1. This restaurant is _________ than the other one. a) more big   b) bigger

 

2. My uncle is _________ than my mother. a) more old   b) older

 

3. This movie is _________ than the other one. a) more boring   b) boringer

 

4. The meal that Marta made is _________ than the one that John made. a) more delicious   b) deliciouser

 

5. I can't come now. I will come _________. a) more late   b) later

 

6. Can you come _________? a) more soon   b) sooner

 

7. You have to be _________ to your parents. a) more polite   b) politer

 

8. This song is bad, but the other one is _________. a) more bad   b) worse

 

9. This test is _________ than that last one. a) more difficult   b) difficulter

 

10. You have to drive a little _________. a) more far   b) farther

bigger

older

more boring

more delicious

later

sooner

more polite

w orse

more diff icult

farther

One Syllable Adjectives

add '-er' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel) remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'ier'

Example: cheap - cheaper / hot - hotter / high - higher

Example Sentences

Yesterday was hotter than today. This book is cheaper than that book.

Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y'

Example: happy - happier / funny - funnier

Example Sentences

I am happier than you. That joke was funnier than his joke.

Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives

place 'more' before the adjective

Example: interesting - more interesting / difficult - more difficult

Example Sentences

London is more expensive than Madrid. This test is more difficult than the last test.

Here is a chart showing how to construct the superlative form in English:

One Syllable Adjectives

place 'the' before the adjective and add '-est' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel)

Example: cheap - the cheapest / hot - the hottest / high - the highest

Example Sentences

Today is the hottest day of the summer. This book is the cheapest I can find.

Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives

place 'the most' before the adjective

Example: interesting - the most interesting / difficult - the most difficult

Example Sentences

London is the most expensive city in England. That is the most beautiful painting here.

Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y' place 'the' before the adjective and remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'iest'

Example: happy - the happiest / funny - the funniest

Example Sentences

New York is the noisiest city in the USA. He is the most important person I know.

IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS

There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important exceptions:

good

good - adjective better - comparative the best - superlative

Example Sentences

This book is better than that one. This is the best school in the city.

bad

bad - adjective worse - comparative the worst - superlative

Example Sentences

His French is worse than mine. This is the worst day of my life.

EXAMPLES OF IRREGULAR FORMSADJECTIVES COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVEMUCH/MANY MORE THE MOSTFEW/LITTLE LESS THE LEAST

GOOD BETTER THE BESTBAD WORSE THE WORST

ADJECTIVES

Regular forms requiring 'ER' or 'EST'

IMPORTANT GRAMMATICAL

POINTSADJECTIVES

COMPARATIVE FORMS

 (........ER)

SUPERLATIVE FORMS

(THE .....EST)

Adjectives with one syllable only THIN THINNER THE THINNEST

Adjectives ending in a single consonant which must be doubled

FAT FATTER THE FATTEST

Adjectives with one syllable, but ending in E

FIERCE FIERCER THE FIERCEST

Adjectives with one syllable + Y (Y changes to I)

FRIENDLY FRIENDLIER THE FRIENDLIEST

ADJECTIVES

Regular forms requiring 'MORE' or 'THE MOST'

Adjectives with more than one syllable Adjectives ending with ED or ING

ADJECTIVES

COMPARATIVE FORMS

 (MORE/LESS ........)

SUPERLATIVE FORMS

(THE MOST/THE LEAST .......)

DANGEROUS MORE/LESS DANGEROUS

THE MOST/THE LEAST DANGEROUS

BORED 

(even though only one syllable is pronounced)

MORE/LESS BORED THE MOST/THE LEAST BORED

INTERESTING MORE/LESS INTERESTING

THE MOST/THE LEAST INTERESTING

STANDARD CONSTRUCTION EXAMPLES

1. The black dog is fat

2. The fat dog is in the road.

3. The black dog is fatter than the white dog

4.  The white dog is not as fat as the black dog

5. The black dog is friendlier than the white dog, but the brown dog is the fiercest.

6. The white dog is the thinnest and it is less dangerous than the brown dog.

7.a) Those books are very interesting and this one is the least interesting of them all.

7.b) Those books are not very interesting and this one is the most boring of them all.

THE ANSWER KEY TO THE EXERCISE FOR PRACTISING ADJECTIVES

INSTRUCTIONS:  Use the above rules and examples to complete the following exercise

SOLDIER:  Hi, mate!  Can't wait to get home.  I haven't been home for six months.

SAILOR:     Well, I have been away from home much longer than that.

SOLDIER:   Where do you live?  I live in Scotland.

SAILOR:      Well, I live in Kent; it is a bit warmer than Scotland.

SOLDIER:    Have you got a girlfriend or wife? 

SAILOR:       Yes, I have a girlfriend who wants to marry me, but she's taller than me.

SOLDIER:     Is she a lot taller than you?   

SAILOR:        Oh, yes.  10 centimetres.

SOLDIER:     Well my girlfriend is much taller than that.  In fact she is the lankiest woman I know.

SAILOR:      My girlfriend's very tall, too.  Have you got a photo of your one?   

SOLDIER:         Yes, here it is.   My girlfriend is 2-the prettiest girl in the world, but she is so lanky.

SAILOR:        She reminds me of my girlfriend, but this woman has curlier hair.  Let me look closer with my glasses.   Hmmmm!   This woman is definitely as pretty as my girlfriend!   Just a minute!  She is MY girlfriend, not YOUR girlfriend!  You're the meanest scumbag I have ever met.  Get a girlfriend of your own!

SOLDIER:    Are you sure she's your girlfriend?  Is her hair as dark as your girlfriend's?  

SAILOR:   Well, no, but she must have dyed it.  It's usually much blonder than that.   I have always preferred blondes. 

SOLDIER:   Well, there you are, then.  She can't be your girlfriend - her hair's the wrong colour.

SAILOR:    Maybe you're right, but she does look just like my Meg.  Sorry, mate.  Didn't mean to turn on you like that.  I'm not usually as touchy as that.  Look, here's a photo of Meg.

SOLDIER:   Yes, she does resemble my Margaret a bit, but her hair is much lighter and she also looks chubbier in the face.  (Thinks:  You must bemore stupid than you look!)

SAILOR:  Yes.  You're right.  Well then, bye mate.  Nice to have met you.

SOLDIER:  Bye, mate.  (Thinks:  You must be the most gullible man I have ever met!)

Degrees

Positive

Comparatives Superlatives   Grado Positivo Compara

tivoSuperlat

ivo                 One-syllable adjectives

old older the oldest

Adjetivos de una sílaba

vieja/ omás

pequeña /o

el /la más

pequeña /o

cold colder the coldest frío más frío el la más fría

  new newer the newest     nueva/ o    

  young younger the youngest     joven    

  small smaller the smallest     pequeña/ o    

  high higher the highest     alta /o                                      Adjectives ending in -y

dirty dirtier the dirtiest

Adjetivos que terminan en -y

sucia/o más sucia/o

ella más sucia /o

  noisy noisier the noisiest     ruidosa/o    

  heavy heavier the heaviest     pesada/o    

                                         Two or more syllable adjectives

 

intelligent

more intelligent

the most intelligent

Adjetivos de dos o más sílabas

inteligente

más inteligent

e

el/la más inteligen

te

expensive

more expensive

the most expensive     cara/o    

  boring more boring

the most boring     aburrid

a/o    

                 

                 

                 Irregular adjectives

good better the best

Adjetivos irregulares

buena/o mejor el /la mejor

  bad worse the worst     mala/o    

  far further the furthest     lejos    

 

Adjetivo Comparativo Superlativo Españolangry Angrier angriest enfadado,

enojadobad Worse worst malobig Bigger biggest grandebitter Bitterer bitterest amargo,

resentido, agrioblack Blacker blackest negrobland Blander blandest sosobloody Bloodier bloodiest sanguinolentoblue Bluer bluest deprimidobold Bolder boldest audazbossy Bossier bossiest mandónbrave Braver bravest valientebrief Briefer briefest brevebright Brighter brightest brillante,

luminosobroad Broader broadest ancho, ampliobusy Busier busiest ocupado,

ajetreadocalm Calmer calmest tranquilocheap Cheap cheaper baratochewy Chewier chewiest correoso, gomosochubby Chubbier chubbiest rechonchoclassy Classier classiest eleganteclean Cleaner cleanest limpio, sanoclear Clear clearest claro, despejadoclever Cleverer cleverest listo, ingeniosoclose Closer closest cercacloudy Cloudier cloudiest nubiadoclumsy Clumsier clumsiest torpecoarse Coarser coarsest áspero, groserocold Colder coldest fríocool Cooler coolest fresco

crazy Crazier craziest lococreamy Creamier creamiest cremosocreepy Creepier creepiest espeluznante,

repugnantecrispy Crispier crispiest crujientecruel Crueler cruelest cruelcrunchy Crunchier crunchiest crujientecurly Curly curliest rizado, crespo,

quebradocurvy Curvier curviest curvocute Cuter cutest monodamp Dámper dampest húmedodark Darker darkest oscuro, morenodeadly Deadlier deadliest mortal, mortíferodeep Deeper deepest profundodense Denser densest densodirty dirtier dirtiest suciodry drier driest secodull duller dullest aburrido, soso,

tonto, romodumb dumber dumbest estúpidodusty dustier dustiest polvorientoearly earlier earliest pronto, tempranoeasy easier easiest facílfaint fainter faintest leve, tenue, vago,

ligerofair fairer fairest claro, sereno,

recto, justofancy fancier fanciest lujosofar further/farther furthest/farthest lejos, distantefast faster fastest rápidofat fatter fattest gordofew fewer fewest pocosfierce fiercer fiercest fiero, encarnizadofilthy filthier filthiest aaqueroso,

obscenofine finer finest finofirm firmer firmest firme, estrictofit fitter fittest apto, en forma

flaky flakier flakiest desconchadoflat flatter flattest llano, liso, planofresh fresher freshest fresco, nuevo,

originalfriendly friendlier friendliest agradable,

amable, amistosofull fuller fullest lleno, completofunny funnier funniest gracioso, curioso,

rarogentle gentler gentlest tierno, afectuoso,

suavegloomy gloomier gloomiest oscuro, abatido,

decaídogood better best bueno

grand grander grandestgrandioso, ambicioso, impotente

grave graver gravest gravegreasy greasier greasiest grasientogreat greater greatest grande, genialgreedy greedier greediest goloso, codicioso,

ávidogross grosser grossest asqueroso,

grosero, crasoguilty guilter guiltiest culpablehairy hairier hairiest velludo, peludo

handy handier handiestpráctivo, útil, habilidoso, mañoso

happy happier happiest feliz, contento, alegre

hard harder hardest duro, difícilharsh harsher harshest áspero, durohealthy healthier healthiest sano, saludableheavy heavier heaviest pesado, grueso,

fuerte, durohigh higher highest alto, elevado,

agudohip hipper hippest modernohot hotter hottest caliente,

caluroso, picante

humble humbler humblest humildehungry hungrier hungriest hambrientoicy icier iciest helado, fríoitchy itchier itchiest picajuicy juicier juiciest jugoso, zumoso,

suculento

kind kinder kindestamable, benévolo, cariñoso

large larger largest grandelate later latest tarde, restrasado,

recientelazy lazier laziest perezosolight lighter lightest ligero, clarolikely likelier likeliest probablelittle littler littlest pequeño, pocolively livelier liveliest animado, vivolonely lonlier lonliest solitariolong longer longest largoloud louder loudest fuerte, altolovely lovelier loveliest precioso, bello,

lindolow lower lowest bajomad madder maddest enfadado,

enojado, locomean meaner meanest malo, mezquino,

tacaño

messy messier messiestsucio, desordenado, desastroso

mild milder mildest afable, suave, leve

moist moister moistest húmedonarrow narrower narrowest estrecho, escasonasty nastier nastiest asqueroso,

desagradablenaughty naughtier naughtiest malo, travieso,

picantenear nearer nearest cercano, próximoneat neater neatest ordenado,

aseado, pulcroneedy needier neediest necesitado

new newer newestnuevo, fresco, reciente, moderno

nice nicer nicest simpatico, agradable, bueno

noisy noisier noisiest ruidoso, clamaroso

odd odder oddest raro, extrañooily oilier oiliest grasiento,

aceitosoold older/elder oldest/eldest viejo, anciano,

antiguoplain plainer plainest claro, sencillopolite politer politest educado, cortéspoor poorer poorest pobrepretty prettier prettiest bonito, lindo,

hermosoproud prouder proudest orgulloso,

soberbio, dignopure purer purest puroquick quicker quickest rápidoquiet quieter quietest tranquillo,

silenciosorare rarer rarest raroraw rawer rawest crudo, agrietadorich richer richest rico, abundanteripe riper ripest maduro, curadorisky riskier riskiest arriesgado,

peligrosoroomy roomier roomiest espaciosorough rougher roughest áspero, tosco,

bruto, roncorude ruder rudest maleducado,

grosero, toscorusty rustier rustiest oxidado

sad sadder saddesttriste, lamentable, penoso

safe safer safest seguro

salty saltier saltiest saladosane saner sanest cuerdo, sensatoscary scarier scariest espantoso,

asustadizoshallow shallower shallowest superficial, poco

profundosharp sharper sharpest afilado, cerrado,

agudoshiny shinier shiniest brillante,

relucienteshort shorter shortest corto, bajo,

chaparroshy shyer shyest tímidosilly sillier silliest tontosimple simpler simplest sencillo, simple,

facílsincere sincerer sincerest sincero, genuinoskinny skinnier skinniest flacosleepy sleepier sleepiest adormilado,

soñolientoslim slimmer slimmest delgado, fino

slimy slimier slimiestviscoso, pegajoso, empalagoso

slow slower slowest lentosmall smaller smallest pequeñosmart smarter smartest listo, inteligente,

agudosmelly smellier smelliest apestososmoky smokier smokiest humeante,

ahumadosmooth smoother smoothest liso, suave, llano,

fluidosoft softer softest blando, suavesoon sooner soonest prontosore sorer sorest doloridosorry sorrier sorriest lamentablesour sourer sourest agrio, ácido

spicy spicier spiciestpicante, especiado, sazonado

steep steeper steepest empinado, pronunciado

stingy stingier stingiest tacaño, rácano, raquítico

strange stranger strangest raro, extraño, desconocido

strict stricter strictest estricto, rígidostrong stronger strongest fuerte, sólido,

intenso, marcadosunny sunnier sunniest soleado, radiantesweaty sweatier sweatiest sudorososweet sweeter sweetest dulcetall taller tallest altotan tanner tannest bronceado,

morenotasty tastier tastiest rico, sabroso,

apetitosothick thicker thickest grueso, denso,

espeso, pobladothin thinner thinnest delgado, finothirsty thirstier thirstiest sedientotiny tinier tiniest diminuto,

minúsculotough tougher toughest fuerte, resistente,

duro, difíciltrue truer truest cierto, verdadero,

leal, fielugly uglier ugliest feowarm warmer warmest caliente,

templado, cálidoweak weaker weakest débil, flojowealthy wealthier wealthiest rico, pudienteweird weirder weirdest raro, extrañowet wetter wettest mojado, húmedo,

lluviosowide wider widest ancho, amplio,

extensowild wilder wildest salvaje, silvestre,

descontroladowindy windier windiest ventosowise wiser wisest sabio, sensato,

prudenteworldly worldlier worldliest mundano,

terrenoworthy worthier worthiest virtuoso, dignoyoung younger younges joven

One-syllable adjectives.Form the comparative and superlative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er for the comparative form and –est for the superlative.

One-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form

tall taller tallest

old older oldest

long longer longest

Mary is taller than Max.

Mary is the tallest of all the students.

Max is older than John.

Of the three students, Max is the oldest. My hair is longer than your hair.

Max's story is the longest story I've ever heard.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form and –st for the superlative form.

One-Syllable Adjective with Final -e Comparative Form Superlative Form

large larger largest

One-Syllable Adjective with Final -e Comparative Form Superlative Form

wise wiser wisest

Mary's car is larger than Max's car.

Mary's house is the tallest of all the houses on the block.

Max is wiser than his brother.

Max is the wisest person I know.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with a single consonant with a vowel before it, double the consonant and add –er for the comparative form; and double the consonant and add –est for the superlative form.

One-Syllable Adjective Ending with a Single Consonant with a Single Vowel before It

Comparative Form Superlative Form

big bigger biggest

thin thinner thinnest

fat fatter fattest

My dog is bigger than your dog.

My dog is the biggest of all the dogs in the neighborhood.

Max is thinner than John.

Of all the students in the class, Max is the thinnest. My mother is fatter than your mother.

Mary is the fattest person I've ever seen.

Two-syllable adjectives.With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.

Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form

peaceful more peaceful most peaceful

pleasant more pleasant most pleasant

careful more careful most careful

thoughtful more thoughtful most thoughtful

This morning is more peaceful than yesterday morning.

Max's house in the mountains is the most peaceful in the world.

Max is more careful than Mike.

Of all the taxi drivers, Jack is the most careful. Jill is more thoughtful than your sister.

Mary is the most thoughtful person I've ever met.

If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative form. For the superlative form

change the y to i and add –est.

Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -y Comparative Form Superlative Form

happy happier happiest

angry angrier angriest

busy busier busiest

John is happier today than he was yesterday.

John is the happiest boy in the world.

Max is angrier than Mary.

Of all of John's victims, Max is the angriest. Mary is busier than Max.

Mary is the busiest person I've ever met.

Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, or –ow take –er and –est to form the comparative and superlative forms.

Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -er, -le, or -ow Comparative Form Superlative Form

narrow narrower narrowest

gentle gentler gentlest

The roads in this town are narrower than the roads in the city.

This road is the narrowest of all the roads in California.

Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.

Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest.

Adjectives with three or more syllables.For adjectives with three syllables or more, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.

Adjective with Three or More Syllables Comparative Form Superlative Form

generous more generous most generous

important more important most important

intelligent more intelligent most intelligent

John is more generous than Jack.

John is the most generous of all the people I know.

Health is more important than money.

Of all the people I know, Max is the most important. Women are more intelligent than men.

Mary is the most intelligent person I've ever met.

Exceptions.Irregular adjectives.

Irregular Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form

good better Best

bad worse Worst

far farther Farthest

little less Least

many more Most

Italian food is better than American food.

My dog is the best dog in the world.

My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's cooking.

Of all the students in the class, Max is the worst.

Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These adjectives can be used with -er and -est and with more and most.

Two-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form

clever cleverer Cleverest

clever more clever most clever

gentle gentler Gentlest

gentle more gentle most gente

friendly friendlier Friendliest

friendly more friendly most friendly

quiet quieter Quietest

quiet more quiet most quiet

simple simpler Simplest

simple more simple most simple

Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.

Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest. Big dogs are more gentle than small dogs.

Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the most gentle.

Comparative/superlative

Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two things. The two basic ways to compare are using as .. as or than. Examples of each are shown below:

She's twice as old as her sister. He's not as stupid as he looks! I'm almost as good in maths as in science. This book is not as exciting as the last one. The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual. Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.

This computer is better than that one. She's stronger at chess than I am. It's much colder today than it was yesterday. Our car is bigger than your car. This grammar topic is easier than most others. I find science more difficult than mathematics.

Today's ESL lesson was more interesting than usual.

Note: In each of the example sentences above, the comparative form of the adjective is shown. See the foot of this page for information about the comparison of adverbs.

When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not change. When comparing with than, however, some changes are necessary, depending on the number of syllables the adjective has:

1-syllable adjectives: add -er to the adjective

My sister is much taller than me.† It's colder today than it was yesterday.

Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in the comparative. Examples: big-bigger, fat-fatter, hot-hotter.

2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -ier

She's looking happier today. This grammar topic is easier than the last one. Why is everyone else luckier than me? †

Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y must be compared with the word more. Example: I drive more quickly (quicklier) than my brother.

Other 2-syllable adjectives: use more with the unchanged adjective

The shops are always more crowded just before Christmas. Is there anything more boring than reading about grammar? My sister is more careful with her writing than I am with mine.

Note: The comparative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er. Examples:simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be sure which comparative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.

Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use more with the unchanged adjective

Russian grammar is more difficult than English grammar. My sister is much more intelligent than me.† I find maths lessons more enjoyable than science lessons. The older you get, the more irritating you become.

In the superlative you talk about one thing only and how it is the best, worst, etc. You do not compare two things. The following guidelines apply to the superlative:

1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the adjective (plus the)

My sister is the tallest in our family.

Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far.

Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.

2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -iest (plus the)

The richest people are not always the happiest. Which do you think is the easiest language to learn? She's the luckiest person I know.

Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y form their superlative with the words the most. Example: Of all the people I know my father drives the most quickly (quickliest).

Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the unchanged adjective

The most boring thing about ESL class is doing grammar exercises. My sister is the most careful person I know.

Note: The superlative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er. Examples:simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure which superlative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.

Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use the most with the unchanged adjective

Some people think that Russian is the most difficult language. Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history. My most enjoyable class is English. You are the most irritating person I have ever met!

Following are two common irregular comaparative/superlative forms:

good-better-the best bad-worse-the worst

The following guidelines apply to the comparative/superlative of most adverbs:

1-syllable adverbs: add -er/-est

I can run faster than you. / I can run the fastest in my class. She works harder than me.† / She works the hardest of all students.

Other adverbs: use more / the most*

She ran more quickly than me.† / Of all the students she ran the most quickly.