ENGLISH ACTIVITIES

Comparatives and Superlatives

Introduction

Comparatives and Superlatives are special forms of adjectives. They are used to compare two or more things. Generally, comparatives are formed using -er and superlatives are formed using -est. This page will explain the rules for forming regular comparatives and superlatives, and also show some basic ways of using them.

Comparative forms of adjectives

We use the comparative form to compare two people, things, animals, places, etc. We usually use than after comparative forms.

My car is faster than yours.

Mary is more beautiful than Susan.

Superlative forms of adjectives

We use the+superlative form+of/in to compare one person, thing, animal or place with two or more people, things, animals or places in the same group or place.

Ann is tall. Kelly is taller than Anna. Mary is the tallest of all.

Form

1.  Short adjectives.

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

tall	-taller-	tallest

• My hair is longer than your hair.

2.  One-Syllable adjective ending with a single consonant with a single vowel before It

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.

big	-bigger-	biggest

·         My cat is bigger than your cat.

3.  -y adjectives

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.

Busy-	Busier-	busiest

• Mary is the busiest person I've ever met.

4.  Longer adjectives.

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

careful	-more careful	-the most careful

• Mary is more careful than Ann.

5.  Irregular adjectives

good	-better-	best
Bad-	worse -	worst

• Italian food is better than American food.

	Adjective	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
Short adjectives	tall old long	taller older longer	tallest oldest longest
One-Syllable adjective ending with a single consonant with a single vowel before It	big thin fat	bigger thinner fatter	biggest thinnest fattest
-y adjectives	happy angry busy	happier angrier busier	happiest angriest busiest
Longer adjectives	careful expensive dangerous	more careful more expensive more dangerous	the most careful the most expensive the most dangerous
Irregular forms	good bad far little many	better worse farther less more	best worst farthest least most

ACTIVITIES

Reading, Listening, Writing and Grammar.

Activity 1: Reading and then listening to Alex talks about his best friends and then answer the questions.

My two best friends

George and Antonio are my best friends. Both of them are high school students. They are studying in COBAEM plantel 49 El Oro, both of them are very intelligent, good students, responsible, hard workers and are fans of Metallica.

Physically, they have many similar characteristics. George is 17 years old and Antonio is 18. Both weight 65 kilograms, but George is a bit taller than Antonio. George is 1.68 m and Antonio is 1.65 m tall. Both of them have brown hair, and big brown eyes. However, Antonio’s hair is longer and a little wavy, and George’s hair is shorter and curly.

Both of them drive, but their cars are very different. Antonio has a 2007, small, blue Chevy, while George has 1985, big, gray van.

Even when they are both my friends, their personalities are not similar. George is very friendly, likes to go parties, and loves top play videogames. George is an only child. He lives with her mother. George speaks Spanish and or little of English.

On the other hand, Antonio has very few friends, he loves airplanes and to read History books. He is a little shy and doesn’t practice any sport on a regular basis. He has a sister. He lives with his parents. Antonio can speak English and Spanish fluently, and a little of French.

Although they are very different, another thing they have in common is that I always have a great time with them! George is as good friend as Antonio.

Activity 2: Now listen to Alex talks about his best friends in the next link video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BP5Rkhz6ew

Activity 3: Answer the questions.

1. Who is taller?
2. Who has longer hair?
3. Who speaks more languages?
4. Who has more brothers and/or sisters?
5. Who has an older car?
6. Who has a newer car?

Activity 4: Complete the sentences according to the information in the text.

1. ______________ is as heavy as ______________.
2. ______________ is older than _______________.
3. ______________ is as intelligent as _______________.
4. ______________ is as responsible as ______________.
5. ______________ is taller as ______________.
6. ______________ is shorter than ______________.
7. ______________ has shorter hair than ___________.
8. ______________ has longer hair than _____________.
9. ______________‘s car is newer than ____________‘s car.
10. ________________ is as good friend as _____________.