Real-Life Writing Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. Comparing More Than Two Things

Discuss
Read aloud the sentences in the box below. How does the adjective change?
Base Form Comparative Form Superlative Form
(Describes one thing.) (Compares two things.) (Compares more than two things.)

1. This band is loud. 2. It is louder than the band 3. In fact, it is the loudest band
we heard yesterday. Ive ever heard!

1. The movie was funny. 2. It was funnier than the 3. The funniest part was when the
movie we saw last week. whale ate the car.

1. The riddle was silly. 2. It was sillier than the one 3. Its the silliest riddle Ive ever heard.
you told last week.

In the second sentences above, two things are being compared. What ending is
added to the adjective?

In the third sentences above, more than two things are being compared. What ending
is added to make the superlative form?

With adjectives that have one syllable, like loud, you usually add -est to form the
superlative. Note: Many two-syllable adjectives that end in -y, like funny and silly,
change -y to -i before adding -er or -est.

Now, say the base forms and sentences below. How many syllables are in the base
form of each adjective? What is the superlative form of each adjective?

(Base forms)
1. (expensive) This car is the most expensive one on the lot.
2. (beautiful) It is the most beautiful car Ive ever seen.
3. (comfortable) Of all the cars, however, it is the least comfortable.
4. (reasonable) Ill buy the car that is most reasonable.

To form the superlative of longer adjectives, use most or least before the base form.

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 Real-Life Writing Scholastic Teaching Resources

Use what youve learned.

Writing Practice e. They have the garden on our

beautiful
1. Complete the sentences below. Write the
block.
superlative form of the adjective under the line.
f. We took the route to the park.
a. Thats the dog Ive ever seen! short
small

b. It was the test wed had all year.

2. For each sentence in part 1 above, draw an
difficult
arrow from the adjective you wrote to the noun
c. Whats the book youve ever it describes.
long
Example:
read?
She won the prize for the most unusual costume.
d. The mayor holds the job unusual
responsible
in our town.

Writing on Your Own Partner Work

Read the following paragraph and decide which
With your partner, read aloud the sentences
adjectives are correct. Circle the correct adjectives.
Then write the paragraph correctly. you completed in Writing Practice. Identify
the superlative form of the adjective and the
The (most new, newest) store at the mall is noun it describes. If you disagree, explain
SellMore. They claim to have the (lowest, most your choices, then make any corrections
low) prices and the (helpfulest, most helpful) staff
that are needed.
of any store around here. However, the signs in
the store are the (confusingest, most confusing)
Ive ever seen. The (most peculiar, peculiarest)
sign said Not in This Section.

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Writing Practice
1 and 2

a. Thats the smallest dog Ive ever seen!

b. It was the most difficult test wed had

all year.

c. Whats the longest book youve ever

read?

d. The mayor has the most responsible job

in our town.

e. They have the most beautiful garden on

our block.

f. We took the shortest route to the park.

Writing on Your Own

The newest store at the mall is SellMore.
They claim to have the lowest prices and
the most helpful staff of any store around
here. However, the signs in the store are
the most confusing Ive ever seen. The
most peculiar sign said Not in This
Section.