Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

When two people or things are being compared,

the comparative degree is used.

Ex-Sue is happier than Katie.

When three or more people or things are being

compared, the superlative degree is used.

Ex-Sue is the happiest person I know.

For some adjectives of two syllables, and all adjectives of three or more syllables, use more or less to form the comparative and most or least to form the superlative.

comparative-more or less superlative-most or least

Ex-He is more educated than I remember. That is the most beautiful horse on the farm. Tim is less active than Mason.

More, Most, Less, Least

When do you know to add -er or -est instead of just adding more or most?

For all adjectives of one syllable and a few adjectives of two syllables, add -er to form the comparative degree and -est to form the superlative degree.

Ex-tall -taller -tallest

*Note*

Some adjectives have irregular comparisons.

Ex-good, better, best bad, worse, worst

Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

When two actions are being compared, the comparative degree is used. Use -er to form the comparative degree.

Ex-Alex worked harder than Bob.

When three or more actions are being compared, the superlative degree is used.Use -est to form the superlative degree.

Ex-Alex worked hardest of all.

Use more or most with longer adverbs and with adverbs that end in ly.

Ex-Karen finished more quickly than Sally. Sally works the most carefully of the two.

*Note*Some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative degrees.Ex-well, better, best badly, worse, worst

Adjectivesgentlehelpfuldifficulttroublesomehighdeliciousintelligentsoft

Adverbsfast carefullyquietlyslowfrequentlyproudlyevenlywell

Practice:

On a sheet of paper write the adjective of comparison in each sentence. Label each adjective as comparative or superlative.

1. Selling a home is often more inconvenient than buying a home.

2. Because of the emotional ties inherent in home ownership, every homeowner believes his or her domicile is the best.

3. Although there are many decisions to be made when selling your home, the most difficult task is deciding on a fair price.

4. A buyer is more suspicious of an inflated price when the home is in disrepair.

5. The worst part of selling is having to allow strangers to roam through the home.

On your paper list the adverb in each sentence and label it as comparative or superlative.

1. Exercise equipment is the most popularly advertised product in sports magazines.

2. Some experts believe exercise is most effective the more slowly it is done.

3. In our gym, the step machine is the most consistently used piece of equipment.

4. The physical fitness center I used to attend moved closer to my home.

5. Some joggers run longer than others.

Write 2 sentences per group...Group 1, 3, and 5-adj

Group 2, 4, and 6-adv: 1

1 adj sentence that is comparative1 adj sentence that is superlative111 adv sentence that is comparative1 adv sentence that is superlative