Language
Comparing with adjectives
Form the comparative and the superlative of an adjective, and use each one where it belongs.
An adjective has three degrees. The plain form describes one thing on its own — a tall boy. The comparative weighs one against another — taller than his brother. The superlative picks one out of the whole group — the tallest boy in the class.
Short adjectives take -er and -est
tall, taller, tallest. quick, quicker, quickest. Most adjectives of one syllable go this way, and so do many short ones of two.
Longer adjectives take more and most
beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful. helpful, more helpful, most helpful. Say it aloud: "beautifuller" is exactly as wrong as it sounds.
Three spellings to watch
A short word ending in one vowel and one consonant doubles it: thin, thinner — but never a w, so slow just becomes slower. A word ending in -e just adds -r or -st: large, larger. A word ending in a consonant and -y changes the y to i: dusty, dustier.
A few refuse the rules
good, better, best. bad, worse, worst. many, more, most. These are worth learning by heart, because no rule will get you there.
Never use both signals at once
"More taller" and "most tallest" say the same thing twice. Choose -er and -est, or choose more and most, and then stop.
Worked example
Fill the gap: "This is the ____ (easy) question on the whole paper."
Count what is being compared: the whole paper, so more than two.
More than two means the superlative degree, not the comparative.
Try it together
Let us climb the three degrees twice.
First with a short adjective, then with a long one. Write exactly what is asked for — one word for the short adjective, two words for the long one.
1.The adjective is "cold". Compare two days: Today is ____ than yesterday. Write one word.
Have a go
Which is the comparative of "thin"?
Ready to practice?
Eight questions on what you have just read. Nothing is timed, and you can play as many times as you like.