When do I add -er and when do I use more?

One-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives add -er; three syllables or more use more.

Why is more taller wrong?

More and -er both mark the comparative, so using both together is an error.

Primary English Comparatives, Paper 1: -er, -est, more and most

2026-10-30

Tutor Prep Guide · Primary English

Short adjectives take -er and -est, longer ones take more and most, and good and bad are irregular.

Focus　Count the syllables first, then choose a suffix or more; memorise the irregular pairs.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10
Suggested time	25
Difficulty mix	Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: Primary English: Comparatives and Superlatives
Level	P4 to P5

02　Questions (10 items)

FoundationTom is ___ (tall) than his brother.
FoundationThis box is ___ (heavy) than that one.
FoundationMount Everest is the ___ (high) mountain in the world.
FoundationMy bag is ___ (big) than yours.
IntermediateThis book is ___ (interesting) than that one.
IntermediateShe is the ___ (good) singer in our class.
IntermediateToday is ___ (hot) than yesterday.
ChallengeThis is the ___ (bad) film I have ever seen.
ChallengeA train is ___ (fast) than a bus, but a plane is the ___ (fast) of all.
Error redoCorrect the sentence: She is more taller than me.

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	taller	A one-syllable adjective takes -er in the comparative, followed by than.
2	heavier	A consonant plus y ending drops the y and adds -ier.
3	highest	The superlative takes the plus -est for the most extreme member.
4	bigger	A short vowel before a final consonant doubles the consonant before -er.
5	more interesting	Adjectives of three syllables or more use more for the comparative.
6	best	Good is irregular: good, better, best.
7	hotter	Hot doubles its final t before adding -er.
8	worst	Bad is irregular: bad, worse, worst.
9	faster; fastest	The two gaps take the comparative faster and the superlative fastest.
10	She is taller than me.	Never use more together with -er; choose one form only.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

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