Comparatives Gerry is (smart) __________________ a chimpanzee. Gerry is smarter than a chimpanzee. Gerry is (handsome) __________________ Johnny Depp. Gerry is more handsome than Johnny Depp. Rule? 1 syllable → ADJECTIVE+er than → bigger / older / longer etc. 2+ syllables → more ADJECTIVE than → more beautiful / more difficult etc. So…what exactly is a syllable? → it’s the sound made by a vowel

But… easy → easier Rule? → ADJECTIVES ending in –y → ier (dirtier; funnier; happier; sexier; prettier, etc.) Exceptions good → better bad → worse fun → more fun 1-vowel ADJECTIVES ending in –r (clear; fair) → ADJECTIVE+er vs. more ADJECTIVE

Quantifying adjectives in comparatives small difference → B is ___________ taller than A. → a little a bit a little bit slightly → China is slightly bigger than the U.S. big difference → F is ___________ taller than D. → a lot much far way → Canada is way bigger than France. medium or uncertain or undisclosed difference → C is _____ taller than A. → somewhat → Tokyo is somewhat bigger than Seoul.

Emphasize a difference in extremes (very big or very small / very good or very bad) F is really tall, but G is _______ taller! → even Russia is even bigger than Canada. Carl is a terrible golfer but Stan is even worse. Japan is even bigger than England. Japan is not big; it is small! So… → England is even smaller than Japan.

Sameness & Similarities E is ______________ F. → E is as tall as F. Emphasize sameness F is very tall but E is _________ as tall as F. → just E is just as tall as F. → E is just as short as F. E and F are not short. Small difference F is _________ as tall as G. → almost / nearly F is almost as tall as G. / F is nearly as tall as G.

Comparing using negatives C is ___________________ G. → C is not as tall as G. Small difference F is not ________ as tall as G. → quite F is not quite as tall as G. Note: quite is only used in negatives → E is quite as tall as G. Big difference D is not ________ as tall as G. → nearly D is not nearly as tall as G.

Other comparatives Years working at ABC Company. Cathy – 10 years / Eduardo – 9 years / Jamal – 7 years / Selena – 6 months Jamal has _________ experience than Cathy. → Jamal has less experience than Cathy. Small difference Eduardo has _________ less experience than Cathy. → Eduardo has slightly less experience than Cathy. (a little / a bit / a little bit) Big difference Selena has _________ less experience than Eduardo. → Selena has way less experience than Eduardo. (much / far / a lot) Medium or uncertain or undisclosed difference Jamal has _________ less experience than Eduardo. → Jamal has somewhat less experience than Eduardo.

Let’s practise: Choose 7 different forms and compare… more -er better Group A Group B worse your city vs. Victoria Canadian food vs. your food way slightly even somewhat Group C Group D as ______ as love vs. money cats vs. dogs just as ______ as nearly almost not nearly Group E Group F not quite you vs. your sibling your mother vs. your father less

Summary Adjectives ending in –y → Spanish spelling is easier than English spelling. Exceptions → Dark beer is better than light beer. / Doing homework is worse than going to the dentist. Small differences → James is slightly taller than his brother. Big differences → Gerry is way more handsome than Brad Pitt. Unclear difference → Cathy is somewhat older than my wife. Emphasize difference in extremes → Canada is even bigger than the US. → Joe is even worse than Tom at golf. Sameness → Protecting the environment is as important as stimulating the economy. Emphasize sameness → Education is just as important as experience in a job. Small difference → Jane is nearly as good as Sally at basketball. Negatives → Vancouver is not as pretty as Victoria. Small difference → Canadians are not quite as friendly as Americans. Big difference → Japanese are not nearly as outgoing as Brazilians. Using “less” → Canada’s economy is less dynamic than Korea’s. Small difference → Gerry is slightly less intelligent than a gorilla. Big difference → Gerry is way less intelligent than a dolphin. Unclear difference → Gerry is somewhat less intelligent than a baboon.