Primary English: Comparatives and Superlatives

Primary English: Comparatives and Superlatives — Tutor Lesson Plan

2026-10-28

Tutor lesson-prep guides · Primary English

The commonest error is not forgetting -er but adding it twice. Syllable count settles which form to use.

Objectives — the student can choose -er or more by syllable count, spell doubled consonants and y to i correctly, and complete sentences with than and the.

01 Prerequisites (3-minute check)

If any of these fails, fix it before the lesson starts.

Skill	Quick check	Pass mark
Adjectives	Give five adjectives	tall, happy, big, good, expensive
Syllables	Split expensive into syllables	ex-pen-sive
Sentence frames	Name the two markers of comparison	than and the

02 Lesson flow (45 minutes)

Time	Stage	Tutor does	Student does
0-8 min	Count syllables	One syllable takes -er, three take more	Sort ten adjectives
8-18 min	Spelling rules	Double the consonant, y to i	Write six forms
18-28 min	Irregulars	good, better, best	Recall three sets
28-38 min	Practice	Rewrite six sentences	Work alone
38-42 min	Correction	more taller, missing the	Fix four sentences
42-45 min	Exit check	Three questions marked	Finish alone

03 Teaching script (read it out)

Scene 1: Count syllables before choosing

One syllable: tall, taller, tallest.
Two syllables ending in y: happy, happier, happiest.
Three or more: expensive, more expensive, most expensive.
Two syllables not ending in y usually take more.

Student sorts big, easy, beautiful, hot.

Scene 2: Three spelling rules

Double the final consonant after a short vowel: big, bigger.
Change y to i after a consonant: happy, happier.
Words ending in e add r or st: nice, nicer, nicest.

Note: write the base word first, then apply the rules in order.

Scene 3: Irregulars and the sentence frame

good, better, best; bad, worse, worst; much, more, most.
Comparison: A is taller than B.
Superlative: A is the tallest in the class, always with a group.

Student writes one sentence with best and a clear group.

04 Question types and worked steps

Type	Example	Steps	Answer
Choose the form	beautiful	Three syllables, so more	more beautiful
Spelling	big	Double the consonant	bigger
Irregular	good	Irregular table	better, best
Sentence frame	A is taller than B	than	A is taller than B

Sanity check (teach this): An adjective takes one comparative form only; more taller is wrong because it doubles the marker.

05 Independent practice (3 questions)

Question	Answer	What to watch
Comparative of easy	easier	y becomes i
Superlative of hot	the hottest	Double the consonant
A sentence with best	She is the best singer in the class	Group needed

06 Common mistakes and what to say

Mistake	Student writes	Say this
Double comparative	more taller	Use one form.
Missing the	She is tallest in class	Superlatives take the.
y not changed	happyer	Happy becomes happier.
No than	He is taller	Add than or the object.

07 Homework (paper, section and question numbers)

Primary English chapter index — Use the three tasks on this page

08 Exit check (last 5 minutes)

Question	Answer	Decision
Comparative of beautiful	more beautiful	All right: move to reading
Comparative of big	bigger	One wrong: re-teach
Does a superlative need the?	Yes	Two wrong: repeat scene 3

09 Tutor FAQ

Memorise the irregulars?

Yes, there are only six or seven.

Can than be dropped?

In speech yes, in writing keep it.

Two-syllable words?

Ending in y takes -er; the rest usually take more.

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A TutorZone lesson-prep guide. Written by the TutorZone team; questions and lesson flow are original and are not taken from any school or publisher material.