Comparative Spelling Changes Exercises

When adding -er to short adjectives, three important spelling rules apply. First, if a one-syllable adjective ends in consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC), double the final consonant: big → bigger, hot → hotter, thin → thinner, sad → sadder. Second, if the adjective ends in -e, just add -r: nice → nicer, large → larger, wide → wider. Third, if a two-syllable adjective ends in -y, change the y to i and add -er: happy → happier, easy → easier, funny → funnier.

These rules are the same ones used for adding -est (superlatives) and -ing or -ed to verbs, so learning them helps with other areas of English too. The doubling rule only applies when the last three letters follow the CVC pattern: "fast" ends in two consonants (st), so it becomes "faster" (no doubling). "Cheap" has two vowels before the final consonant (ea-p), so it becomes "cheaper" (no doubling). Getting these spelling patterns right is important for Cambridge A2 Key, where spelling accuracy counts in the writing section.