1. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives: meaning
• Comparatives compare two separate things
Mary is a better player than Monica
• Superlatives compare one thing in a group with all the
others.
Sarah is the best player in the team. I T A L
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2. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives: form
• One syllable
Comparative adjectives with one syllable are normally formed by adding –er to the adjective. In one syllable words ending with one consonant, the final consonant is doubled. Words ending in consonant + -y change –y to –i.
long – longer big – bigger dry – drier I T A L
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3. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives: form
• One syllable
Superlative adjectives are normally formed by adding
–est to the adjective.
long – the longest big – the biggest dry – the driest I T A L
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4. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives: form
• Two or more syllables
Comparative adjectives with two or more syllables are normally formed with more.
modern – more modern interesting – more interesting I T A L
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5. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives: form
• Two or more syllables
Superlative adjectives are normally formed with most. Modern – the most modern
interesting – the most interesting I T A L
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6. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives: form
• Two or more syllables
Some adjectives with two syllables can be formed in either way.
common commoner the commonest OR
common more common the most common
Other examples include: quiet, tired, clever, polite, simple. I T A L
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7. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives: form
• Two or more syllables
We normally use the with a superlative + noun. The + superlative can also be used without a noun.
Sarah is the best swimmer. Sarah is the best. I T A L
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8. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar Irregular forms
Note the following irregular forms:
good better the best
bad worse the worst
far farther/further the farthest/furthest
little less the least
much/many more the most I T A L
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9. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar Irregular forms
And there is a special use of old to describe family members that has an irregular form:
old elder the eldest
This is my elder brother.
Jane is their eldest daughter. I T A L
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10. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar Adverbs
Comparative and superlative adverbs are formed in the same way as adjectives. Many common short adverbs can form comparatives in two ways. I T A L
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11. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar Adverbs
Could you drive slower, please?
Could you drive more slowly, please?
Can you work quicker?
Can you work more quickly?
Adverbs that can use both forms like this include:
loud, quick, slow. I T A L
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12. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Making comparisons
• Use than with a comparative to compare two things.
Mary is better than Monica.
Mary is a better player than Monica. I T A L
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13. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Making comparisons
• When we compare actions, we can use an auxiliary at the end of the sentence instead of the full verb.
Mary plays better than Monica does. (NOT … than Monica plays)
You’ve done more work than I have. (NOT … than I have done) I T A L
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14. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Making comparisons
We can also say:
Mary plays better than Monica.
You’ve done more work than me. I T A L
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15. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Making comparisons
• Use just as … as to compare two equal things.
Mary is just as good as Cathy.
Mary is just as good a player as Cathy. I T A L
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16. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Making comparisons
• Use not as … as to compare two things that are not equal.
Cathy is not as good as Mary.
Cathy is not as good a player as Mary. I T A L
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17. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar
Making comparisons
• More … than and less … than
This game is more interesting than the last one.
I think this game is less interesting than that one. I T A L
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18. D I G I T A L 4.0 Comparisons ENG M.2 Sem. 2 Grammar Intensifiers
We can use adverbs of degree a bit, much, a lot, far etc. with comparatives.
This house is much/a lot/far bigger than that one.
The Italian film was much more interesting than this one.
That film was far less frightening than this one. I T A L
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