Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

What is Comparative?  

Comparative is the form of adjective, or adverb that expresses more in amount, degree or quality. (Oxford Dictionary) We use comparative form of adjectives to make comparison between two.

What is superlative? 

Superlative is the form of adjective or adverb that expresses the highest degree of something. (Oxford Dictionary) We use superlative forms of adjective or adverb to make comparisons among many. 

Rule-1:

We usually add –er and –est to one-syllable words to make comparatives and superlatives:

Rule-2:

If an adjective ends in –e, we add –r or –st:

Rule-3:

If an adjective ends in a consonant and –y, we change –y to –i and add –er or –est:

Rule-4:

If an adjective ends in a vowel and –y, we do not change –y. We simply add –er or –est:

Rule-5:

If an adjective ends in a vowel + a consonant, we double the consonant:

Rule-6:

If an adjective ends in two consonants, we do not double the consonant:

Rule-7:

We use more/less  and most/least to make comparatives and superlatives for most two syllable adjectives and for all adjectives with three or more syllables:

Rule-8:

If a two-syllable adjective ends in a vowel and –le, –er, –y, we add –er and –est to form comparative and superlative:

Rule-9:

The following adjectives have irregular comparatives and superlatives:

Degree of Comparison Worksheet

1. Fill in the blanks with right form of adjectives from the bracket.

1. He is the (strongest/stronger) ---------- of the two.    
2. This is the (oldest/older) ---------- in Dhaka.    
3. This cloth is (better/superior) ---------- to that.    
4. Which is the (wiser / wisest) ---------- of the three sons?    
5. There are (less / fewer) ---------- girls than boys here.

2. Fill in the blanks with the right form of degrees in the brackets:

1. Mr. Hasan is the ---------- (fit) chairman.    
2. This is the ---------- (rare) opportunity.   
3. He talks ---------- (little) than you.   
4. He is not ---------- (obedient) to you than to me.    
5. My car is the ---------- (expensive) in the town.    
6. This is ---------- (splendid) than all other buildings.    
7. Very few persons are as ---------- (stoutest) as he.    
8. Luna is the ---------- (smart) of all girls.    
9. A railway station is ---------- (busy) than any other place.    
10. This mountain is the ---------- (high) in Europe.

3. Use the right form of degrees in the brackets.

1. The elephant is the ---------- of all land animals. (large)   
2. Your hand is as ---------- as ice. (cold)   
3. Salma is the ---------- of the three girls. (tall)    
4. Iron is ---------- than gold. (useful)   
5. Everest is the ---------- mountain in the Himalayas. (high)   
6. The weather is ---------- today than yesterday. (bad)   
7. Your pen is ---------- than hers. (expensive)    
8. Cairo is the ---------- city in the world. (old)    
9. Your pronunciation is ---------- than mine. (good)    
10. You have Tk-20/-. I have Tk-l0/-. I have ---------- money than you have. (little)

4. Fill in the blanks with suitable degrees.

1. City life is not as ---------- as village life.   
2. The old man is the ---------- of all men.   
3. Bangladesh is ---------- than any other country.   
4. This is the ---------- day in the year.    
5. The Padma is the ---------- river in Bangladesh.    
6. No other girl is as ---------- as Rina.    
7. Anis is ---------- than you.    
8. Money is ---------- than honey.    
9. Dhaka is the ---------- city of Bangladesh.    
10. Akbar was as ---------- as a lion.

5. Re-write the following sentences putting the right form of the adjectives in the brackets.

1. He is the ---------- (old) man in the village.    
2. Kamal is the ---------- (good) boy in the class.    
3. Faruk is ---------- (tall) than I.    
4. Mujib is ---------- (strong) than his brother.    
5. She is the ---------- (beautiful) girl in the class.    
6. This pen is ---------- (cheap) than that.    
7. Iron is the ---------- (useful) metal.    
8. Dipu is ---------- (active) than Siraj.   
9. Flies fly ---------- (swiftly) than birds.   
10. You look ---------- (pretty) than she.

6. Use the right form of degrees in the brackets.

1. Rahim is ----------  (intelligent) and taller than Karim.    
2. The wiser you are, the ----------  (happy) you will be.     
3. He has ----------  (supreme) power.    
4. This is a ---------- (unique) opportunity.    
5. They are ---------- (wise) of all.    
6. He is as ----------  (strong) as a lion.   
7. It is ----------  (good) to go than staying.    
8. Of the two girls Salma is ---------- (beautiful).
9. Rahim is the ---------- (old) son of his parents.    
10. Mr. Zaman is the ---------- (old) man in our village.

7. Use the right form of degrees in the brackets.

1. He is ---------- boy in the class. (good)    
2. She is ---------- than wise. (clever)   
3. Ali is ---------- than any other boy in the class. (tall)    
4. Gold is a ---------- metal. (precious)    
5. He is ---------- boy of this class. (young)    
6. He is ---------- man in the village. (wise)     
7. Sabina is ---------- than Mina. (beautiful)    
8. The book is ---------- than yours. (fine)    
9. Dhaka is ---------- city in Bangladesh. (large)    
10. They are ---------- than all others. (popular)

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable degrees.

1. Raka is the ---------- girl in the class. 
2. Ruba is the ---------- girl in the village. 
3. He is ---------- than that. 
4. I am ---------- better today. 
5. Dhaka is ---------- from Chittagong than Comilla. 
6. Iron is ---------- than gold. 
7. Rabindranath is the ---------- poet in Bengali literature. 
8. The pen is ---------- than the sword. 
9. No other festival of the Muslim is as ---------- as the holy Ramadan. 
10. He is ---------- to me.

9. Correct the following sentences.

1. The book is inferior than that. 
2. Death is preferable than dishonour. 
3. I prefer to read than to write.   
4. I am comparatively better today. 
5. Kobita is more taller than Sobita. 
6. This tree is the most tallest in the jungle.
7. He is smaller than me.  
8. Going by bus is easier than to go by rickshaw.
9. It is better to do than staying. 
10. I am much happy now. 
11. I am very better today. 
12. It is much interesting.  
13. I was very interested.