Comparatives and Superlatives - Free Printable

Explanation:
We are given a worksheet where we need to fill in the correct comparative or superlative form of regular adjectives.

Remember:
- Comparative is used when comparing two things (e.g., *sweeter*, *angrier*). Ends in -er for short adjectives, or uses *more* for longer ones.
- Superlative is used when comparing three or more things, or saying something is the *most* or *least* (e.g., *sweetest*, *angriest*). Ends in -est, or uses *most/least*.

Also, for one-syllable adjectives (like *sweet*, *cold*, *thin*, *old*, *fair*, *upset*), we usually add -er (comparative) or -est (superlative).
If the word ends in consonant–vowel–consonant (CVC), we double the final consonant before adding -er/-est (e.g., *thin → thinner*, *big → biggest*).

Let’s go through each sentence:

1. “The sugar donut was the ________ donut I ever tasted.”
→ Comparing *all* donuts ever tasted → superlative.
*sweet* → *sweetest* ✔

2. “While I waited, I became ________ as each hour passed.”
→ Comparing over time (hour by hour) → comparative.
*angry* → *angrier* ✔ (note: *angry* ends in *y*, so change *y* to *i* + *er*)

3. “Even though the storm was raging, John was ________ than me.”
→ Comparing two people → comparative.
*calm* → *calmer* ✔

4. “I think yesterday was the ________ day of the year.”
→ Superlative (among all days of the year).
*cold* → *coldest* ✔

5. “The little girl had the ________ hair among all her friends.”
→ Superlative (among *all* friends → 3+).
*curly* → *curliest* ✔ (*y* → *i* + *est*)

6. “The actor became ________ when the movie became a hit.”
→ Comparative (before vs. after the movie hit — two states).
*famous* → *more famous*? Wait — *famous* has 2 syllables. Rule: 2-syllable adjectives can go either way, but *famous* usually takes *more/most*, not *famer/famest*. So: more famous.
BUT — the instruction says: “for each given regular adjective”. Is *famous* considered regular here? Let’s check the list: the words given are all regular (no irregular like *good/better/best*). However, *famous* is typically formed with *more*, not *-er*. But since the worksheet lists *famous* and expects a one-word blank, and it's labeled “regular”, maybe they expect *more famous* — but the blank is one word? Wait — look at blanks: they’re single blanks, but some answers may be two words (e.g., “more famous”). The worksheet doesn’t restrict to one word. In practice, students write “more famous”.

However, let’s double-check other items — #8: *little* → *least*? No, #8 says: “It was the ________ I could do…” → superlative → *least* (since *little* → *less*, *least* — but *little* is irregular!). Wait — the instructions say: “for each given regular adjective”. So perhaps only regular ones are included, and *little* is irregular — but it’s listed. Hmm.

Let’s step back. The worksheet includes both regular and possibly irregular, but the title says “regular adjective”, so likely all listed are treatable with -er/-est rules — except maybe a few exceptions they still want standard forms.

Actually, looking carefully:
- *sweet*, *angry*, *calm*, *cold*, *curly*, *famous*, *thin*, *little*, *perfect*, *old*, *lovely*, *important*, *quick*, *fair*, *upset* — many are regular.

Standard school rule for 1- and 2-syllable adjectives:
- 1 syllable: -er / -est (double final consonant if CVC)
- 2 syllables ending in *-y*, *-er*, *-ow*, *-le*: often -er/-est (e.g., *happy → happier*, *narrow → narrower*, *simple → simpler*)
- Others: *more/most*

So:
- *famous* (2 syllables, not ending in y/er/ow/le) → more famous
- *little* → irregular: *less*, *least* — but the worksheet says “regular”, so maybe they expect *little* → *less* (comparative) or *least* (superlative). Sentence 8: “It was the ________ I could do” → superlative → least
- *perfect* → 2 syllables, not special ending → most perfect? But *perfect* is often used with *most*; however, in informal usage, *perfectest* is nonstandard. Correct: most perfect
- But wait — many grammar guides say *perfect* has no comparative/superlative because it’s absolute — but this is a language exercise, so they likely expect *most perfect*.

However, looking at typical school worksheets like this (and the fact that answer blanks are single lines), they often accept:
- *famous* → more famous
- *little* → least
- *perfect* → most perfect
- *lovely* → *loveliest* (ends in *-y* → *i* + *est*)
- *important* → *most important*
- *quick* → *quickest* (1 syllable, CVC? *quick* = c-k, not CVC — q-u-i-c-k → ends in *ck*, so just *quickest*)
- *fair* → *fairest* (1 syllable, not CVC, so *fairest*)
- *upset* → 2 syllables, but often treated as *more upset* (since *upset* is past participle used as adj); however, some accept *upsettest*? No — standard is more upset, most upset

But again, the worksheet says “regular adjective”, and gives options like *better*, *best* in part 2 — which are irregular — so maybe part 1 is only regular, part 2 includes irregular choices.

Let’s solve each one definitively using standard elementary/middle school expectations:

1. sweet → sweetest
2. angry → angrier
3. calm → calmer
4. cold → coldest
5. curly → curliest
6. famous → more famous
7. thin → thinnest (CVC: th-i-n → double n)
8. little → least (irregular, but commonly taught this way; and sentence says “the ___ I could do” → superlative of ability → *least*)
9. perfect → most perfect (though debatable, worksheets use this)
10. old → older (comparative: today vs yesterday)
11. lovely → loveliest (y→i+est)
12. important → important? No — “It is ________ for you to study…” → comparative? Actually, structure: “It is ___ for you” — likely important is base, but blank implies comparison? Wait: no word given to compare to. Hmm — re-read: “It is ________ for you to study than to play the game.” → comparative (than) → so more important
13. quick → quicker (comparative: *if we use that street instead*)
14. fair → fairest (superlative: *maiden of them all*)
15. upset → more upset (comparative: *was ___ about the low score than the loss*)

Now part 2: Circle the correct adjective.

16. “I do not think the day could have been much (better – best).”
→ *much* goes with comparative → better

17. “When my friend died, it was the (worst – worstest) day…”
→ superlative of *bad* is *worst* (irregular) → worst

18. “I think we will be (more – most) satisfied…”
→ comparing two situations: now vs later → comparative: more

19. “Ten dollars is the (littlest – least) amount…”
→ *least* is correct for uncountable/non-count nouns like *amount*; *littlest* is not standard → least

20. “I had a (good – better) day, but yesterday was the (best – better) day ever.”
First blank: base or comparative? “I had a ___ day” — no comparison yet, but next clause compares → so first is base: good
Second: superlative (of all days ever) → best

Now compile all answers:

1. sweetest
2. angrier
3. calmer
4. coldest
5. curliest
6. more famous
7. thinnest
8. least
9. most perfect
10. older
11. loveliest
12. more important
13. quicker
14. fairest
15. more upset

16. better
17. worst
18. more
19. least
20. good, best

But wait — check #9 again: “I thought it was the ________ day of the entire year.” → superlative. *Perfect* is often considered absolute, but in student worksheets, they accept most perfect. However, some curricula teach that *perfect* doesn’t have comparative/superlative — but since the blank exists, and it's a practice, likely most perfect.

Alternatively, could it be a trick? No other option. We’ll go with most perfect.

Also #12: “It is ________ for you to study than to play the game.” → definitely more important.

Now verify doubling rules:
- thin → thinner, thinnest ✔
- big → bigger, biggest (not here)
- curl → curlier, curliest ✔

All seem correct.

Final Answer:
1. sweetest
2. angrier
3. calmer
4. coldest
5. curliest
6. more famous
7. thinnest
8. least
9. most perfect
10. older
11. loveliest
12. more important
13. quicker
14. fairest
15. more upset
16. better
17. worst
18. more
19. least
20. good, best