Adjectives -est Worksheet

Superlative adjectives are how a writer compares three or more things, and this Adjectives -est Worksheet gives third graders focused practice with the two forms they have to choose between. Short adjectives take the ending -est, so tall becomes tallest and loud becomes loudest, while a two-syllable adjective that ends in y changes the y to i first, turning bumpy into bumpiest. Longer adjectives do not take the ending at all: they use the word most in front, so a delicious lunch becomes the most delicious lunch. Learning which rule applies is a third grade language standard, and it is the skill this worksheet builds from start to finish.

This printable Adjectives -est Worksheet moves from sorting to writing. Students read eight adjectives in the word box, decide whether each one takes the ending or the word most, and write the new form in the matching column of the chart. Then they read four sentences, find the adjective printed in dark type, and write its superlative form on the line below. The last section slips in irregular forms, because good does not become goodest and important never takes an ending, so students have to think rather than apply one rule to everything. A full answer key is included on the second page.

What’s Included

• One printable worksheet page with a word box of eight adjectives
• A two-column sorting chart labeled Add -est and Use most
• Four sentence items with a writing line for each new form
• Regular, spelling-change, and irregular superlatives in one activity
• A complete answer key page

Three Reasons This Helps Kids

• Sorting before writing makes the rule visible, so students see why one adjective takes the ending and another takes most.
• Writing each form by hand builds the spelling changes into memory, especially the y to i change that trips up young writers.
• The sentence section puts the skill back into real language, which is exactly how a reading or writing test will ask for it.

Teacher and Parent Ideas

Use this 3rd grade adjectives worksheet as a warm up before a descriptive writing lesson, or hand it out as homework after teaching the comparative forms. Partners can race to sort the word box and then check each other against the key. For an extension, ask students to circle one superlative from a book they are reading and add it to the correct column. Keep a class chart of -est words and most words on the wall and add to it all year.

Related Resources

• Adjectives -er Worksheet
• Adjectives Describe Worksheet
• Writing Adjectives Worksheet
• Adjective Song