Comparatives and Superlatives
A1 ESOL

1. What are comparatives?
We use a comparative to compare two people, places, animals, or things.

We often use than.  Examples:
     a) Tom is tall. Jack is taller.
      Compare: Jack is taller than Tom.
      b)  A car is faster than a bicycle.
      c)  My house is bigger than your house.
Comparative = compare 2 things

 2. Short adjectives
For many short adjectives, add -er.   Examples
     a) John is taller than Mike.
     b)  A mouse is smaller than a cat.
     c)  A train is faster than a car.

 3. Adjectives ending in -y
Change y to i and add -er.

Examples
    a)  Today I am happy - Today Iam happier than yesterday.
    b)  English is easy - English is easier than maths.
    c)   Monday is busy - Monday is busier than Sunday.

What are superlatives?

We use a superlative when we compare three or more people, places, animals, or things. We usually use the before the superlative.

Examples
Tom is tall.
Jack is taller than Tom.
Sam is the tallest person in the class.
Superlative = comparing 3 or more things

1. Short adjectives
For many short adjectives, add -est 

Examples
   a)   Sarah is the tallest girl in the class.
   b)  This is the cheapest shop.
   c)  The cheetah is the fastest animal.
 
 2. Adjectives ending in -y
Change y to i and add -est.

Examples
   a)   He is the happiest (happy) person here.
   b)  This is the easiest (easy) question.
   c)   Friday is the busiest (busy) day.

3. Long adjectives
For many long adjectives, use: more + adjective and the most + adjective

Examples
   a)  London is more expensive than Cork.
   b) This book is more interesting than that book.
   c) This is the most expensive car in the shop.
   d) She is the most beautiful singer in the competition.

4. Important irregular adjectives
Some adjectives are different.

Examples
   a) This pizza is better than that pizza.
   b) Today is better than yesterday.
   c) This is the best restaurant.
   d) My headache is worse than yesterday.
   e) That was the worst day of my life.

Practice
A. Complete the sentences
A car is __________ than a bicycle. (fast)
My brother is __________ than me. (young)
This is __________ book in the class. (interesting)
Sarah is __________ girl in the class. (tall)
Today is __________ than yesterday. (cold)
This is __________ restaurant in town. (good)

B. Choose the correct answer
1. A train is:  a) fast  b) faster than  c) the fastest
2. Mount Everest is __________ mountain in the world. .a) higher  b) higher than  c) the highest
3. My new phone is __________ my old phone. a) better than  b) the best  c) best
4. This is __________ test in the book.  a) easier  b) easier than  c) the easiest