Identifying and using the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives
Strategy
Language - adjectives rules for forming comparative and superlative adjectives
1. Most adjectives of one syllable form the comparative by adding 'er' and the superlative by adding 'est'.
For example:
| Adjective | Comparative form | Superlative form |
|---|---|---|
| fast | faster | fastest |
| sweet | sweeter | sweetest |
| bold | bolder | boldest |
2. When an adjective ends in 'e', add 'r' for the comparative and 'st' for the superlative forms of the adjective.
For example:
| Adjective | Comparative form | Superlative form |
|---|---|---|
| simple | simpler | simplest |
| fine | finer | finest |
| able | abler | ablest |
3. When a one syllable word ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant, add the consonant and 'er' for the comparative form and the consonant and 'est' for the superlative form.
For example:
| Adjective | Comparative form | Superlative form |
|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | biggest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| mad | madder | maddest |
| hot | hotter | hottest |
4. When the adjective ends in a 'y' and is preceded by a consonant, change the 'y' into 'i' before adding 'er' for the comparative and 'est' for the superlative form of the adjective.
For example:
| Adjective | Comparative form | Superlative form |
|---|---|---|
| busy | busier | busiest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| noisy | noisier | noisiest |
| pretty | prettier | prettiest |
| wealthy | wealthier | wealthiest |
5. When the adjective has two or more syllables, the comparative is formed by using the adverbs 'more' or 'less', and the superlative is formed by using the adverbs 'most' or 'least'.
For example:
| Adjective | Comparative form | Superlative form |
|---|---|---|
| courageous | more courageous less courageous |
the most courageous the least courageous |
| beautiful | more beautiful less beautiful |
the most beautiful the least beautiful |
| difficult | more difficult less difficult |
the most difficult the least difficult |
| helpful | helpful more less helpful |
the most helpful the least helpful |
6. Some adjectives are compared irregularly. This happens when their comparative and superlative forms are different from the original adjective.
For example:
| Adjective | Comparative form | Superlative form |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| far | further | furthest |
| little | less | least |
Activities to support the strategy
Activity 1: notebook thick and thin descriptions
Ask students questions about the topic to identify their prior knowledge. (What are comparative and superlative adjectives? Also ask questions which explore their understanding of adjectives and their purpose in texts.) Have students compete in small groups to complete the 'thickest' description for each page. Springboard from this activity to write or find the 'thinnest' of stories and then elaborate them into the 'thickest'. The thinnest stories may be the students' own previous work.
Activity 2: Guess which one
Take the students into the library / computer lab / garden and get them to identify three objects of the same kind, for example. books, computers/ laptops, pencils, desks, shrubs or trees, seats. Put students in groups and get each group to differentiate between the objects. Each group must write at least four sentences that compare the objects they have chosen. Get each group to share their conclusions with the rest of the class who raise their hands if they agree with the comparative judgment made by the group. This gives the group feedback on the accuracy of their comparisons.
Activity 3: use superlative and comparatives with peers
Reinforce comparative and superlative adjectives by having the students in the class compare themselves. Organise the students into groups of four and get them to spend a couple of minutes each telling the rest of their group about themselves. They are then to make as many true sentences as they can to compare each other. They can base their comparisons on:
- how big their families are
- how many after school activities they engage with
- how many books they have borrowed this term/ year
- how many times have they played on the computer this week
- how much television they watch
- what time they arrive at school
- how big their school bag is
- how close they live to the local shops.
At the end of the time allocated for the activity, get some of the students to read out their sentences.
Activity 4: magazine cut out
Pairs and groups of students find and cut out pictures of different objects, animals or people from magazines. Students are to make up two sentences each for the comparative and superlative degree by contrasting and comparing the objects in the pairs of pictures. Students also need to identify the form of the comparison (comparative or superlative) used in the sentence. Students are to work individually and within a set time limit.
The teacher can also source as many pictures as they choose, making the pictures relevant to topics being taught in class across Key Learning Areas.
Activity 5: adjective game on a board
Use a 'Snakes and Ladders' game board or other produced one or a teacher/student made board (printed and laminated). Use a dice and game pieces.
Print and laminate adjective cards make your own or use Adjective cards (PDF 59.07KB). Each card has one adjective. The student must express a superlative or comparative adjective in order to take a turn in the game. Students need to be careful that some of these are irregular.
