1. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Adjectives Used to Compare

2. Comparative Adjectives are used to compare TWO nouns.
To make a one syllable adjective into comparative adjective, just add –er.
EXAMPLES: tall = taller smart = smarter
Mrs. Jones is tall, but Mrs. Holloway is taller.

3. Superlative Adjectives are used to compare THREE or more nouns.
EXAMPLES: tall = tallest smart = smartest
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Holloway are tall, but Mrs.
Miller is the tallest of all the third grade teachers.

4. Rules to Use
If an adjective is two syllables, and the second syllable is unstressed, OR ends with –y, -le, or er,
just add –er or –est
EXAMPLES: quiet = quieter quietest
happy = happier happiest

5. Just a few more rules.
If the adjective is three syllables or more, use the word more before it to make it comparative and most before it to make it superlative.
EXAMPLES: beautiful = more beautiful most beautiful
difficult = more difficult most difficult
If a two syllable adjective ends with
–ing, -ed, -ful, and –less, follow the rules above.
EXAMPLES: tired = more tired most tired
boring = more boring most boring

6. Simple Huh? No, really it is simple. Use your common sense.
Do not make words too long by adding another syllable.
Just try it.

7. Fill in the Table big calm interesting tidy rich intelligent strange
ADJECTIVE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
big
calm
interesting
tidy
rich
intelligent
strange

8. What’s next you ask yourself?????
You guessed it.
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES!
Irregular adjectives just do not follow the rules. They are words like… good, bad, and far.
To make these words compare you must change the spelling.
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther farthest