soccer

4. Disney has the best movies

Other ways to form comparative degrees
• KNOWN FORM: -ER
Example: He is faster than me

Not to forget! The use of "more"

Example: He is more intelligent than me
He painted the wall more easily than his brother (adverb)

*Rule: ONLY with comparatives of 3 syllables or higher

Other ways to use comparative degrees
• The use of "than"
Example: "My house is bigger than yours" (comparison)

• The use of "the"

Example: "The higher they climbed, the colder it got" (complementary)

• The use of "and"

Example: "The balloon got bigger and bigger" (change)
Other ways to form superlative degrees
• KNOWN FORM : -EST
For example : I am the fastest

Not to forget! The use of "MOST".

Example: She is the most beautiful girl.

*Rule: ONLY with superlatives of 3 syllables or higher

Exercise #2: Common mistakes learners make
1. My cat is more large than my dog.

2. He moved quicker than the cart did.

3. She is the most beautifulest.

4. Mary was the tallest of the two girls.

What was wrong with those sentences?
Why were they wrong?
1. My cat is more large than my dog 1. Number of syllables in the adjective
My cat is larger than my dog.

2. He moved quicker than the cart did.

2. Adverb ending in –ly (never replace with –ER or –EST)
He moved more quickly than the cart
did.

3. She is the most beautifulest. 3. Doubled up

She is the most beautiful.

4. Mary was the tallest of the two girls. 4. Superlative VS Comparative (only 2 items)
Mary was the taller of the two girls.
Exercise #3: Correct the sentences
1. Michael and Larry are both excellent basketball players, but Michael
is best.

A) Michael and Larry are both excellent basketball players, but Michael is better.
B) Michael and Larry are both excellent basketball players, but Michael is the
better.
C) Michael and Larry are both excellent basketball players, but Michael is the best.
D) Michael and Larry are both excellent basketball players, but Michael is the
most best.
Explanation:

Whenever you are comparing only two things, use the comparative
form (usually words ending in "-er"—better, smarter, faster, and so
forth). If there are three or more items, use the superlative form
(usually ending in "-est"—best, smartest, fastest . . .) to designate the
best one.
2. If you compared my sister and me, you would see that she was
the best dancer.

A)If you compared my sister and me, you would see that she was the best
dancer.

B)If you compared my sister and me, you would see that she was the better
dancer.

C)If you compared my sister and me, you would see that she was the
bestest dancer.

D)If you compared my sister and me, you would see that she was better
dancer
Explanation:

We use comparative adjectives when comparing two people or things

(bigger, worse); we use superlative adjectives when comparing one
person or thing with three or more people or things (the biggest, the
worse).
3. If you look at Jamie, Jamal, and me, you will see that I am the shorter
of the group.

What is wrong with that sentence?

Answer and explanation:

If you look at Jamie, Jamal, and me, you will see that I am the
shortest of the group.

We use comparative adjectives when comparing two people or things

(bigger, worse, etc.); we use superlative adjectives when comparing
one person or thing with three or more people or things (the biggest,
the worst, etc.). Thus, here we use the superlative adjective “the
shortest.”
In summary...
• Syllables are very important!

• -ER and –EST are not always present

• Number of items!

• Multiple forms exist!

Be careful and study!!!

How could this topic be taught and presented
in class (to ESL learners)? (cont.)
• 1) Main terms: comparatives, superlatives, one-syllable and two-syllable
adjectives (by explaining, showing videos, etc.)
• 2) Rules (how to modify the adjectives and how to use them in a sentence
– structure)
• 3) Examples of each term described (for instance, superlatives and
comparatives, but also ways to compare the two)
• 4) Exercises, class activities and games (what’s wrong in a sentence, mix
and match, fill in the blanks, etc.)
• 5) Questions
• 6) Summarize everything (for example, “Today, we saw this and that.
Remember? We learned them through doing this game,” etc.)
Contribution
Cynthia: Created the PowerPoint, made slides 2 to 14 + 36 of the
presentation, came up with examples on slides 3, 6, 10 and 11, contributed
to the works cited slide and edited the presentation recording.

Vanessa: Made slide 1 and slides 20 to 35 + 37 of the presentation, came up

with the three exercises comparing superlatives and comparatives on slides
22, 26 and 29 and made the works cited slide.

Patrick: Made slides 14 to 20 of the presentation and contributed to the

works cited slide
 Works cited
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives. (2020). Grammarly Blog. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from https://www.grammarly.com/blog/comparative-and-superlative-adjectives/

Comparative and superlative adjectives. (n.d.). LearnEnglish. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-grammar-reference/comparative-and-
superlative-adjectives

Comparatives and Superlatives. (n.d.). MyEnglishPages. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-comparatives-superlati Ves.php

Correcting Comparative and Superlative Errors. (n.d.) Varsity Tutors. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from https://www.varsitytutors.com/sat_writing-help/correcting-comparative-and-
superlative-errors

Rosie. (2017). Common Errors with Comparatives and Superlatives in English. ESLBUZZ. Retrieved October 6th, 2020 from https://www.eslbuzz.com/common-errors-with-comparatives-and-
superlatives-in-english/

Seonaid. (n.d.). Comparative Adjectives Exercise 1. Perfect English Grammar. Retrieved November 7th, 2020, from https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/comparative-adjectives-exercise-
1.html

The comparative and the superlative. (2020). Education First. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from https://www.ef.com/ca/english-resources/english-grammar/comparative-and-superlative/

Trach, E. (n.d.). What is a superlative adjective? Retrieved October 6th, 2020. https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/adjectives/what-is-a-superlative-adjective.html

Varsity Tutors. (2020). SAT Writing : Correcting Comparative and Superlative Errors. Retrieved October 6th, 2020, from https://www.varsitytutors.com/sat_writing-help/correcting-
comparative-and-superlative-errors