Conversation questions for practicing comparative and superlative adjectives.
1. We use comparatives to compare two things (or people).
This movie is more interesting than the one you chose.
Susie is smarter than her brother.
2. Superlatives are used, however, to show the difference between more than two things or more than two people.
This is the best ice cream I’ve ever had!
He is the fastest runner in this group.
One-syllable adjectives
If an adjective has only one syllable, we add –er to make the comparative form.
- quick – quicker
- nice – nicer
- warm – warmer
- cold – colder
We add –est to make the superlative form. Don’t forget that we use the definite article the with the superlative.
- quick – quicker – the quickest
- warm – warmer –the warmest
- cold – colder- the coldest
There are some spelling changes with one-syllable adjectives. If there is one vowel followed by one consonant at the end of the adjective, we often double the consonant.
- hot – hotter – the hottest
- big – bigger – the biggest
- thin – thinner – the thinnest
If the adjective ends in y, this often changes to i.
- happy – happier – the happiest
If the adjective ends in e, we don’t add another e, just r.
- fine -finer – the finest
- nice – nicer- the nicest
Two-syllable adjectives and adjectives with more than two syllables
For two-syllable adjectives, we use more or most.
- careful – more careful – most careful
- bored – more bored – most bored
Some two-syllable adjectives can take –er or –est.
- clever – cleverer – cleverest
- quiet – quieter – quietest
Adjectives with two syllables that end in y usually can add –er or –est. We can also use more or most.
- dirty – dirtier – dirtiest
- pretty – prettier – prettiest
- happy – happier – happiest
Some adjectives are irregular. There is no rule, we have to learn their forms.
- good – better – the best
- bad – worse – the worst
- far – further – the furthest
- little – less – the least
- much – more – the most
Conversation questions superlative and comparative adjectives
- Are you happier now than you were a year ago?
- Do you agree with the following: ‘The more expensive, the better quality.’
- Do you think vegetarianism is healthier than eating meat?
- Is it better to be poor and happy or to be rich and unhappy?
- Why is lying sometimes easier than telling the truth?
- What would be more difficult for you, to spend a night alone in the woods or to give a speech in front of hundreds of people?
- Does educated always mean more intelligent?
- What is more dangerous, boxing or skiing?
- Are teenagers lazier than they were 20 years ago?
- What job is more demanding, a nurse or an engineer?
- Which job is the most gratifying?
- Describe the best holiday you’ve ever had?
- What is the most surprising thing that has ever happened to you?
- What’s the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
- When did you feel the proudest?
- What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
- Describe the most delicious dish you’ve ever eaten.
- Who is the smartest person you know?
- Who inspires you the most?
- What is the weirdest present you’ve got?
Download the conversation questions superlative and comparative adjectives here.
Other grammar questions:
Conversation Questions Gerunds and Infinitives: ESL Speaking Activity
Conversation Questions: Future Tenses
Conversation Questions: Present Perfect and Past Simple
Conversation Questions Conditionals: ESL Speaking Activity
Other resources:
Funny Conversation Starters: 60 Questions
Storytelling Cards: Imaginative Card Game
Thank you–this was helpful as a last minute practice activity!