Adjectives have three forms – positive, comparative and superlative. Short adjectives form their comparative and superlative by adding –er and –est to the positive.

Bright – brighter – brightest

Slow – slower – slowest

Cheap – cheaper – cheapest

Tall – taller – tallest

Longer adjectives form their comparative and superlative with more and most.

Serious – more serious – most serious

Comfortable – more comfortable – most comfortable

We can use –er or more with some two syllable adjectives. Examples are: clever, narrow, quiet, shallow, simple

Degrees of Comparison Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with an adjective of the appropriate degree of comparison.

1. Let’s take the bus. It is ………………. (cheaper / cheapest)

2. Driving is ……………….. than traveling by car. (more expensive / most expensive)

3. This wire is ………………. than that. (thin / thinner / thinnest). 

4. Do you have a ……………….. room? (big / bigger / more big / biggest)

5. I think I am the ………………. mother in the world. (lucky / more lucky / most lucky / luckiest / luckier)

6. You walk ……………….. than I do. (slowly / more slowly / slowlier)

7. The situation is becoming ……………….. (more serious / most serious)

8. You are ………………. than me. (old / older / oldest)

9. She is ………………… than me. (successful / more successful / most successful)

10. The exam was quite ……………. (tough / tougher / toughest) – ………………. than I expected. (tough / tougher / toughest)

11. Today I woke up ………………. than usual. (early / earlier / earliest)

12. She was …………………. than I thought. (clever / cleverer / more clever / cleverest)

Answers

1. cheaper, 2. more expensive, 3. thinner, 4. bigger, 5. luckiest, 6. more slowly, 7. more serious, 8. older, 9. more successful, 10. tougher, 11. earlier, 12. cleverer / more clever