Adjectives can compare things. The comparative form compares two things, usually adding "-er" or using "more" ("faster", "more interesting"). The superlative form compares three or more things, showing the extreme, usually adding "-est" or using "most" ("fastest", "most interesting"). Short adjectives (one syllable, or two ending in -y) usually take "-er/-est"; longer adjectives usually use "more/most". Some are irregular ("good" → "better" → "best").
Example
"This car is fast. That car is faster. But the red car is the fastest of all." Comparative "faster" compares two cars; superlative "fastest" compares three or more.
Key terms
Comparative:
The form of an adjective used to compare two things.
Superlative:
The form of an adjective used to compare three or more things, showing the extreme.
Questions
1. A comparative adjective compares:
One thing
Two things
Three or more things
Nothing
2. A superlative adjective compares:
One thing
Two things
Three or more things
Nothing
3. The comparative of "fast" is:
Fastest
Faster
Most fast
Fast
4. The superlative of "fast" is:
Faster
Fastest
More fast
Fast
5. Which is a superlative adjective?
Tall
Taller
Tallest
Tallness
6. Which is a comparative adjective?
Big
Bigger
Biggest
Bigness
7. Short adjectives often form comparatives by adding:
-est
-er
More
Most
8. Longer adjectives (like "interesting") usually form comparatives using:
-er
-est
More
Most and -est
9. The superlative of "interesting" is:
Interestinger
Interestingest
Most interesting
More interesting
10. Which sentence correctly uses a comparative?
She is the tallest in her class.
She is taller than her brother.
She is tall than her brother.
She is more tallest.
11. Which sentence correctly uses a superlative?
She is taller than everyone.
She is the tallest in her class.
She is tall than everyone.
She is more tall than everyone.
12. "Good" becomes "better" (comparative) and "best" (superlative) because it is:
A regular adjective
An irregular adjective
Not an adjective
A conjunction
13. Which sentence uses the correct comparative form of "beautiful"?
She is beautifuller than her sister.
She is more beautiful than her sister.
She is beautifullest.
She is most beautiful than her sister.
14. Which sentence correctly compares three or more items using a superlative?
Of the three trails, this one is harder.
Of the three trails, this one is the hardest.
Of the three trails, this one is more hard.
Of the three trails, this one is most harder.
15. Which sentence has an adjective form error?
She is the most tallest in her class.
She is the tallest in her class.
She is taller than her brother.
This is the best cake I've had.
16. Why is "gooder" incorrect as a comparative?
'Good' follows the regular -er pattern
'Good' is an irregular adjective that becomes 'better', not 'gooder'
There is no comparative form for 'good'
Comparatives never apply to 'good'
17. Which sentence correctly compares exactly two runners?
Of the two runners, she is the fastest.
Of the two runners, she is faster.
Of the two runners, she is most fast.
Of the two runners, she is fastest.
18. Doubling a final consonant before adding "-er" (like "big" → "bigger") follows a spelling rule for adjectives that:
End in a single vowel + consonant
End in -y always
Are always irregular
Never change spelling
19. Which best explains why "more interesting" is used instead of "interestinger"?
Longer adjectives typically use "more/most" rather than "-er/-est"
'Interesting' is an irregular adjective
There is no rule; both are equally correct
"Interestinger" is always correct
20. Understanding comparative and superlative forms mainly helps a writer:
Accurately compare things in writing
Avoid using adjectives altogether
Replace all nouns
Remove punctuation
Answer key (parent copy)
1. Two things
2. Three or more things
3. Faster
4. Fastest
5. Tallest
6. Bigger
7. -er
8. More
9. Most interesting
10. She is taller than her brother.
11. She is the tallest in her class.
12. An irregular adjective
13. She is more beautiful than her sister.
14. Of the three trails, this one is the hardest.
15. She is the most tallest in her class.
16. 'Good' is an irregular adjective that becomes 'better', not 'gooder'
17. Of the two runners, she is faster.
18. End in a single vowel + consonant
19. Longer adjectives typically use "more/most" rather than "-er/-est"