Comparing Adjectives: -er, -est, more and most — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 4th Grade adjectives & adverbs worksheet.
Comparing Adjectives: -er, -est, more and most — Answers
Part A: Know the rules
A comparative adjective compares two things (bigger, more careful). A superlative adjective compares three or more things (biggest, most careful).
Answer: True
Comparative: taller, more careful.
Answer: True
Superlative: tallest, most careful.
Answer: True
More beautiful, most beautiful. We do not say beautifuller.
Answer: False
Use -er or more, never both: taller.
Part B: Make the comparing forms
Write the comparative and the superlative of each adjective. Watch the spelling changes.
Answer: smaller, smallest
Just add -er and -est.
Answer: bigger, biggest
Short vowel + one consonant: double the g.
Answer: happier, happiest
Change y to i, then add -er or -est.
Answer: nicer, nicest
It already ends in e, so add -r or -st.
Answer: hotter, hottest
Double the t.
Answer: more careful, most careful
Longer adjectives use more and most.
Answer: better, best
Good is irregular.
Answer: worse, worst
Bad is irregular.
Part C: Choose the right form
Circle the word that fits.
- Ataller
- Bmore tall
- Ctallest
Answer: taller
Two people are compared, and tall is short, so add -er.
- Ahotter
- Bhottest
Answer: hottest
One day is compared with all the others, so use the superlative.
- Amost exciting
- Bexcitingest
- Cmore exciting
Answer: most exciting
Exciting is long and it is compared with every book, so use most.
- Aeasier
- Beasyer
- Cmore easier
Answer: easier
Change y to i and add -er. Never use more with -er.
- Abest
- Bbetter
- Cgoodest
Answer: best
Ava is compared with all the players, so use the superlative of good: best.
- Asmaller
- Bsmallest
Answer: smaller
Only two puppies are compared, so use the comparative.
Part D: Fix the mistake
Rewrite each sentence correctly.
Answer: This is the biggest cake I have ever seen.
- Use -est or most, not both.
Answer: My bag is heavier than yours.
- Use -er or more, not both.
Answer: This puzzle is worse than the last one.
- Bad is irregular: bad, worse, worst.
Answer: The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth.
- It is compared with every animal, so use the superlative.
Part E: Your turn
Model answer: A horse is faster than a cow. The cheetah is the fastest of all three animals. A cheetah is more dangerous than a horse.
Success criteria:
- Three complete sentences
- One comparative with -er
- One superlative with -est
- One comparison with more or most
- Correct spelling of each form
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.
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