Comparative adjectives and adverbs fast, faster, the fastest… terrible, more terrible, the most...

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Comparative adjectives Comparative adjectives and adverbs and adverbs fast, faster, the fastest… terrible, more terrible, the most terrible… big, bigger, the biggest… quickly, more quickly, the quickest… By AJ Brown

Transcript of Comparative adjectives and adverbs fast, faster, the fastest… terrible, more terrible, the most...

Comparative adjectives Comparative adjectives and adverbsand adverbs

fast, faster, the fastest…terrible, more terrible, the most

terrible…big, bigger, the biggest…quickly, more quickly, the

quickest…

By AJ Brown

What do they look like?What do they look like?

• My sister is more educated than I am.• AJ speaks faster when she is excited.• Blueberries are as delicious as raspberries.• San Francisco is farther away than Seattle.• She is prettier when she smiles.• AJ is older than her sister.• He moves as slowly as a turtle.• Level E is less difficult than level 2.

Why do we use them?Why do we use them?

We use comparative adjectives and adverbs to compare two nouns or two verbs.

• Sergio’s calculator is bigger than Kim’s pen.• A flu is more dangerous than a cold.• Antonio reads faster than I do.• Her voice is as sweet as honey.• He walks as slowly as a turtle (does).• Language is less confusing than math to me.

How to make comparativeHow to make comparative(for differences)(for differences)

1) (difference) One-syllable adjectives and adverbs(use …–er than)

neat neater thanslow slower than

late later thansweet sweeter thanyoung younger than

dark darker than

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)

Pay attention to one-syllable words:

• If it ends in C+V+C, double the final Cfat fatter than

wet wetter thandim dimmer than

big bigger thanthin thinner thanred redder than

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)

2) (for difference) Three-syllable adjectives and adverbs(use more/less…than)

dangerous more dangerous thanbeautiful more beautiful than

exciting less exciting thanimportant more important than

fascinating more fascinating than

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)

3) (for difference) Most two-syllable adjectives and adverbs

(use more/less…than)

famous more famous thancunning more cunning than

pleasant more pleasant thancareful less careful than

shallow more shallow than

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)

3a) (for difference) Two-syllable adjectives that end in –y(use …ier than)

pretty prettier thanbusy busier thanlazy lazier than

happy happier thanfriendly friendlier than

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)

3b) (for difference) Two-syllable adverbs that end in –ly*(use more/less…than)

slowly more slowly thanquickly more quickly than

carefully less carefully thanpleasantly more pleasantly than

reliably less reliably than

* early is both an adjective and an adverb. Form = earlier

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)

3c) (for difference) Some two-syllable adjectives use either form

(use more/less…than or …er than*)clever more clever than

cleverer thangentle more gentle than

gentler thanfriendly more friendly than

friendlier thancommon more common than

commoner than

* The idea of less is not possible when using the …er form

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)

4) (for difference) There are some irregular forms

(adj.) good better than(adj.) bad worse than

(adv.) well better than(adv.) badly worse than

(adv.) far farther* thanfurther* than

* Both farther and further compare distance, but only further (not farther) can also mean “additional”. (I require further help.)

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)

Modify adjectives and adverbs with much or a little

hungry much hungrier thanquiet a little quieter than

Intriguing much more intriguing thanextensive much less extensive than

easy a little easier than

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative(equal or same)(equal or same)

5) (for same) all adjectives and adverbs(use as … as)

strong as strong asquietly as quietly as

beautiful as beautiful asdifficult as difficult as

big nearly as big asconfusing just as confusing as

happy almost as happy as

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (equal or same) (equal or same)

5a) (for same) all negative adjectives and adverbs(use not as … as)

strong not as strong asquietly not as quietly as

beautiful not as beautiful asdifficult not as difficult as

big not nearly as big aslow not quite as low as

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (equal or same) (equal or same)

5b) the opposite of –er/more is expressed by less or not as … as

More than one syllablequietly not as quietly as

less quietly thandifficult not as difficult as

less difficult thanexpensive not as expensive as

less expensive than

How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (equal or same) (equal or same)

5b) the opposite of –er/more is expressed by less or not as … as

Only one syllableold not as old as

Less old thanbig not as big as

Less big thanyoung not as young as

less young than

Wrong!

Wrong!

Wrong!

Remember that one-syllable words don’t have a less…

than form

Completing a comparativeCompleting a comparative

• In formal academic English, a subject pronoun (he) follows than

She is taller than he.

• In informal English, an object pronoun (him) is often used after than

She is taller than him.

Writing for your classes

NEVER use this form in your

writing

Completing a comparativeCompleting a comparative

• In formal academic English, a comparative can be followed by three different constructions

Stephanie is taller than I am.Stephanie is taller than I.

Stephanie is taller than am I.

This last construction (v+s) is often on

the TOEFL exam

Unclear comparisons…Unclear comparisons…Unclear

(repeat subject or object?)

• I like my dog better than my husband.

• I’ve known Jamal longer than Frieda.

Clear Two subject/verb pairs

• I like my dog better than my husband likes it.

• I like my dog better than I like my husband.

• I’ve known Jamal longer than I’ve known Frieda.

• I’ve known Jamal longer than Frieda has (known him).

Other comparisons…Other comparisons…

Repeating a comparative• Because he was afraid, he

walked faster and faster.• Life in the modern world is

becoming more and more complex.

Double comparatives• The harder you study, the

more you will learn.• The warmer the weather is,

the happier I am.• The sooner, the better.

Shows a progressive

increase

Both parts begin with the + comparative

Using superlatives…Using superlatives…

The …est • The funniest• The saddest• The wettest• The largest

The most/least …• The most generous• The most beautiful• The least expensive• The most developed

Superlatives compare one part of a group to

all the other members of the

group

Common completions of superlativesCommon completions of superlatives

+ (prepositional phrase)• Tokyo is one of the largest

cities in the world.• This one is the best of all!• He is the laziest student in

the class.• She walks the most slowly

of all the children.• It is the highest mountain

on the island.

+ (adjective clause)• She is the kindest person

(that) I have ever met.• That was the longest hike

(that) I have ever taken.• English is the craziest

language (that) I’ve ever heard.

• She writes the most carefully (that) I’ve ever seen.