Comparative and Superlative Predictions

Pre-intermediate (A2) 30 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives predictions game: students predict, ask, and compare answers in pairs at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar: Gap-fill, Guessing, Asking and Answering Questions - Group and Pair Work

In this free comparatives and superlatives game, students practice forming, asking, and answering questions with comparative and superlative adjectives and predicting a partner's answers...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar: Gap-fill, Guessing, Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts - Group and Pair Work In this free comparatives and superlatives game, students practice forming, asking, and answering questions with comparative and superlative adjectives and predicting a partner's answers. In two groups, students complete questions with the correct comparative or superlative form of the adjectives in brackets. Next, each student pairs up with someone from the other group. Without talking, students predict their partner's answers and write them down. Students then take turns asking and answering the questions and comparing their partner's answers with the predictions. For each correct prediction, students score a point. The student with the most points at the end wins.

Comparative Geography

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL comparative and superlative geography game: students make sentences about countries using adjectives at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar and Writing: Writing Sentences - Group Work

In this creative comparatives and superlatives game, students practice forming comparative and superlative sentences about countries. First, the class names as many adjectives as they can and you write them...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar and Writing: Writing Sentences - Group Work In this creative comparatives and superlatives game, students practice forming comparative and superlative sentences about countries. First, the class names as many adjectives as they can and you write them on the board. Next, students name ten countries. These are also written on the board. Teams then have ten minutes to write as many comparative and superlative sentences as they can using only the adjectives and countries on the board. e.g. 'Thailand is hotter than Germany.' After ten minutes, teams read out their sentences. Teams score one point for each grammatically correct sentence that uses a listed adjective and a listed country. Play more rounds by asking the students to name other categories, such as sports, animals, or famous people. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Comparatives and Superlatives Practice

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives worksheet: students complete tables, gap-fills, and partner Q&A at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Writing Questions, Answers and Explanations - Speaking Activity - Pair Work

This productive comparatives and superlatives worksheet helps students to learn and practice forming comparative and superlative adjectives and...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Table Completion, Gap-fill, Writing Questions and Answers - Speaking Activity: Freer Practice - Pair Work This productive comparatives and superlatives worksheet helps students to learn and practice forming comparative and superlative adjectives and using them in questions, answers, and explanations. First, students read information about how comparative and superlative adjectives are formed and write irregular comparative and superlative adjectives. Students then write the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives using the information about how they are formed. Next, students complete questions and answers with the comparative or superlative forms of the adjectives in brackets and their own answers. After that, students create one comparative and one superlative conversation question of their own and answer them. Students then ask and answer the questions from the last two exercises with a partner. Finally, students say which things they prefer from two choices, explaining their answers using comparatives.

Comparatives and Superlatives Quiz

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives quiz worksheet: students order and form sentences at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Grammar Exercise: Ordering Words, Forming Sentences

In this engaging comparatives and superlatives worksheet, students complete a quiz by ordering sets of words according to an adjective and then writing comparative and superlative sentences about...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Grammar Exercise: Ordering Words, Forming Sentences In this engaging comparatives and superlatives worksheet, students complete a quiz by ordering sets of words according to an adjective and then writing comparative and superlative sentences about them. First, students put the words in order according to the adjective in brackets. Next, students write comparative and superlative sentences using the words and the adjective. When everyone has finished, check the correct answers with the class.

Comparatives and Superlatives Survey

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives survey activity preview: students interview and write sentences about classmates at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Writing Sentences - Group Work

In this insightful comparatives and superlatives activity, students carry out a group survey and then write comparative and superlative sentences about...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Writing Sentences - Group Work In this insightful comparatives and superlatives activity, students carry out a group survey and then write comparative and superlative sentences about what they discover. To begin, students answer six questions, writing their answers in a table. In groups, students then interview the other members of the group using the six questions and complete the table with their answers. After that, students use the results to write three comparative and three superlative sentences about the students in their group. Finally, students compare their sentences and give feedback to the class on what they found out.

Compare It

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives card game: students flip cards and make comparative or superlative sentences at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group Work

In this inventive comparatives and superlatives game, students form comparative and superlative sentences by comparing words from the same category. In groups, students take turns...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts, Freer Practice - Group Work In this inventive comparatives and superlatives game, students form comparative and superlative sentences by comparing words from the same category. In groups, students take turns turning over two cards from the same category and making a comparison between the two words on the back of the cards. For example, if a student turned over two animal cards and the two words were 'tiger' and 'mouse', the student might say 'A tiger is more dangerous than a mouse.' If a student turns over two identical words, they make a superlative sentence, e.g 'Tigers are the most beautiful animals.' If a student cannot think of a sentence, their sentence is grammatically incorrect, or they are too slow to respond, they return the cards to the same place with the category side facing up. The student with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.

Guess the Best

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives guessing game for pre-intermediate students: gap-fill, partner Q and A, and scoring points.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar: Gap-fill, Guessing, Asking and Answering Questions - Group and Pair Work

Here is an entertaining comparatives and superlatives game to help students practice forming and using comparative and superlative adjectives by completing, asking and answering questions...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar: Gap-fill, Guessing, Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts - Group and Pair Work Here is an entertaining comparatives and superlatives game to help students practice forming and using comparative and superlative adjectives by completing, asking and answering questions, and guessing a partner's answers. First, students complete questions with the comparative or superlative form of the adjectives in brackets. Next, in pairs, students guess their partner's answers to the questions and write them down in the 'My Guesses' column. Students then take turns asking the questions to their partner, who answers truthfully. The other student then writes their partner's answer in the next column. If the student guesses correctly, they score a point. The student with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Sentence Trio Showdown

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives card game preview: students match nouns and adjectives and form sentences at Elementary A1-A2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences, Controlled Practice - Pair Work

In this rewarding comparatives and superlatives game, students practice making comparative and superlative sentences with various nouns and adjectives. In pairs, students take turns picking...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar and Speaking: Matching, Forming Sentences, Controlled Practice - Pair Work In this rewarding comparatives and superlatives game, students practice making comparative and superlative sentences with various nouns and adjectives. In pairs, students take turns picking up a noun card containing three nouns. The student then tires to find a matching adjective card that logically describes all three nouns and make three sentences using all the nouns and adjectives on both cards. For example, if a student picks up a noun card with elephant, bus and mountain, they might select the adjective card with big, bigger and biggest, and make the following sentences: An elephant is big. A bus is bigger than an elephant. A mountain is the biggest. If the student makes three sentences using all the nouns and adjectives on the cards, they keep both cards. If a student cannot make three sentences or makes a grammar mistake, they place the noun card at the bottom of the pile and put the adjective card back in its place. The student with the most pairs of cards at the end of the game wins.

Three Classmates

Pre-intermediate (A2) 20 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives drawing activity: students draw classmates from comparative/superlative descriptions at Pre-intermediate A2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Grammar, Reading and Vocabulary: Reading for Detail, Drawing

In this free comparatives and superlatives activity, students draw pictures of three people from comparative and superlative descriptions of their appearance. First, students read comparative...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Grammar, Reading and Vocabulary: Reading for Detail, Drawing In this free comparatives and superlatives activity, students draw pictures of three people from comparative and superlative descriptions of their appearance. First, students read comparative and superlative sentences that describe three classmates. After reading the sentences, students draw pictures of the three classmates from the descriptions and compare their pictures with a partner. As an extension, students write comparative and superlative descriptions of three students in their class and then dictate the descriptions to a partner for them to draw.

Comparative and Superlative Dogs

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives worksheet advanced: students read, mark true/false, write sentences about dogs at Intermediate B1.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Grammar and Reading Exercises: True or False, Gap-fill, Writing Sentences

This useful comparatives and superlatives worksheet helps students practice using comparative and superlative adjectives (including 'as ... as' and...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet - Grammar and Reading Exercises: True or False, Gap-fill, Writing Sentences This useful comparatives and superlatives worksheet helps students practice using comparative and superlative adjectives (including 'as ... as' and the least + adjective) by comparing four large dog breeds. Students start by reading a chart that contains information about four large dog breeds. Students then read comparative and superlative statements about the dogs and mark them as true or false, correcting the false sentences to make them true by changing the names of the dogs or by making the sentences negative. Next, students complete sentences with the comparative or superlative form of the adjectives or phrases in brackets. Finally, students answer questions about the dogs by writing comparative or superlative sentences.

Comparatives and Superlatives Board Game

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives board game: students form sentences and share opinions at Intermediate B1.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group Work

This fun comparatives and superlatives board game helps students practice forming comparative and superlative sentences that express opinions and facts. Students take turns rolling the dice and...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts, Freer Practice - Group Work This fun comparatives and superlatives board game helps students practice forming comparative and superlative sentences that express opinions and facts. Students take turns rolling the dice and moving their counters along the board. When a student lands on a shaded square, they make a comparative sentence using the adjective and two things shown on the square, e.g. 'Wine is stronger than beer.' When a student lands on a white square, they make a comparative and superlative sentence using the adjective and three things shown, e.g. 'In my opinion, cars are safer than motorbikes. I think that bicycles are the safest way to travel.' The other group members listen to the student and decide if what they say is grammatically correct or not. If it is, the student stays on the square. If not, the student goes back two squares. The first student to reach the finish wins the game.

Comparative and Superlative Slips

Intermediate (B1) 20 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives mingle activity: students find classmates who fit comparative/superlative descriptions at Intermediate B1.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice

In this interesting comparatives and superlatives game, students race to find as many classmates as they can who fit comparative and superlative descriptions. Each student draws a slip...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice In this interesting comparatives and superlatives game, students race to find as many classmates as they can who fit comparative and superlative descriptions. Each student draws a slip from a box. Students read the comparative or superlative description on their slip and think about the question they need to ask to find classmates who fit that description. For example, if the slip reads 'Find classmates who are the oldest children in their families', the student might ask 'Are you the oldest child in your family?' When the students have their questions prepared, they race to find as many classmates as they can who fit their description.When a student finds someone who matches the description, they write down that person's name on the back of the slip. When a time limit has been reached, students say how many classmates they found who matched their description. Students score one point for each person they find. Students then draw another slip from the box and continue as before. The student with the most points at the end of the game wins.

More and Most Mayhem

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives card game: students make sentences with adjectives related to a topic at Intermediate B1.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences - Group Work

This imaginative comparatives and superlatives game helps students practice forming and using comparative and superlative sentences on familiar topics with a range of adjectives...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts - Group Work This imaginative comparatives and superlatives game helps students practice forming and using comparative and superlative sentences on familiar topics with a range of adjectives. In groups, students take turns picking up an adjective card and choosing a topic. The student then makes a comparative sentence and a superlative sentence using the adjective on the card. The two sentences must be related to the topic. If a student manages to do this, they score two points. If a student cannot make two sentences, or one or both sentences are grammatically incorrect, the adjective card goes to the next player, who then tries to make two sentences (one comparative and one superlative) about the topic for four points, and so on, adding two points each time. The student with the highest score at the end of the game wins.

Order of Preference

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives preferences activity: students rank, discuss, and share preferences at Intermediate B1.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Speaking: Ranking, Forming Sentences, Discussion, Freer Practice - Pair Work

In this free comparatives and superlatives speaking activity, students rank their preferences on a short questionnaire and then explain and compare their choices with a partner using comparative...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Speaking: Ranking, Forming Sentences from Prompts, Guided Discussion, Freer Practice - Pair Work In this free comparatives and superlatives speaking activity, students rank their preferences on a short questionnaire and then explain and compare their choices with a partner using comparative and superlative adjectives. First, students read each question on the worksheet and order the items according to their preferences. Students mark number 1 for what they prefer the most and number 3 for what they prefer the least. In pairs, students then discuss their preferences with their partner using comparatives and superlatives. Afterwards, students give feedback on their preferences and summarise one interesting preference from their partner to the class.

The Most Interesting Conversation

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives conversation activity: students form, ask, and answer conversation questions at Intermediate B1.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work

This enjoyable comparatives and superlatives speaking activity helps students practice forming, asking and answering comparative and superlative conversation...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work This enjoyable comparatives and superlatives speaking activity helps students practice forming, asking and answering comparative and superlative conversation questions. First, in two groups, students complete each conversation question with the comparative or superlative form of the adjective in brackets, plus than or the where appropriate. Students then pair up with someone from the other group and take turns asking and answering the conversation questions with their partner, responding with the comparative or superlative form of the adjective, according to the question. Finally, students share what they found out about their partner with the class.

Talk to Me

Upper-intermediate (B2) 30 minutes
ESL comparatives and superlatives speaking activity: students complete and ask questions in pairs at Upper-intermediate B2.

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Speaking: Asking and Answering Questions, Discussion, Communicative Practice - Group and Pair Work

In this memorable comparatives and superlatives speaking activity, students complete a variety of comparative and superlative questions and...

ESL Comparatives and Superlatives Activity - Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Guided Discussion, Communicative Practice - Group and Pair Work In this memorable comparatives and superlatives speaking activity, students complete a variety of comparative and superlative questions and then ask and answer them with a partner. First, in two groups, students complete comparative and superlative question strips with their own ideas using each comparative or superlative adjective once. Students then pair up with someone from the other group, shuffle their own question strips and place them in a pile in front of them. Next, students take turns picking up one of their question cards and asking the question to their partner, who replies accordingly. Students also ask follow-up questions to gain more information. Afterwards, students tell the class what they found out about their partner.

Understanding Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparative adjectives compare two people, things, or ideas to show a difference, as in 'This laptop is lighter than my old one', while superlative adjectives identify the highest or lowest degree within a group of three or more, as in 'This is the fastest route to the airport.' To show equality, use as + adjective + as, as in 'This hotel is as comfortable as the last one.' To make a negative comparison, use not as + adjective + as, as in 'The new office isn't as large as the old one.' Students who apply the wrong formation rule, such as adding '-er' to a three-syllable adjective or doubling a consonant incorrectly, produce forms that disrupt both fluency and credibility.

This page covers comparatives and superlatives from A2 to B2 levels, with sixteen activities including worksheets, speaking activities, and classroom games, with three activities available as free downloads.

The table below maps the main adjective types, the formation rule for each, and the comparative and superlative forms.

Adjective TypeRuleBaseComparativeSuperlative
One syllable Add -er / -est tall taller the tallest
One syllable ending in -e Add -r / -st wide wider the widest
One syllable ending in consonant-vowel-consonant Double final consonant + -er / -est big bigger the biggest
Two syllables ending in -y Change -y to -i + -er / -est happy happier the happiest
Two syllables (other endings) Use more / most peaceful more peaceful the most peaceful
Three or more syllables Use more / most expensive more expensive the most expensive
Irregular Learn individually good / bad / far better / worse / farther (further) the best / the worst / the farthest (furthest)

When to Use Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparing Two Options to Support a Decision: Use a comparative adjective when narrowing a choice between two things, especially when giving a reason for a preference, as in 'The second proposal is more cost-effective than the first, so we recommend moving forward with it.'

Identifying the Best or Worst in a Group: Use a superlative adjective when singling out one item from a set of three or more, such as in recommendations, reviews, or reports, as in 'This is the most efficient process we have tested across all three sites.'

Showing That Two Things Are Equal: Use the as...as structure when you want to highlight similarity rather than difference, which is common in persuasive writing and spoken reassurance, as in 'The online course is just as rigorous as the classroom version.'

3-Step Framework for Teaching Comparatives and Superlatives

1. Introduce the Forms with a Structured Worksheet: Start with the Comparatives and Superlatives Practice worksheet, which opens with a grammar reference section where students read how comparative and superlative adjectives are formed and write the irregular forms. Students then complete a table by writing the comparative and superlative forms of a set of adjectives. Next, they complete questions and answers by supplying the correct form of the adjective in brackets and adding their own truthful answers. After that, students create one comparative question and one superlative question of their own, answer both, and exchange those questions with a partner. The activity closes with a preference stage where students choose between two options and justify their choice using a comparative adjective.

2. Consolidate Word Order with a Ranking Quiz: Follow up with the Comparatives and Superlatives Quiz worksheet, where students rank sets of words according to a given adjective before writing comparative and superlative sentences about them. The task has to be correct on two levels at the same time: the ranking must be logical, and the grammar must be accurate. Checking answers together at the end of the quiz gives a clear read on which form rules still need reinforcement before moving on.

3. Build Fluency Under Competitive Pressure with a Board Game: Close the sequence with the Comparatives and Superlatives Board Game, which forces students to produce both forms quickly and accurately. When a player lands on a shaded square, they make a single comparative sentence. When a player lands on a white square, they must produce both a comparative and a superlative sentence using the adjective and three things shown. The group decides on correctness, and an incorrect sentence sends the player back two squares. The combination of immediate peer feedback and the penalty mechanic pushes students to self-monitor their form in real time.

Common Mistakes with Comparatives and Superlatives

Using 'More' with a One-Syllable Adjective: Students often add 'more' to short adjectives instead of applying the '-er' ending, producing a double comparative. One-syllable adjectives always take '-er' for the comparative and '-est' for the superlative; 'more' and 'most' are reserved for longer adjectives. Wrong: 'This road is more long than the other one.' Correct: 'This road is longer than the other one.'

Omitting 'Than' After a Comparative Adjective: Students frequently drop 'than' when completing a comparison, which leaves the sentence grammatically incomplete. Every comparative adjective that introduces a second element in the comparison requires 'than' to link the two parts. Wrong: 'The new model is faster the old one.' Correct: 'The new model is faster than the old one.'

Common Questions About Teaching Comparatives and Superlatives

What is a good game for practicing comparatives and superlatives?

Comparatives and superlatives games land well when grammar accuracy determines the score. In Comparative and Superlative Predictions, students complete questions with the correct comparative or superlative form, predict a partner's answers in writing, then ask and answer the questions aloud. Each correct prediction scores a point, so accurate form directly affects the result. This activity is available as a free download.

What is a fun card game for comparative and superlative sentences?

Comparatives and superlatives card games are most effective when sentence production is tied to winning cards. In Compare It, students flip two cards from the same category and compare the two words, for example 'A tiger is more dangerous than a mouse.' Two identical cards trigger a superlative sentence instead. Students who cannot produce a correct sentence or respond too slowly return the cards, and the student with the most cards wins.

What is an effective worksheet for practicing comparatives and superlatives?

Comparatives and superlatives worksheets cover the most ground when they combine reading with grammar production. In Comparative and Superlative Dogs, students read a data chart about four large dog breeds, then mark true or false statements and correct the false ones. They then complete gap-fill sentences and answer questions by writing their own comparative and superlative sentences based on the chart data.

What is a free speaking activity for comparatives and superlatives?

Comparatives and superlatives speaking activities work best when students have a personal stake in the outcome. In Order of Preference, students rank three items per question from most to least preferred, then discuss their rankings with a partner using comparative and superlative adjectives to explain their choices. Students finish by sharing one interesting preference from their partner with the class. This activity is available as a free download.