Comparatives & Superlatives – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are giving advice to your friend, Mark, who wants to change his unhealthy habits and feel better. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 Eating a bowl of fresh fruit is __________ for your body than eating a bar of chocolate.
(a) more better
(b) better
(c) gooder
(d) best
2 Drinking water is __________ than drinking soda if you want to lose weight.
(a) healthyer
(b) the healthiest
(c) more healthy
(d) healthier
3 This green salad is the __________ meal on the entire menu!
(a) most delicious
(b) deliciousest
(c) more delicious
(d) delicious
4 To be fit, you need to be __________ active than you were last month.
(a) more
(b) much
(c) most
(d) very
5 Is your new gym __________ to your house than the old one?
(a) the closest
(b) more close
(c) closer
(d) close
6 You should try to sleep __________ if you want to feel energetic in the morning.
(a) more long
(b) longest
(c) longly
(d) longer
7 Organic vegetables are usually __________ expensive than fast food, but they are worth it.
(a) lesser
(b) little
(c) least
(d) more
8 For Mark, running a marathon is __________ difficult than walking for thirty minutes.
(a) very
(b) most
(c) more
(d) too
9 This natural juice isn’t __________ as the energy drink, but it is much more natural.
(a) as tasty
(b) tastier
(c) so tasty
(d) tastiest
10 You look much __________ now that you have started your new diet!
(a) thinnest
(b) thin
(c) more thin
(d) thinner
11 Choosing a sport you enjoy is the __________ way to stay motivated.
(a) easier
(b) easiest
(c) more easy
(d) easyest
12 You should try to go to bed __________ than 11:00 PM every night.
(a) earlyer
(b) more early
(c) earlier
(d) early
13 Sitting on the sofa all day is the __________ habit you have, Mark.
(a) worse
(b) worst
(c) baddest
(d) most bad
14 Fresh home-cooked meals are __________ more nutritious than frozen dinners.
(a) much
(b) more
(c) most
(d) very
15 The __________ you exercise, the stronger your heart will become.
(a) most
(b) best
(c) more
(d) harder
16 This workout plan is __________ more effective than your old routine.
(a) very
(b) far
(c) most
(d) more
17 Of all the habits you’ve changed, drinking less coffee is __________ one for your sleep.
(a) the better
(b) the most good
(c) the best
(d) best
18 Your physical health is __________ important than your work deadlines.
(a) far more
(b) the most
(c) more
(d) very more
19 Today’s yoga session was __________ than yesterday’s heavy weightlifting.
(a) slightly more relaxing
(b) more slightly relaxing
(c) slightlier relaxing
(d) relaxing
20 This is __________ advice I can give you: start small and be consistent.
(a) the better
(b) better
(c) wellest
(d) the best
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) better
- Explanation: “Better” is the irregular comparative form of “good.”
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake (double comparative); (c) is a structural error (incorrect irregular form); (d) is a superlative, which doesn’t fit with “than.”
2 (d) healthier
- Explanation: For two-syllable adjectives ending in “-y,” we change “-y” to “-i” and add “-er.”
- Analysis: (a) is a spelling error; (b) is a superlative; (c) is a usage trap (though used in some contexts, “healthier” is the standard rule for A2).
3 (a) most delicious
- Explanation: “Delicious” is a long adjective, so we use “the most” for the superlative.
- Analysis: (b) is a structural error; (c) is a comparative; (d) is the base adjective.
4 (a) more
- Explanation: We use “more” before long adjectives (active) to form the comparative.
- Analysis: (b) is a modifier, not the comparative itself; (c) is a superlative; (d) is an intensifier.
5 (c) closer
- Explanation: “Close” is a short adjective; we add “-r” for the comparative.
- Analysis: (a) is superlative; (b) is structural error; (d) is no comparison.
6 (d) longer
- Explanation: “Long” is a short adjective, so we add “-er” for the comparative form.
- Analysis: (a) common mistake for short adjectives; (b) superlative; (c) incorrect adverbial form.
7 (d) more
- Explanation: “Expensive” is a long adjective requiring “more” for comparison.
- Analysis: (a) and (b) are meaning traps/incorrect forms; (c) is a superlative.
8 (c) more
- Explanation: “Difficult” is a long adjective.
- Analysis: (a) and (d) are intensifiers that cannot replace “more” in a “than” construction; (b) is superlative.
9 (a) as tasty
- Explanation: The structure “not as + adjective + as” is used for negative comparison of equality.
- Analysis: (b) doesn’t fit the “as…as” structure; (c) “so tasty” is used but usually in the second part; (d) superlative.
10 (d) thinner
- Explanation: For “thin” (CVC rule), we double the final consonant and add “-er.”
- Analysis: (a) superlative; (b) no comparison; (c) common mistake (using “more” for short adjectives).
11 (b) easiest
- Explanation: Superlative form of “easy.” Change “-y” to “-i” and add “-est.”
- Analysis: (a) comparative; (c) structural error; (d) spelling error.
12 (c) earlier
- Explanation: Comparative form of “early.” Change “-y” to “-i” and add “-er.”
- Analysis: (a) and (b) are structural errors; (d) is the base form.
13 (b) worst
- Explanation: “Worst” is the irregular superlative form of “bad.”
- Analysis: (a) is comparative; (c) and (d) are common structural errors for irregulars.
14 (a) much
- Explanation: “Much” is used to modify and emphasize a comparative (“much more nutritious”).
- Analysis: (b) creates a double “more”; (c) is superlative; (d) cannot modify a comparative.
15 (c) more
- Explanation: This is a double comparative structure: “The more… the stronger…”
- Analysis: (a) and (b) are superlatives; (d) is a meaning trap (though you exercise hard, the structure requires “more” to balance the “stronger”).
16 (b) far
- Explanation: “Far” is used to show a large difference in comparison (far more effective).
- Analysis: (a) “very” cannot modify a comparative; (c) superlative; (d) double comparative.
17 (c) the best
- Explanation: Superlative for “good.”
- Analysis: (a) is comparative; (b) is structural error; (d) missing the definite article “the.”
18 (a) far more
- Explanation: “Far more” emphasizes the comparative of a long adjective.
- Analysis: (b) superlative; (c) missing the emphasis needed for this context; (d) common mistake (very + comparative).
19 (a) slightly more relaxing
- Explanation: “Slightly” modifies the comparative “more relaxing” to show a small difference.
- Analysis: (b) and (c) are structural/word order errors; (d) no comparison.
20 (d) the best
- Explanation: Irregular superlative for “good.”
- Analysis: (a) comparative; (b) missing “the”; (c) structural error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Short Adjectives (1 syllable): Add -er for comparative and -est for superlative (e.g., fast → faster → fastest).
- Adjectives ending in -y: Change -y to -i and add -er/-est (e.g., healthy → healthier → healthiest).
- Long Adjectives (2+ syllables): Use more for comparative and the most for superlative (e.g., important → more important → the most important).
- Irregular Forms: Some adjectives don’t follow rules. Memory is key!
- Emphasis: Use much or far to emphasize a big difference (much better). Use slightly or a bit for a small difference (a bit healthier).
- Comparisons of Equality: Use as + adjective + as to say two things are equal, or not as + adjective + as to say they aren’t.