GREAT AND AWESOME

Adjectives describe qualities of people or things. With them we can better express feelings, values, or judgments, so that the reader/listener gets a fuller picture. Read through Ricardo, Hape, and Tiziana’s testimonials, and click adjectives that describe or compare qualities of people and things.

Babel Language Camp - Testimonials

The language camp was much nicer than traditional holidays. It was awesome. I made the best friends, and I miss everyone so much. The teachers were as motivating and supportive as I could've asked for. The classes were a lot of fun. I learned a lot. I loved the activities in the afternoon.
Our teacher Julie was wonderful. She was the friendliest and the most caring person in the camp. The atmosphere in class was much more relaxed than at school back home. The residence was great, the bed was much bigger than mine at home, but it wasn't as comfortable.
I enjoyed the trips around the countryside. The guides were very good and talkative. They told us so many interesting things about the culture and the history of the country. The best and also the funniest part of my stay was the circus workshop.

Now, imagine your stay at a language camp and use at least five of the adjectives in the previous exercise in your own sentences. Write them in your notebook and compare them with your partner.

Comparison of adjectives
Adjectives have three degrees of comparison, and you already know that long and short adjectives form comparative and superlative degrees differently. But some comparatives and superlatives have changes in spelling or are completely irregular.

GRAMMAR LOG

Comparison of adjectives

AAdjectives have three degrees of comparison, and you already know that long and short adjectives form comparative and superlative degrees differently. Refresh your memory here:

Adjectives	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
with 1 or 2 syllables	fast	faster	the fastest
with more than 2 syllables	exciting	more exciting	most exciting

But some comparatives and superlatives have changes in spelling.

Changes in spelling	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
final –y changes into –i Note: exception	tiny shy	tinier shyer	tiniest shyest
final –e is dropped	nice	nicer	nicest
adjectives with a short vowel double the final consonant	hot	hotter	hottest

Examples:

The outfit looks lovelier with all the accessories.
This bed is too small for us, let's find a larger one.
What a pity! This is the saddest news I've head all year.

Some adjectives with two syllables have two forms of comparison.

Positive

Comparative

Superlative

clever

friendly

funny

polite

quiet

cleverer/more clever

friendlier/more friendly

funnier/more funny

politer/more polite

quieter/more quiet

cleverest/most clever

friendliest/most friendly

funniest/most funny

politest/most polite

quietest/most quiet

Example:

This is the simplest/most simple solution to the problem.

Finally, there are some adjectives that have irregular comparison.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
little	less	least
late	later, latter	latest, last
far	further	furthest
much	more	most
many	more	most

Examples:

This is by far the worst explanation of the rule.
I will have more time for writing in the summer than now.

Note the meaning of later, latter, latest and last.

Cold days will come later this year. (= not so early)
We will read it again later. (= afterwards)
I have two aunts, Berta and Flora. The latter lives in Ohio. (= the second mentioned)
This dress is the latest fashion. (= the newest)
He caught the last bus home. (= final)

1. Click the adjective that has a change in the spelling.

nicer, more motivating, cleverest
2. Click the adjective that has comparison either with –er/-est or with more/most.

cleverest, best, bigger
3. Click the adjective that is irregular.

most caring, best, awesome

Word game. Catch an adjective and put it in the right place in the grid.