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Primary English · Year 1Chapter 5 · Adding endings
Year 1 · Adding Endings · Lesson 5.3

Year 1 English: Comparing with -er and -est

Part of the Year 1 English adding endings chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)

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5.3

Comparing with -er and -est

Year 1
Add -er and -est to compare
Some trees in the park are taller than others.

We use -er to compare two things. We use -est to compare three or more things.

Look at the bars. Bar A is 3 tall. Bar B is 5 tall. Bar B is taller than bar A. Quick, quicker, quickest: the root word quick does not change.

AB
Bar B is taller than bar A.

Key ideas

  • -er compares two things: taller than.
  • -est compares three or more: the tallest.
  • The root word does not change: quick, quicker, quickest.
  • The bigger the number, the taller the bar.
Worked example 5.3.1
Which is taller, A or B?
AB

Key words. Taller means higher than the others.

Method. Look at the height of each bar. The taller bar is the one that is higher.

  1. Look at each bar. A higher bar has a bigger number.
    A is 3, B is 5
  2. Compare the heights. The bar that is highest is the taller one.
    5 is the biggest number
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. Check the bars again from the top: B is the taller one. ✓

Watch out. Look at the top of each bar. Do not choose a bar because it is wider.

Worked example 5.3.2
Write the -er word for quick.

Key words. Taller compares two things. Tallest compares three or more things.

Method. Keep the root word the same, then add -er.

  1. Find the root word. The root word does not change.
    quick
  2. Add -er. -er compares two things, like taller than.
    quick + er = quicker
  3. Write the answer.
    quicker

Check. Take the ending off to check: quicker becomes quick. ✓

Watch out. Use the ending only. Write quicker, not more quick.

Worked example 5.3.3
Write the -est word for long.

Key words. Taller compares two things. Tallest compares three or more things.

Method. Keep the root word the same, then add -est.

  1. Find the root word. The root word does not change.
    long
  2. Add -est. -est compares three or more things, like the tallest.
    long + est = longest
  3. Write the answer.
    longest

Check. Take the ending off to check: longest becomes long. ✓

Watch out. Use the ending only. Write longest, not more long.

Watch out

Watch out: do not write more quick or most quick. Use the ending instead: quicker or quickest.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Line up three real things, like pencils, and ask: “Which is longer than the other one? Which is the longest of all three?” Use -er for two, -est for three or more.

Exercise 5C  Comparing with -er and -est

1
FWhich is taller: A or B?
AB
2
FWhich is shorter: A or B?
AB
3
FWhich is the tallest: A, B or C?
ABC
4
FWhich is the shortest: A, B or C?
ABC
5
FWrite the -er word for slow.
6
FWrite the -est word for tall.
7
FWrite the -er word for small.
8
FWrite the -est word for fast.
9
FWrite the -er and -est words for each root word.
(a)cold: -er
(b)cold: -est
(c)short: -er
(d)short: -est
10
PSKim runs ___ than Ali. Use the word fast.
11
PSMia says, “Ali is more tall than Sam.” Write it again with the right word.
12
RWhy do we say tallest and not taller when we compare three towers?

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