Cambridge Primary Checkpoint 0837 · Topic 4 of 10

Comparatives and superlatives

Comparing two things (bigger, more interesting) and saying which is the top of a group (the biggest, the most interesting).

📌 Key points

Use a comparative to compare two things: A cat is smaller than a dog.
Use a superlative for the top of a group: The cheetah is the fastest land animal.
Short adjectives add -er/-est: tall → taller → the tallest.
Adjectives ending in e add -r/-st: large → larger → the largest.
Short vowel + one consonant: double it: big → bigger → the biggest; hot → hotter → the hottest.
Consonant + y: change y to i: happy → happier → the happiest; easy → easier → the easiest.
Long adjectives use more and the most: beautiful → more beautiful → the most beautiful.
Irregular: good → better → the best; bad → worse → the worst; far → further → the furthest.
Use as … as when two things are the same: Tom is as tall as Sam.

Complete: 'This is ___ (good) pizza I have ever eaten. It is ___ (delicious) than the one we had last week.'

The first gap compares this pizza with every pizza I have ever eaten, so use a superlative.
'Good' is irregular: good → better → the best.
The second gap compares two pizzas (than), so use a comparative.
'Delicious' is a long adjective, so use 'more delicious'.
Answer: This is the best pizza I have ever eaten. It is more delicious than the one we had last week.

💡 Test tip

If you see 'than', you need a comparative. If you see 'the … in the world / in the class', you need a superlative.

Test yourself8 questions from a bank of 21. A new mix every time.