Comparative -Superlative Adjective & Adverb

When should we use comparative and superlative?

Comparatives Adjectives

Comparatives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared

Example of Comparative

• Noun (subject) + verb + Adjective -er + than + noun (object).

• My house is larger than hers.

• Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.

Superlative Adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.

Example of Superlative

• My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.

• Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.

Toño ran quickly.

(‘Quickly’ describes how he ran; it's the adverb.)

Ana carefully placed the buns into the hot oven.
(‘Carefully’ describes how she put them in the oven).

An adverb is a word used to tell you where, when or how something is
done. Lots of adverbs end with -ly.

What are Adverbs?

e.g.

Rosie ran fast.

Rosie ran faster than Cloe

Comparatives are used when comparing two things.

What are Comparatives?

e.g.

The comparative is faster.

To make the comparative of adverbs with two or more syllables
add the word ‘more’.

These adverbs ending in -ly have two syllables.

Two or More Syllable Adverbs

sadly

more sadly

slowly

more slowly

safely

more safely

Irregular Adverbs

badly

worse

well

better

Some irregular adverbs have irregular comparatives too.

Some comparatives for these irregular adverbs.

Irregular Adverbs

early

far

little

much

earlier

farther

less

more

Toño ran quickly.

(‘Quickly’ describes how he ran; it's the adverb.)

Ana carefully placed the buns into the hot oven.
(‘Carefully’ describes how she put them in the oven).

An adverb is a word used to tell you where, when or how something is
done. Lots of adverbs end with -ly.

What are Adverbs?

e.g.

Find the adverbs in the sentences below.

Spot the Adverbs

Laura crossed the busy road safely.

The girl looked everywhere for her missing homework book.

Philomena climbed the wall bravely.

Rosie ran fast.

Rosie ran faster than Cloe

Comparatives are used when comparing two things.

What are Comparatives?

e.g.

The comparative is faster.

We can add -er to many one syllable adverbs to make the comparative,

One Syllable Adverbs

fast

faster

hard

harder

late

later

To make the comparative of adverbs with two or more syllables
add the word ‘more’.

These adverbs ending in -ly have two syllables.

Two or More Syllable Adverbs

sadly

more sadly

slowly

more slowly

safely

more safely

Irregular Adverbs

badly

worse

well

better

Some irregular adverbs have irregular comparatives too.

Some comparatives for these irregular adverbs.

Irregular Adverbs

early

far

little

much

earlier

farther

less

more