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com Fun Grammar Lessons

Comparative
Adjectives
1 Grammar Notes 2

2 Adjective Formation 4

3 Fill in the Blanks 5

q Spot the Errors 6

5 Comparisons 7

6 Pair Work 8

A Answer Key 9

B Spelling Rules 11

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 ESL Comparative Adjectives
library.com Fun Grammar Lessons

1 Grammar Notes
A. Introduction
Use comparative adjectives to
compare two people, places, or things.

To make a comparison, add -er to the end of a

short adjective or add more before a long adjective.
Use than before the second noun.

Comparative Adjectives Form Example

one syllable Adj+-er tall+ -er= taller

two syllables ending in -!I -!I changes to -; + -er happy +-er= happier

two syllables
(not ending in -!J) more+ Adj more+ famous= more famous

three (or more) syllables more+ Adj more+ beautiful= more beautiful

••

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 1 Grammar Notes cont.
B. Take Note!
e #1 Note#2 Note#3
two-syllable adjectives don't follow the normal
Participial rules.
adjectives Irregular comparative adjectives include:
mple, we can say friendlier or more friendly and
(-ed orsimpler or more simple.
-ing adjectives)
uch adjectives include angry, cruel, handsome, gentle, and quiet.
always formed with more+good
are + better
adjective.
Do not use -er even if the adjective has only one syllable.
Forexample, we must say more bored, more tired, more thrilling, andbad +worse
more exciting.
far + farther/further

C. Examples
• Maria is taller than Jack.
• I feel happier today than I did yesterday.
• The buildings are more modern in New York City than in my city.
DD
• Sunsets at the beach are more beautiful than sunsets in the city. DD
DD
DDD DD DDD DD DDD DD DDD DD

Remember: DDD DD
DDD 22
Use than, not then, before the second noun.
� ESL library.com Comparative Adjectives
Fun Grammar Lessons

2 Adjective Formation
Write the comparative form beside each adjective.

# Adjective Comparative Comparative

# Adjective
Adjective Adjective
beautiful
more beautiful calm

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 ESL Comparative Adjectives
library.com Fun Grammar Lessons

3 Fill in the Blanks

Write the comparative form of the adjective in the blanks.

It is windier in Chicago than in Los Angeles.

(windy)

The class was than he expected.

(short)

Your party will be than my party.

(good)

Were you than your sister after school today?

(sleepy)

She feels today than yesterday.

(tired)

Mexico is than Canada.

(warm) I
He isa soccer player than she is.
(bad)

Was today's quiz than last week's quiz?

(simple)

lam at home than at school.

(comfortable)

This test is going to be than usual.

(difficult)

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 q Spot the Errors
Find the error in each of the following sentences.
Rewrite the correct sentences.

The movie theater is loud than the library.

The movie theater is louder than the library.

Science is interestinger than math.

Antarctica is colder then Africa.

Who is famouser, Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp?

Do you think his paintings are more pretty than my paintings?

My friend is more adventurous my brother.

The second Pirates of the Caribbean was badder than the first one.

What pizza topping do you like more good, pepperoni or ham?

 s Comparisons
Discuss the images with a partner, and then
write a sentence using a comparative adjective.

11
1111
11
1111
1111111111
1111111111
1111111111
1111111111
1111111111
1111111111
ftft

hippo's mouth / cat's mouth sunsets at the beach / sunsets in the city

The hippo's mouth is wider than the

cat's mouth.

0000000000 --,-

□□
•
......,
-m

new car / old ancient architecture / modern architecture

palm tree / pine tree sushi / pasta

 � ESL library.com Comparative Adjectives
Fun Grammar Lessons

, Pair Work
Ask your partner the following questions.
Write the question, and then write your name or
your partner's name (depending on the answer).

# Adjective I I
: Question : Name

tall Who is taller?

short

old

young

outgoing

athletic

silly

adventurous

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 A AnswerKey
Lesson Description: Level: Int
In this lesson, students study the form and use of
Time: 2-3 hours
comparative adjectives. They practice making
comparisons through speaking, writing, and pair work Tags: adjectives, comparative adjectives,
exercises,and they also review common spelling rules. comparing, more than, -er, grammar,
grammar practice, fun grammar lessons

Adjective Formation Spot the Errors

1. scarier 11. taller 1. Science is more interesting than math.
2. more adventurous 12. angrier/ more angry
2. Antarctica is colder than Africa.
3. more exciting 13. more bored
3. Who is more famous, Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp?
4. older 14. smarter
4. Do you think his paintings
5. lazier 15. hungrier
are prettier than my paintings?
6. more tired 16. more modern 5. My friend is more adventurous than my brother.
7. more intelligent 17. more delicious
6. The second Pirates of the Caribbean
8. more quiet / quieter 18. shorter
was worse than the first one.
9. prettier 19. more troublesome
7. What pizza topping do you
10. calmer
like better, pepperoni or ham?

Fill in the Blanks (continued on the next page...)

1. shorter 6. worse
2. better 7. more simple/
3. sleepier simpler
4. more tired 8. more comfortable
5. warmer 9. more difficult
 A Answer Key cont.
Comparisons
Spelling Note:
This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Theater. Most other English­
Answers will vary. Example speaking
answers: countries spell it this way:Theatre. Make it a challenge for your students to find this word in the lesson and see if

1. The new car is faster than the old car.

2. Palm trees are taller than pine trees.
3. Sunsets at the beach are more
beautiful than sunsets in the city.
4. Ancient architecture is more
detailed than modern
architecture.
5. Sushi is healthier than pasta.

Editor's Note:
If your students aren't familiar with the spelling rules associated with comparative adjective formation, please go over the print
Pair Work
Do this exercise in pairs or small groups.

1. Who is taller?
2. Who is shorter?
3. Who is older?
4. Who is younger?
5. Who is more outgoing?
6. Who is more athletic?
7. Who is sillier?
8. Who is more adventurous?
 ESL library.com Comparative Adjectives
Fun Grammar Lessons

e Spelling Rules
When we add -erto theendof anadjective,
we must follow certain spelling rules.
I
Syllables : Rule Examples

• close+ closer
1 If the adjective ends in -e, add -r. late+•
•
later strange+ stranger

big+ bigger hot+ hotter thin +

thinner
If the adjective ends in a +
happy• happier silly + sillier
1 consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) •
pattern, double the final consonant.
+
busy • busier

•
If the adjective ends in -y, •
2
change -y to -i and add -er. •

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