When we compare two things we often add -er (bigger), and when we compare three or more we add -est (biggest). Some words change their spelling first, and a few — like good, better, best — are special.
What your child will learn
- Use -er to compare two things and -est to compare three or more
- Double the last letter in words like big, hot and thin
- Change y to i in words like happy and funny
- Know irregular forms: good, better, best and bad, worse, worst
Spelling rules
Short words ending in one vowel and one consonant double the consonant: big → bigger, hot → hottest. Words ending in e just add -r or -st: nice → nicer. Words ending in y change it to i: happy → happiest.
Longer words usually use “more” and “most” instead: more beautiful, most exciting — never “beautifuller”.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. fast → faster → ___
- fastly
- fastest
- more fast
- fastter
Show answer
Answer: fastest. Fast, faster, fastest.
2. Which word compares two things?
- bigger
- biggest
- big
- bigly
Show answer
Answer: bigger. -er compares two things.
3. True or false? “Smallest” is used to compare three or more things.
Show answer
Answer: True. -est words compare three or more.
Tips for grown-ups
- Line up three toys and describe them: big, bigger, biggest.
- Compare family heights: tall, taller, tallest.