Comparative Adjectives and Adverbs Short adjectives use –er. Long ones use more.

How Do Adjectives Function? Adjectives add specific information to noun forms: Guys with slow cars want faster ones. Adjectives tell us what kind of: What kind of test is it going to be? Is it a hard one or an easy one? Is the girl’s question a more common one?

How Do Adverbs Function? Adverbs tell us when, how or to what degree. They modify verbs and adjectives: 1.Kalil drove quickly to college. 2.Rocio went rapidly past the police car. 3.Vera is very pretty. 4.Khan sees poorly without glasses. How much does the little guy know?

Do All Adverbs End with -ly? 1.Is the professor __ upset? 2.The semester ends __. 3.We were __ in the afternoon. 4.The team played __ enough to win. 5.__ is the last day to enroll. Fill in the blanks with the words: A.soon B.there C.well D.very E.tomorrow

Here are the answers: 1.Is the professor very upset? 2.The semester ends soon. 3.We were there in the afternoon. 4.The team played well enough to win. 5.Tomorrow is the last day to enroll. Fill in the blanks with the words: A.soon B.there C.well D.very E.tomorrow

How About Comparative Adjectives? In the comparative, short, one syllable adjectives and adverbs add –er. 1.Chinese is tougher than English. 2.Maria studied harder than I did. 3.Gabriella looks better than her younger sister does. 4.Do you feel worse today than yesterday? Are good looks better than winning?

What About Longer Comparatives? Adjectives and adverbs of more than one syllable become comparative by adding the word more. 1.My accident was more expensive than yours was. 2.Your car drives more smoothly than mine does. 3.Students are more comfortable writing on the computers. Is there always more?

What About Words Ending with -y? Comparatives ending in –y become –ier. 1.Ana is happier than ever before. 2.Michelle seems funnier than her older brother does. 3.Your ink pen is messier than mine. 4.This joke is funnier than that one. Do dogs always find windier places?

Do Comparatives Use That or Than? Some ESL writers use that instead of the proper than in comparatives. 1.The ESOL class in high school was easier (that, than) college ESL. 2.US football players are most often clumsier (that, than) soccer players. 3.No one knew (that, then) our class ended next month. Is it possible to score lower than chance?

Can We Use Double Comparatives? People sometimes use incorrect double comparatives. 1.McDonalds is more better than Burger King. 2.Express Avenue is more nosier than Solitude Lane. Does the gambler need more or better luck?

What Is Beyond Comparative? Comparatives note differences between two things. Superlatives make differences among three or more things. 1.Her bell is loud. Our bell is louder. Your bell is the loudest of all. Superlatives indicate extremes: Who was the meanest teacher that you ever had? Is the boy beyond help?

What About Longer Superlatives? Superlatives of one syllable add –est. Of the girls, her skin is the darkest. Superlatives of two or more syllables add “most.” Of all the students in this class, he is the most dependable. Does the little guy think he is superboy?

When Can We Use the Superlative? 1.The superlative is used only for more than two things. Between red and blue, red is the (hotter, hottest) color. 2.This is the (funnier, funniest) picture of the two you have. 3.Of the three papers, this one is (a better, the better, the best). Is “Box-O-Air” the best for diets?

Can We Use “Most” and -est? Never combine most with –est. 1.Prince Charles did the (best, most best) thing that he could for her. 2.Everyone likes Adri because she has the (nicest, most nicest) smile and disposition. Is Bob’s job the nicest?

Can You Use the Superlative? Is the husband any different? Jose is the ___ person I know. a. funny, b. funnier, c. funniest. The champions won the ___ games. a. many, b. most, c. more. An orange is ___ a lemon. a. sweet, b. sweeter, c. more sweet.

Can We Use “Most” and -est? 1.What’s your __ moment of all? a. most anxious, b. more anxious. 2.Which is your __ season? a. good, b. better, c. best, d. bester. 3. Let’s avoid __ sentence errors! a. a bad, b. some worse, c. the worst 4.Who has __ errors on the essay? a. the more, b. the fewest, c. the less 5. When is __ that you can come tomorrow? a. the earliest, b. the earlier, c. the more early

Answers to “Most” and –est: 1.What’s your __ moment of all? a. most anxious, b. more anxious. 2.Which is your __ season? a. good, b. better, c. best, d. bester. 3. Let’s avoid __ sentence errors! a. a bad, b. some worse, c. the worst 4.Who has __ errors on the essay? a. the more, b. the fewest, c. the less 5. When is __ that you can come tomorrow? a. the earliest, b. the earlier, c. the more early.

Can you use comparatives? __1.Which river is __ in the world? a. the longer, b. the more long, c. the longest __2. Eva has studied here __ Eduardo has. a. longer than, b. more long that, c. long as. __3.It is __ to learn English as it is to learn math. a. so hard, b. as hard, c. too hard. __4.The __ you study, the __ you will learn. a. hard…better, b. more…more, c. less…fewer. __5. No one knows __ about the lottery as Joe does. a. as much, b. more, c. the most.

Here are the comparative answers: __1.Which river is __ in the world? a. the longer, b. the more long, c. the longest __2. Eva has studied here __ Eduardo has. a. longer than, b. more long that, c. long as. __3.It is __ to learn English as it is to learn math. a. so hard, b. as hard, c. too hard. __4.The __ you study, the __ you will learn. a. hard…better, b. more…more, c. less…fewer. __5. No one knows __ about the lottery as Joe does. a. as much, b. more, c. the most. The End