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  3. Comparative and superlative adjectives

Comparative and superlative adjectives

Sophie is working in Rome this week. Oliver, Alfie and Daisy have decided to eat out tonight.

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of comparatives and superlative adjectives. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, comparatives and superlative adjectives correctly.

Transcript

Oliver: So, where do you get the best pizza in London?
Alfie: No doubt about it, it has to be Pietro’s.
Daisy: No way! The pizzas in La Bella Napoli, just around the corner, are so much tastier ... and they’ve got more variety ... and the friendliest waiters!
Oliver: Yeah, I think she’s right, Alfie; much better quality. It’s not the cheapest though, but they’re so good!
Alfie: All right then, yeah, La Bella Napoli is nearer than Pietro’s. The cheese isn’t as good though, and for me it’s all in the cheese!
Daisy: You could have pasta?
Alfie: Pasta in La Bella Napoli? They do the most disgusting pasta I’ve ever tasted.
Daisy: All right!

Daisy: Hi, Mum. How’s Rome?
Sophie: Hello, love, yes, all’s well, thanks. What are you doing?
Daisy: I’m with Oliver and Alfie. We’re going to have a pizza. I’ll put you on speaker phone.
Sophie: That’s a coincidence! I’ve just eaten the most amazing pizza ever. It was the best I’ve ever had.  
Daisy: Sounds good!
Oliver: Was the base good, Mum?
Sophie: Oh yes, the crispiest base ever, really delicious.
Alfie: I wish you could send it over here, Mrs G!
Sophie: I’ll save you a slice, Alfie! So, where are you all going to eat?
Oliver: La Bella Napoli.
Sophie: Oh yes, they’re not bad. They use the worst cheese though. For me, it’s all in the cheese!
Alfie: That’s just what I said, Mrs G!
Oliver: Yeah, maybe the pizza at La Bella Napoli isn’t as good as I remember.
Daisy: Thanks a lot, Mum ... I like the pizza there. Obviously not as good as the pizza you get to eat in Rome, but it’s absolutely fine! Shall we speak tomorrow, Mum?
Sophie: OK, love, enjoy your pizza.

Daisy: Oh, I really fancied a pizza ... until Mum called.
Oliver: Yeah, me too, but thinking about the pizza in Rome ...
Alfie: It sounded so delicious!
Oliver: How about fish and chips?
Daisy: Good idea, you can’t go wrong with fish and chips.
Alfie: Yeah, you know what they say ... When in Rome ...
Oliver: When in Rome? What do you mean?
Alfie: You know that saying ... When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Oliver: Ah ...
Daisy: Fish and chips it is then - but should we go to Hubbard’s or The Dolphin?

When we want to compare two or more things, we can change the form of adjectives by adding –er or –est. We can also use extra words like more or most and expressions like not as … as.

Here are some examples:

I think you're taller than me. (tall)
She's the tallest in the group. (tall)
The pizzas in La Bella Napoli are better than the ones in Pietro's. (good)
It was the best pizza I've ever had! (good)
People say Bioshock is a more exciting game than Skyrim. (exciting)
Grand Theft Auto is the most exciting video game. (exciting)

Mmm, I don't quite see what the rule is here.

With most one-syllable adjectives, we add –er or –est, and with most adjectives with two syllables or more, we add more or (the) most. In comparatives, we also use than before the second thing which is compared, if it is mentioned.

La Bella Napoli is nearer than Pietro's. (near)
It's not the cheapest restaurant though. (cheap)

With one-syllable adjectives ending in vowel + consonant, remember to double the final consonant before –er/–est.

big → bigger → biggest

If the adjective ends in –e, just add –r or –st.

large → larger → largest

So what are the exceptions, apart from good → better → best?

Other exceptions are bad → worse → worst and far → further/farther → furthest/farthest.

      They use the worst cheese.

What about adjectives ending in –y, like crazy? My brother is crazier than me.

Yes, that's correct. With adjectives ending in y, you change the y to i and add er/ est.

lucky → luckier → luckiest             happy → happier → happiest

They've got the friendliest waiters!

With most adjectives with typical adjective endings, and with two or more syllables, you use more/most + adjective.

They do the most disgusting pasta I've ever tasted.

What other ways of comparing things are there?

We often use not as … as.

I'm not as tall as you. (= I'm smaller than you)
Maybe the pizza at La Bella Napoli isn't as good as I remember. 

And what about less and least?

Yes, less and least are also ways of comparing things. They are used more in writing.

It is less cold in the north of the country than in the south. (the north is warmer, but both north and south are cold)
Of the four participants, Bill is the least experienced. (the other three have more experience)

OK, this isn't as hard as I thought. I think I've got it, more or less.

 

Worksheets and downloads

Comparative and superlative adjectives - grammar snack329.51 KB
Comparative and superlative adjectives - exercises315.08 KB
Comparative and superlative adjectives - transcript226.75 KB
Comparative and superlative adjectives - answers199.46 KB
Discussion

Which meal do you think is tastier, fish and chips or pizza? Where do you get the best pizza where you live?

Language level
A1 Elementary
A2 Pre-intermediate
Topics
food
travel
grammar
Grammar
comparatives superlatives
much, far, a little, lots + comparatives
Average: 3.9 (23 votes)
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Comments

Submitted by Ayanali on Sat, 09/28/2024 - 06:41

In my opinion, pizza is better than fish and chip. I had just ate pizza when I was having lunch with my friends. I usually eat Annie's pizza. However, I think Pizza Hut's pizza is tastier than Annie's. Also, it's more crisp!

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Submitted by DonPollo494 on Tue, 05/07/2024 - 11:18

I think pizza is tastier than fish and chips. I love pizza because of the meat and cheese, personally when I order pizza I prefer it with alot of cheese.

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Submitted by Tocoha1234 on Sat, 03/11/2023 - 12:58

I think pizza is the best! I really love chips too but i think pizza is better. I don't like fish because it is the worst, so disgusting. I don't usually eat pizza. I often eat pizza at The Pizza Company. In this restaurant, you can eat pasta and salad. There are lots of drinks!

Submitted by Teen@english on Sun, 12/11/2022 - 18:12

Hey! I've never tested a fish with chips although I think pizza is the testier than fish and chips.In our country we usually get from Domino's Pizza!

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Submitted by Tocoha1234 on Sat, 03/11/2023 - 12:48

Mc Donald is better than Lotteria i think

Submitted by cherry00 on Sat, 07/23/2022 - 10:16

I think pizza is tastier than fish and chips. Pizza is one of my favourite dishes. I really like going to Fantasy Pizza to get it.

Submitted by Baldbanana on Thu, 07/07/2022 - 15:43

I think, that pizza is tastier than fish and chips. Pizza is one of my favourite dishes. I don't know the best place, that served pizza. Papasha Beppe has pretty interesting choice
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Submitted by Capixt on Tue, 04/19/2022 - 18:37

I have never tried fish and chips so I obviously prefer pizza. Walter Pizza sells the best pizza in my country it has a lot of cheese an is simply delicious.

Submitted by Israa303 on Sun, 01/02/2022 - 21:04

i prefer pizza more than chips

Submitted by gaidaict2022 on Sun, 01/02/2022 - 20:04

gaidaa if it ups to me, i will choose fish and chips, it's really more tastier than pizza. it's organic and fresh.Furthermore, it's so healthy. Actually, i have no restaurant in my country that offers this meal, but the best fish and chips meal i have ever tasted was in acre " Almobarsham".

Submitted by AS on Sun, 01/02/2022 - 19:09

Pizza meal is more delicious than fish and chips meal. The shop that sells the best pizza in our town is "Pizza Pizzaz".

Submitted by AlaaWattad on Sun, 01/02/2022 - 15:14

I think pizza is tastier than fish and chips. I love pizza because of the cheese taste and personally when I order pizza I prefer it with corn.

Submitted by sbaa123456 on Sat, 01/01/2022 - 00:49

In my opinion, pizza is delicious more than fish and chips. And my favorite pizza is pizza lmaliem, its The best pizza I've ever tasted, near where I live.

Submitted by Mwat on Thu, 12/30/2021 - 21:01

Marwa I think fish and chips are tastier than pizza, because fish is healthier than pizza. In addition, there are many types of fish that you can order. I usually like to eat fish and chips in the famous resturant The Old Man and the Sea, located in Jaffa.

Submitted by TJab on Thu, 12/30/2021 - 11:04

Tawba I think Pizza is tastier than fish and chips, because on pizza you can add whatever you want, and also I can find it everywhere. In my town I like to order, and to eat it from the resturant Pizza Roma.

Submitted by Saja22334 on Thu, 12/30/2021 - 10:47

I prefer pizza more than fish and chips.

Submitted by AllaBeitBerlC on Wed, 12/29/2021 - 12:31

I think both meals will work for me, sometimes I prefer fish and chips and on other days pizza for sure, it depends with who i am and how much i'm hungry, what to say, my mood controls my stamoch! The best pizza in town if not the best pizza i had ever tasted in my whole life is pizza ptsas & caffe, addicted this type of pizza! the yummy one's, have a great day people and be safe :)- ict course

Submitted by bannas on Mon, 12/27/2021 - 12:27

I think pizza is better than fish and chips, and it taste better than fish and ships, and there is a restaurant close to my house sells pizza and it is the most delicious pizza I have ever tasted.

Submitted by H2001M on Thu, 12/23/2021 - 19:09

Haneen: In my opinion, I think that pizza is tastier than fish and chips. Honestly, I don't like fish-food so I prefer to eat pizza as it has cheese, olives, tomatoes and many other appetizing stuff. "Pizza Pizzaz" in Taybie has the tastiest pizza, so I recommend you to try it someday.

Submitted by dyala5670 on Tue, 12/21/2021 - 18:47

I think pizza is tastier than fish and chips. Pizza has a lot of cheese and melt in your mouth wirh all the adds you prefer . The best Pizza at my country will be Pizza hut since it's so chrispy and fresh. I love Pizza and could eat it all the time.

Submitted by KirV on Fri, 12/17/2021 - 06:22

I think pizza the most tastiest meal. In my opinion fish and chips is not as tasty as pizza. I usually order pizza online.

Submitted by GoFrAk69 on Thu, 12/02/2021 - 08:18

I think PIZZA is tastier than fish and chips but fish and chips is healthier, I prefer pizza. The best place to eat pizza in my town is called PEPE PIZZA

Submitted by Adax290 on Wed, 12/01/2021 - 14:56

In my opinion, pizza is tastier than fish and chips. My favourite type of pizza is Prosciutto. The Prosciutto pizza has tomato sauce, cheese and ham. The best pizza I've ever tasted, near where I live, is at a restaurant called "Fet a mà". In conclusion, pizza is my favourite food.

Submitted by Sandi on Wed, 12/01/2021 - 14:44

In my opinion, fish and chips are more tastier because pizza is only bread and cheese. But fisha and chips is like fried and the ships are more tastier than pizza

Submitted by Mari_shveli on Mon, 11/08/2021 - 19:22

I think that pizza is tastier than fish and chips. To be honest, I have never eaten fish and chips. Where I live is no Italian restaurant to eat pizza, but there are some ordinary restaurants where you can eat pizza.

Submitted by mohammadasheri on Tue, 10/05/2021 - 16:10

Hi everyone. I think I'm taller than my sisters. But I'm shorter than my brothers. My mom is as tall as my dad.

Submitted by Mamou1 on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 10:01

It's an exellente question. from my opinion I already ate all those meal. fish and chips are really delicious and I heard that fish can help you having a good memory something like that. But for me the tastier meal bettwen those two is the pizza. just because it's sommething simple not diffcult to make and it's cheaper than fish even if it not a problem. Domino pizza is where you can get the best pizza in here and they add for you somme shawarma, juice and brownie .hmmm yummy.
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Submitted by FlowerQueen on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 15:54

I think, pizza is tastier. I never ate fish and chips, I think. Here, in Germany, there aren't any good pizza restaurants. Not in my town. But in other towns near here are some restaurants, where they sell pizza. I went for four times to Italy, but I can't remember the taste of the pizza there, because it was years ago. One day, I want to go to England and taste fish and chips. I like potatoes!

Submitted by sunblumel on Sat, 07/17/2021 - 10:33

I'm from Russia. I live in a little nice town, where we have a lof of pizza places. One of them is the Dodo pizza. They make the tastiest pizza I've ever had. No one compare with them.

Submitted by liz15 on Tue, 06/08/2021 - 21:11

I live in Bogota-Colombia, for me is really strange eat fish with chips like a fast food, here in my country We often eat fish at the lunch and this is a very healthy lunch, but when I am with my friends, we prefer to eat pizza or hamburguer or empanadas, this food isn't as health as fish. I think the most delicius food is hamburguer with chips or also mexican food, here in my country pizza is cheaper than fish, there are more places for eat pizza than to eat fish, is more tastier pizza than fish because pizza have chees, chicken, tomato, pepper

Submitted by Yourdream2021 on Thu, 05/06/2021 - 06:09

I think pizza tastes better than fish with fries. I really love pizza. This is the most delicious dessert. The best pizza in my city is at Takara sushi - bar. But my mom also makes pizza very tasty.

Submitted by Arivelde on Wed, 03/10/2021 - 16:13

I am in no place to answer which one is better, I have never tasted a real fish and chips, but I often do eat pizza. I live in a very remote place so the best way to eat pizza is doing it yourself. And thats where i get the best pizza around here, at home.

Submitted by hermione123 on Thu, 03/11/2021 - 08:49

hi, Arivelde well, i never try fish and chips too. because there aren't many restaurants near my house which offer fish and chips. but i often eat pizza, i buy it from a resraurant, i can't cook it by myself. i guess it'll be very fun if i can make pizza by myself, so i can eat it everytime i want it. all the best, hermione
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Submitted by Kostantinus on Fri, 01/22/2021 - 08:58

Where I am living we don't have a culture to eat fish and chips. We eat borch. It is like soup, but they are not the same. I prefer pizza to fish and chips, because I like eating pizza very much. By the way, I like boiled, steamed or baked fish also, but not fried one, that's too oily for me. About chips I could say that it is not healthy. We should care about our health and don't harm ourself. The best pizza I've ever had I tasted in Luxembourg on the territory of pizza's factory. I've tried many different kind of pizza. It was amazing! I'll never forget it.

Submitted by SARAHATHOME on Tue, 01/05/2021 - 07:34

pizzas!

Submitted by hermione123 on Fri, 01/01/2021 - 00:48

i prefer pizza

Submitted by mishi on Thu, 12/31/2020 - 13:01

i think pizza is more tastier than fish and chips.i get the best pizza from prelicious its in my hometown.

Submitted by Bernardo_Boy on Wed, 11/11/2020 - 17:24

I think that fish is tastier because, there's one fish I really like and that's tilapia and I also like pizza but tilapia is really my favorite food, and the best pizza you can get in my neighborhood is at the vlimmershof the pizza pollo there is the best pizza ever.

Submitted by picopeca on Mon, 11/09/2020 - 14:18

I prefer pizza than fish. I buy it in a handcrafted pizzeria there is in my town.

Submitted by bathayo on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 12:39

good

Submitted by TR790 on Wed, 05/20/2020 - 14:13

In my opinion, pizzas are way better than fish and chips. Domino's Pizza have the best pizza where I live.

Submitted by sintaa on Thu, 04/30/2020 - 11:10

this so easy

Submitted by Sharol on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 23:48

I think the pizzas are most tastier than fishes and chips.. I think domino's pizza is the best here where I live now.

Submitted by marchese on Mon, 03/23/2020 - 08:34

In my opinion the tastiest dish is pizza, I love it. Where I live I can find the best pizza from "Freshandgood", a small pizzeria very cheap but quality!

Submitted by FedericoB8 on Sun, 03/22/2020 - 11:53

I think pizza is better than fish and chips, because pizza has many types of ingredients, my favourite pizza is with salami and mozzarella. We often take pizza for my family in a take-away near my home, it's the best pizza in my neighborhood.

Submitted by Micheleanto on Fri, 03/20/2020 - 17:21

I think pizza is tastier than fish and chips because on your pizza you can put more ingredients than fish and chips. I got my best pizza in the restaurant in front of my home, with ham and mushrooms.

Submitted by asiasantin on Fri, 03/20/2020 - 15:13

I think pizza is tastier. You can put anything on top of the pizza, so the taste also varies, although for my personal tastes I like a mess of fish, but pizza and pizza. Here where I live there is a Neapolitan pizzeria that makes a fantastic pizza, really very good!

Submitted by bea_mara on Fri, 03/20/2020 - 14:43

I think pizza is better than fish and chips because it tastes better and all the cheese that spins when you cut it is an inimitable thing. The best pizza in my city in my opinion is at the restaurant 'Da Gino', but I also really like making pizza at home or eating the pizza that my grandmother makes.
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