Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ Konin

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 We use comparative adjectives to compare two (or more) things or people.  We use superlative adjectives to distinguish one thing or person from a number of others.

Comparatives Short adjectives – adjectives with one syllable:  +er cheap  cheaper  ending in –e: +r safe  safer

Comparatives Short adjectives – adjectives with one syllable:  ending in –y: change y into i and +er dry  drier  ending in a single vowel and a single consonant: double the final consonant and +er big  bigger

Comparatives Long adjectives – with two or more syllables:  more + adjective expensive  more expensive But:  ending in –y: change y into i and +er happy  happier  ending in –ow, –le, –er : +er narrow  narrower gentle  gentler clever  cleverer

Comparative + than  We can use than to introduce a clause after a comparative adjective: Los Angeles is bigger than I expected it to be.  If the object of the comparison is a pronoun without a verb we usually use an object pronoun: I'm taller than him.  If there is a verb we use a subject pronoun and an auxiliary: I'm taller than he is.

Superlatives We usually use the with superlatives because there is only one superlative. Short adjectives – adjectives with one syllable:  +est cheap  the cheapest  ending in –e: +st safe  the safest

Superlatives Short adjectives – adjectives with one syllable:  ending in –y: change y into i and +est dry  the driest  ending in a single vowel and a single consonant: double the final consonant and +est big  the biggest

Superlatives Long adjectives – with two or more syllables:  the most + adjective expensive  the most expensive But:  ending in –y: change y into i and +est happy  the happiest  ending in –ow, –le, –er : +er narrow  the narrowest gentle  the gentlest clever  the cleverest

Superlatives  When we refer to a place or group we use in not of after superlatives. New York is one of the largest cities in the world. He's by far the cleverest student in his class.  But in formal English we can put an of phrase at the beginning of the sentence, before the superlative. Of the students in his class, he is the cleverest.

Irregulars  goodbetter the best  badworse the worst  little lessthe least

less / least  We can also use less and least as the opposite of more and most. This exercise is less difficult than the others. The hot dog is the least expensive.

Irregulars  far farther the farthest further the furthest  We use further/the furthest or farther/the farthest to talk about a ‘greater distance’: John’s house is the farther one. I’ve moved further away from my parents. (= a greater distance away)  We use further/the furthest with the meaning of ‘extra’ or ‘more’: Let me know if you have any further questions. (= extra/more)

as + adjective + as as + adjective + as  We can say that two things are equal by using as + adjective + as: The hamburger is as expensive as the fishburger.  To say that things are almost equal we use just, about, almost or nearly: She’s nearly as old as I was when I got married.

(not) as + adjective + as  We make a negative comparison with not as/so + adjective + as: The hot dog isn’t as expensive as the hamburger. (= The hot dog is cheaper.)

The sooner the better.  To describe how a change in one thing causes a change in another, we can use two comparative forms with the. Note the use of the comma after the first clause: The more he eats, the fatter he gets. The older I get, the happier I am. The more dangerous it is, the more I like it. ‘How do you like your coffee?’ ‘The stronger the better.’

As simple as ABC! The more you study, the better the results.

Bibliography 1. Bourke K.: Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.: An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage. Harlow: Longman, Murphy R.: English Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Swan M.: Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: A practical English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Vince M.: Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition). Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010.