Grammar: COMPARISON

Three Types of Comparisons 1.ComparativeComparative 2.SuperlativeSuperlative 3.Equal formEqual form

Comparative Adjectives  When we talk about two things, we can "compare" them. We can see if they are the same or different. Perhaps they are the same in some ways and different in other ways. We can use comparative adjectives to describe the differences.  We use comparative adjectives when talking about 2 things (not 3 or 10 or 1,000,000 things, only 2 things).  Often, the comparative adjective is followed by "than". E.g: John is 1m80. He is tall. But Chris is 1m85. He is taller than John. America is big. But Russia is bigger. Short Adjectives: Adj-ER + than Long Adjectives: more + Adj + than

Superlative Adjectives  A superlative adjective describes the extreme quality of one thing in a group of things.  We use a superlative adjective to describe one thing in a group of three or more things. E.g: John is 1m75. David is 1m80. Chris is 1m85. Chris is the tallest. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Rome is the most beautiful country in the world. When we compare one thing with itself, we do not use "the": E.g: England is coldest in winter. (not the coldest) My boss is most generous when we get a big order. (not the most generous) Short Adjs: the + Adj-EST Long Adjs: the most +Adj

Formation of Comparative and Superlative Adjectives COMPARATIVESUPERLATIVE Only one syllable, ending ‎in E Ex: wide, fine, cute Add -R: wider, finer, cuter Add -ST: widest, finest, cutest Only one syllable, with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant Ex: fat, big, sad Double the consonant, ‎and add -ER: fatter, bigger, sadder Double the ‎consonant, and add -‎EST: fattest, biggest, saddest Only one syllable, with ‎more than one vowel or ‎more than one consonant at ‎the end Ex: clean, new, cheap Add -ER: cleaner, newer, cheaper Add -EST: cleanest, newest, cheapest Two syllables, ending in Y Ex: dirty, easy, happy Change Y to I, then ‎add -ER: dirtier, easier, happier Change Y to I, then ‎add -EST: dirtiest, easiest, happiest Two syllables ending in -ER Ex: clever Add -ER: cleverer Add –EST: cleverest

COMPARATIVESUPERLATIVE Two syllables, ending in –LE Ex: simpleAdd -R: simplerAdd -ST: simplest Two syllables, ending in –OW Ex: narrow Double the consonant, and add -ER: narrower Double the ‎consonant, and add -‎EST: narrowest One consonant, but –Y is not changed into –I Ex: shy Add -ER: shyerAdd -EST: shyest Two syllables or more, not ending in Y Ex: important, expensive, comfortable Use MORE: more important, more ‎expensive, more ‎comfortable Use MOST: most important, most ‎expensive, most ‎comfortable

Irregular adjectives good betterbest bad / ill worseworst little (amount) lessleast little (size) smallersmallest much / many moremost far (distance + time) furtherfurthest far (distance) fartherfarthest late (time) laterlatest late (order) latterlast near (place) nearernearest near (order) -next old (people and things) olderoldest old (people) eldereldest

Special adjectives common commoner/ more common commonest/ the most common likely likelier/ more likely likeliest/ most likely pleasant pleasanter/ more pleasant pleasantest/ most pleasant polite politer/ more polite politest/ most polite simple simpler/ more simple most stupid stupider/ more stupid stupidest/ most stupid subtle subtler/ more subtle subtlest/ most subtle suresurer/ more suresurest/ most sure

as… as S + V + as + {adj/ adv} + as + {noun/ pronoun} E.g: My book is as interesting as yours. His car runs as fast as a race car. John sings as well as his sister. Their house is as big as that one. His job is not as difficult as mine. They are as lucky as we are.

… number of times + as + adj/adv + as + … Examples: Jimmy’s toy cars are twice as many as mine. My sister can run three times as fast as my brother. Notice: - We CAN’T use “SO” instead of “AS” in this case