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Grammar Worksheet

Comparatives and Superlatives

A2–B1 forming and using comparative and superlative adjectives
Explanation

We use comparatives to compare two people, things, or places: London is bigger than Paris.

We use superlatives to say which one is the most or least in a group: Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

Short adjectives add -er / -est; long adjectives use more / most; some adjectives are irregular: good → better → best.

Form
Adjective typeComparativeSuperlative
Short (1 syllable): talltaller (than)the tallest
Short ending -e: nicenicer (than)the nicest
Short CVC: bigbigger (than)the biggest
2 syllables ending -y: happyhappier (than)the happiest
Long (2+ syllables): expensivemore expensive (than)the most expensive
Irregular: good / bad / farbetter / worse / fartherthe best / the worst / the farthest

Use ‘than’ after a comparative: She is taller than her brother.

Use ‘the’ before a superlative: It is the best film I have ever seen.

Examples
  1. This bag is cheaper than the red one.
  2. The blue car is faster than the green one.
  3. She is more confident than she was last year.
  4. That was the worst meal I have ever had.
  5. Tokyo is one of the most exciting cities in the world.
  6. He runs farther than anyone else in his class.
  7. Today is hotter than yesterday.
  8. This is the most interesting book I have read.
Common Mistakes
Exercises
1 Write the comparative

Write the comparative form of the adjective in brackets to complete each sentence.

The coffee is _____ than the tea. (hot)  →  hotter than

  1. My flat is yours. (small)
  2. I think Paris is Brussels. (beautiful)
  3. The new version is the old one. (good)
  4. The city centre is the suburbs. (noisy)
  5. The station is the bus stop. (far)
2 Correct the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.

  1. She is more tall than her brother.
  2. It was the most bad film I have ever seen.
  3. This phone is the more expensive in the shop.
  4. He arrived more early than I expected.
3 Superlative sentences

Write a sentence using the superlative form of the adjective given.

long / river / world  →  The Amazon is the longest river in the world.

  1. high / mountain / world
  2. popular / sport / country
  3. bad / day / my life
  4. old / building / city
  5. good / student / class
4 Compare your world

Write four sentences comparing things in your life, city, or country. Use comparatives or superlatives.

  1. Compare two cities you know. (… is bigger / more … than …)
  2. Compare two people you know. (… is taller / funnier / more … than …)
  3. Write about the best thing in your city. (The best … is …)
  4. Compare two things you eat or drink. (… is healthier / tastier / more … than …)
5 Choose the correct form

Underline the correct option in each sentence.

  1. This exercise is (easier / more easy) than the last one.
  2. She is (the most talented / the talentest) singer I have heard.
  3. My new job is (more stressful / stressfuler) than my old one.
  4. That was (the worse / the worst) storm in fifty years.
Speaking Activity

Work with a partner. Use comparatives and superlatives to talk about the topics below.

Share your most interesting comparison with the class. Explain why you think so.