1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.