ESL Inventory

Comparatives Superlatives: Rules, Examples & Exercises

We use comparatives superlatives all the time in English to compare people, places, and things. We say that one thing is bigger, better, or more interesting than another, or that something is the best or the most interesting in a group. But are you using them correctly?

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Infographic explaining both comparatives and superlatives in English. It presents irregular forms such as good → better than → the best, bad → worse than → the worst, and far → farther or further than → the furthest. The infographic shows rules for one-syllable adjectives, adjectives ending in consonant-vowel-consonant, two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, adjectives with two or more syllables, and adverbs ending in -ly. Each rule includes paired example sentences comparing two things and identifying the highest degree. Full article: https://esl-inventory.com/
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Comparatives Superlatives: Table

We use comparatives to compare two things. While superlatives we use to show the highest degree or quality of something among three or more things.
Click here to study just Comparatives. And here to study just Superlatives.

Adjective RuleAdjectiveComparative FormSuperlative Form
One syllable, regulartalltallerthe tallest
One syllable ending in -enicenicerthe nicest
One syllable, vowel + consonant (double)bigbiggerthe biggest
Two syllables ending in -yhappyhappierthe happiest
Two syllables, not ending in -ymodernmore modernthe most modern
Three or more syllablesinterestingmore interestingthe most interesting
Irregular: goodgoodbetterthe best

Spelling Exceptions

Adjectives ending in a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC)

  • Double the last consonant before adding -er or -est.
  • Example: big → bigger, biggest

Irregular adjectives
Some adjectives don’t follow the rules.

AdjectiveComparative FormSuperlative Form
goodbetterthe best
badworsethe worst
farfarther / furtherthe farthest / the furthest
little (amount)lessthe least
much / manymorethe most

Adjectives that don’t change:

  • Some words like fun are used with more and the most instead of changing form. In fact, when we say funnier it means something different. Compare:
    • “This game is more fun than the other one.” -> it’s more amusing, entertaining
    • “This game is funnier than the other one.” -> it makes us laugh more

Comparatives Superlatives Exercises

EXERCISE: Comparative or Superlative?

Choose the correct options to fill the gaps.

1 / 10

This book is __________ than the one I read last week.

2 / 10

That mountain is  __________  in the country.

3 / 10

That was the __________  movie I’ve ever seen.

4 / 10

This exercise is __________ than the one we did yesterday.

5 / 10

John is the __________  runner in our school.

6 / 10

This house is __________  than our old one.

7 / 10

Your idea is __________ than mine.

8 / 10

Today is  __________ day of the week!

9 / 10

This exam is __________ than the previous one.

10 / 10

Sarah is __________ than her brother.

Your score is

0%

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EXERCISE: Comparative or Superlative? (Round 2)

Choose the correct options to fill the gaps.

1 / 10

That was the __________ moment of my life.

2 / 10

My dog is __________ than my neighbor’s dog.

3 / 10

My new phone is __________ than my old one.

4 / 10

This road is __________ than the one we took yesterday.

5 / 10

Winter is the __________ season of the year.

6 / 10

Emily’s painting is the __________ in the whole competition.

7 / 10

Ben is the __________ student in the class.

8 / 10

This task is __________ than I expected.

9 / 10

This movie is __________ than the last one we watched.

10 / 10

She is the __________ student in our group.

Your score is

0%

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More Exercises: Oxford Online | ContinuingStudies1 | ContinuingStudies2 | Ego4u | UsingEnglish | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 | AgendaWeb6 | AgendaWeb7 | AgendaWeb8 | AgendaWeb9 | AgendaWeb10 | AgendaWeb11 | AgendaWeb12 | AgendaWeb13 |

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