Standard 5: Language

Students will apply knowledge of grammar and rhetorical style to reading and writing.

4.5.R.3  Students will recognize comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs.

Student Actions 

Teacher Actions 

• Students will understand comparative adjectives are usually formed by adding -er, -ier, -iest, (e.g. larger, angrier, biggest).

• Students will understand superlative adjectives compare three or more nouns (e.g. oldest, thinnest, curliest).   

• Students will understand adverbs ending in -ly, must use more to form the comparative, and most to form the superlative.  (e.g. slowly, more slowly, most slowly).  

• Students will recognize comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs in text(sentence and full text).  

• Teachers explain that comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (e.g., larger, smaller, faster).

• Teachers provide opportunities for students to recognize comparative adjectives.

• Teachers explain that  superlative adjectives compare three or more nouns (e.g., oldest, thinnest, curliest).  
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to recognize superlative adjectives.
• Teachers explain that adverbs ending in -ly, must use more to form the comparative, and most to form the superlative.  (e.g., slowly, more slowly, most slowly).
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to recognize adverbs.
• Teachers explain and model how to recognize comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs in text (sentence and full text).  
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to recognize comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs in text (sentence and full text).
• Teachers monitor and provide opportunities for students to receive feedback when recognizing comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs in text (sentence and full).

Supporting Resources 

Teacher Insights 

Schoolhouse Rock Adjectives (video)

Schoolhouse Rock Adverbs (video)

• The terms comparative and superlative are new to students at this level.

• Adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns or pronouns.

• Adjectives tell what kind, how many, how much and which one.

• Articles (a, an, and the) are always adjectives.

• Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher).

• They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this pattern:Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).

• Jackson is taller than Ethan.

• Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest).

• They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects. Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).

• Lizzy is the loudest cheerleader.

• Adverbs are words that modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

• Adverbs tell when, where, how how often how much, to what extent.

• Many common adverbs end in -ly.

• It is impossible to tell by the appearance of a word whether or not it is an adverb. The same word may be an adverb in one sentence and work as a noun or adjective in another sentence. Look at the work the word does in the sentence to determine whether it is an adverb.

• Comparative adverbs show a degree of comparison

• Comparative adverbs can be formed by adding -er to an adverb or using the words more or less with the adverb.

• Daisy runs fast, but Maia runs faster.

• There are some adverbs that do not have a comparative form, such as sometimes, never, here, there, now, then, first, again, yesterday, and daily.

• Superlative adverbs  are used to compare three or more people, places, or things. They are used to state that the action performed is to the highest degree within a group or of its kind.

• They are sometimes preceded by the word “the” but not always.

• Superlative adverbs can be formed by adding -est to an adverb or using the words most or least with the adverb.

• Andrew slept the longest.

• Some words are used both as adjectives and as adverbs. The words fast, long, and hard are examples of words that can be used both as an adjective and as an adverb.

• Adjective or Adverb?

• How to use adjectives and adverbs

• Differences of Adjectives and Adverbs

• Common Errors in Adjectives and Adverb

Due to recursive nature of the standards, it is essential that teachers are aware of how all objectives within and between strands work together for optimal instruction.