Worksheet for practicing comparatives and superlatives using the suffixes '-er' and '-est' with rules and examples.

Let’s go step by step to fill in the table using the rules given.

We are making comparatives (using “-er”) and superlatives (using “-est”) from adjectives.

Here are the rules again, simplified:

1. Usual rule: Just add “-er” for comparative, “-est” for superlative.
- Example: small → smaller → smallest

2. Exception 1 – ends in ‘y’: Change ‘y’ to ‘i’, then add “-er” or “-est”.
- Example: yummy → yummier → yummiest

3. Exception 2 – ends in vowel + consonant: Double the last letter, then add “-er” or “-est”.
- Example: fat → fatter → fattest
(because ‘a’ is a vowel, ‘t’ is a consonant → double the ‘t’)

Now let’s apply these to each word:

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small
→ Usual rule: just add -er / -est
→ Comparative: smaller
→ Superlative: smallest

yummy
→ Ends in ‘y’ → change ‘y’ to ‘i’
→ Comparative: yummier
→ Superlative: yummiest

shiny
→ Ends in ‘y’ → change ‘y’ to ‘i’
→ Comparative: shinier
→ Superlative: shiniest

fat
→ Ends in vowel (‘a’) + consonant (‘t’) → double the ‘t’
→ Comparative: fatter
→ Superlative: fattest

thin
→ Ends in vowel (‘i’) + consonant (‘n’) → double the ‘n’
→ Comparative: thinner
→ Superlative: thinnest

cheeky
→ Ends in ‘y’ → change ‘y’ to ‘i’
→ Comparative: cheekier
→ Superlative: cheekiest

brown
→ Usual rule (ends in ‘n’, but not vowel+consonant pattern that triggers doubling — ‘ow’ is two vowels, so no doubling)
→ Comparative: browner
→ Superlative: brownest

healthy
→ Ends in ‘y’ → change ‘y’ to ‘i’
→ Comparative: healthier
→ Superlative: healthiest

hard
→ Usual rule (ends in ‘d’, but ‘ar’ is vowel+r, doesn’t trigger doubling unless it’s short vowel + single consonant — here ‘a’ is followed by ‘r’, which acts differently; actually, ‘hard’ follows usual rule)
Wait — let’s check: ‘hard’ = h-a-r-d. The ‘a’ is a vowel, ‘r’ is a consonant? But ‘ar’ is often treated as a unit. Actually, standard rule: if it’s one syllable, ends in vowel+consonant, double the consonant. ‘Hard’ has one syllable, ends in ‘rd’ — ‘r’ is consonant, ‘d’ is consonant? Wait, no — we look at the last two letters: ‘a’ (vowel) + ‘r’ (consonant)? But ‘r’ is not the final letter. Final letter is ‘d’. So pattern is: vowel (‘a’) + consonant (‘r’) + consonant (‘d’) → doesn’t fit Exception 2. So usual rule applies.

Actually, let me double-check with real English usage:
“hard” → “harder”, “hardest” — yes, no doubling. Because the stress is on the only syllable, but the ending is not a single consonant after a single vowel — it’s ‘ard’, which is three letters. Rule says: “adjectives ending in a vowel and a consonant” — meaning the LAST TWO letters are vowel then consonant. For ‘hard’, last two letters are ‘r’ and ‘d’ — both consonants. So no doubling. Usual rule.

→ Comparative: harder
→ Superlative: hardest

rough
→ Ends in ‘gh’ — both consonants. Last two letters: ‘u’ (vowel) + ‘g’? No — ‘ough’ — actually, last two letters are ‘g’ and ‘h’ — both consonants. So doesn’t fit Exception 2. Usual rule.

But wait — ‘rough’ ends in ‘gh’, which is silent, but spelling-wise, we still follow the written form. Standard: rough → rougher → roughest. No doubling.

→ Comparative: rougher
→ Superlative: roughest

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Let me verify each one quickly:

- small → smaller → smallest ✔
- yummy → yummier → yummiest ✔
- shiny → shinier → shiniest ✔
- fat → fatter → fattest ✔ (double t)
- thin → thinner → thinnest ✔ (double n)
- cheeky → cheekier → cheekiest ✔
- brown → browner → brownest ✔
- healthy → healthier → healthiest ✔
- hard → harder → hardest ✔
- rough → rougher → roughest ✔

All correct!

Final Answer:

| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|-----------|-------------|-------------|
| small | smaller | smallest |
| yummy | yummier | yummiest |
| shiny | shinier | shiniest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| thin | thinner | thinnest |
| cheeky | cheekier | cheekiest |
| brown | browner | brownest |
| healthy | healthier | healthiest |
| hard | harder | hardest |
| rough | rougher | roughest |