Suffixes- ER/EST Phonics I abcteach.com - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to solve this worksheet.

---

Part A: Complete the chart

We are adding two suffixes — “-er” and “-est” — to base words to make comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.

Rules to remember:
- For most short adjectives, just add “-er” or “-est”.
- If the word ends in “e”, just add “-r” or “-st”.
- If the word ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant (like “big”), double the last letter before adding “-er” or “-est”.

Let’s fill in each row:

1. soft → softer, softest
(Just add -er and -est)

2. cute → cuter, cutest
(Ends in “e”, so add -r and -st)

3. old → older, oldest
(Just add -er and -est)

4. wet → wetter, wettest
(Consonant-vowel-consonant? w-e-t → yes! Double the ‘t’)

5. easy → easier, easiest
(Change ‘y’ to ‘i’ then add -er/-est)

6. high → higher, highest
(Just add -er and -est)

7. grumpy → grumpier, grumpiest
(Change ‘y’ to ‘i’ then add -er/-est)

8. thin → thinner, thinnest
(Consonant-vowel-consonant? t-h-i-n → yes! Double the ‘n’)

9. neat → neater, neatest
(Ends in “e”? No, but it’s regular — just add -er/-est)

10. big → bigger, biggest
(Consonant-vowel-consonant? b-i-g → yes! Double the ‘g’)

✔ Part A is done!

---

Part B: Write comparisons using correct form

We need to pick either the “-er” or “-est” form based on how many things we’re comparing.

Rule:
- Use “-er” when comparing TWO things.
- Use “-est” when comparing THREE OR MORE things (or saying something is the most extreme).

Let’s go sentence by sentence:

1. Mark is ______ than Becky is.
→ Comparing TWO people → use “-er” → smarter

2. Addition is ______ than subtraction is.
→ Comparing TWO operations → use “-er” → easier

3. That is the ______ mistake I have ever seen.
→ “the” + “ever seen” = comparing to ALL mistakes → use “-est” → biggest

4. She’s the ______ person I know.
→ “the” + “I know” = comparing to everyone you know → use “-est” → funniest

5. Ben’s story is ______ than my story.
→ Comparing TWO stories → use “-er” → shorter

6. Sean’s stop was the ______ of all.
→ “the” + “of all” = comparing to everything → use “-est” → longest

7. Chris’s flower was ______ than my flower.
→ Comparing TWO flowers → use “-er” → prettier

8. Pluto is the ______ dog in our neighborhood.
→ “the” + “in our neighborhood” = comparing to all dogs there → use “-est” → largest

✔ Part B is done!

---

Final Answer:

Part A Chart:

| Base Word | Suffix "er" | Suffix "est" |
|-----------|-------------|--------------|
| 1. soft | softer | softest |
| 2. cute | cuter | cutest |
| 3. old | older | oldest |
| 4. wet | wetter | wettest |
| 5. easy | easier | easiest |
| 6. high | higher | highest |
| 7. grumpy | grumpier | grumpiest |
| 8. thin | thinner | thinnest |
| 9. neat | neater | neatest |
| 10. big | bigger | biggest |

Part B Sentences:

1. smarter
2. easier
3. biggest
4. funniest
5. shorter
6. longest
7. prettier
8. largest