2. chomp! This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2012 by Robin L. Simmons. This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2012 by Robin L. Simmons.

3. DegreeDegree Am I smarter ? Am I smarter ? Or the smartest ? Or the smartest ?

4. This presentation covers appropriate comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs. This presentation covers appropriate comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs.

5. A degree item on an objective test might look like this...

6. Sample Item Roxanne is the __________ member of her family. A.smartest B.most smartest C.more smart D.least smartest Roxanne is the __________ member of her family. A.smartest B.most smartest C.more smart D.least smartest Which choice fills the blank with the correct form of smart ? Which choice fills the blank with the correct form of smart ? Smartest is the correct superlative form. Smartest is the correct superlative form.

7. ComparativeComparative Between those two friends, Yolanda is tallest. Forms include -er adjectives and the words better, worse, more, and less. Use with two items. Between those two friends, Yolanda is taller. Not the tallest ! Use -er when you have only two ! Not the tallest ! Use -er when you have only two !

8. SuperlativeSuperlative Of all of her friends, Yolanda is more gregarious. Forms include -est adjectives and the words best, worst, most, and least. Use with three or more i i i items. Of all of her friends, Yolanda is the most gregarious. What can I say — I’m a people person! What can I say — I’m a people person!

9. Do not use a double comparative or superlative! We saw that Thomas made an A on the difficult test. He is the most happiest student in Professor Orsini’s class. We saw that Thomas made an A on the difficult test. He is the most happiest student in Professor Orsini’s class. We saw that Thomas made an A on the difficult test. He is the most happy student in Professor Orsini’s class. Most happy or happiest — not both! Most happy or happiest — not both!

10. Know the correct forms. One-syllable words usually take - er or - est : Nice, nicer, nicest ! One-syllable words usually take - er or - est : Nice, nicer, nicest ! Words with three or more syllables use more, most, less, and least. For example, more interesting or least interesting. Words with three or more syllables use more, most, less, and least. For example, more interesting or least interesting. Two-syllable words vary: lazier but more handsome. Two-syllable words vary: lazier but more handsome.

11. Quick Test, Part 1 Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion. If no error exists, choose “No change is necessary.” The ball’s in your court. Show us what you can do. The ball’s in your court. Show us what you can do.

12. Item 1 My standard poodle Jack is the biggest of my two dogs. A.bigger B.more bigger C.most big D.No change is necessary. My standard poodle Jack is the biggest of my two dogs. A.bigger B.more bigger C.most big D.No change is necessary. My standard poodle Jack is the biggest of my two dogs. A.bigger B.more bigger C.most big D.No change is necessary.

13. Item 2 Joseph’s parents have three sons. Joseph is the most daring while Jason is the more cautious of the three. A.cautiouser B.more cautiouser C.most cautious D.No change is necessary. Joseph’s parents have three sons. Joseph is the most daring while Jason is the more cautious of the three. A.cautiouser B.more cautiouser C.most cautious D.No change is necessary. Joseph’s parents have three sons. Joseph is the most daring while Jason is the more cautious of the three. A.cautiouser B.more cautiouser C.most cautious D.No change is necessary.

14. Item 3 Raphael, our new roommate, is lazy. Of the truckload of boxes, Chuck and I had to carry the heavier ones. A.heaviest B.more heavy C.more heavier D.No change is necessary. Raphael, our new roommate, is lazy. Of the truckload of boxes, Chuck and I had to carry the heavier ones. A.heaviest B.more heavy C.more heavier D.No change is necessary. Raphael, our new roommate, is lazy. Of the truckload of boxes, Chuck and I had to carry the heavier ones. A.heaviest B.more heavy C.more heavier D.No change is necessary.

15. Item 4 Professor Zuromski read my essay in front of the entire class. Obviously, I am the better writer among her many students. A.best B.most great C.greater D.No change is necessary. Professor Zuromski read my essay in front of the entire class. Obviously, I am the better writer among her many students. A.best B.most great C.greater D.No change is necessary. Professor Zuromski read my essay in front of the entire class. Obviously, I am the better writer among her many students. A.best B.most great C.greater D.No change is necessary.

16. Quick Test, Part 2 Directions: In the items that follow, choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence. Now try some different items. Now try some different items.

17. Item 5 Roxanne can frost cupcakes __________ than anyone else in the cake-decorating class. A.quickest B.more quickly C.most quickly D.quicker Roxanne can frost cupcakes __________ than anyone else in the cake-decorating class. A.quickest B.more quickly C.most quickly D.quicker

18. Item 6 Of all our friends, Thomas is the __________ person we know. A.more sad B.sadder C.saddest D.most saddest Of all our friends, Thomas is the __________ person we know. A.more sad B.sadder C.saddest D.most saddest

19. Item 7 No one drives __________ than Grandmother Ruth. A.slowest B.more slowest C.more slower D.more slowly No one drives __________ than Grandmother Ruth. A.slowest B.more slowest C.more slower D.more slowly

20. Item 8 Cameron spent four hours cleaning our tiny apartment. Now he is __________ than he was when the place was a pigsty. A.less grouchy B.less grouchier C.grouchiless D.the least grouchy Cameron spent four hours cleaning our tiny apartment. Now he is __________ than he was when the place was a pigsty. A.less grouchy B.less grouchier C.grouchiless D.the least grouchy

21. Item 9 David smiled and bowed; Glen offered a single red rose; and Fred farted and picked his nose. Of the three of us, poor Cheryl certainly has the __________ date. A.worse B.more worse C.worst D.more terrible David smiled and bowed; Glen offered a single red rose; and Fred farted and picked his nose. Of the three of us, poor Cheryl certainly has the __________ date. A.worse B.more worse C.worst D.more terrible

22. Item 10 After Mrs. McKnight found 44 errors in his last essay, Albert decided to proofread his next paper __________. A.slower B.more carefully C.most carefully D.carefuller After Mrs. McKnight found 44 errors in his last essay, Albert decided to proofread his next paper __________. A.slower B.more carefully C.most carefully D.carefuller

23. The End.