COMPARATIVE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

ADJECTIVESADJECTIVESBy teachers: Tere By teachers: Tere

and Racheland Rachel

SHORT AND LONG SHORT AND LONG ADJECTIVES…remember the ADJECTIVES…remember the

sound beats!!!sound beats!!!SHORT ADJECTIVE:SHORT ADJECTIVE:

1 syllable (whiter, shorter, bigger)1 syllable (whiter, shorter, bigger)2 syllables ending: -y,-le or –e. (tackier, gentler, 2 syllables ending: -y,-le or –e. (tackier, gentler, handsomer)handsomer)

LONG ADJECTIVE: LONG ADJECTIVE: more than 2 syllables more than 2 syllables 2 syllables ending –ful.2 syllables ending –ful.

*long-short adjectives are some adjectives *long-short adjectives are some adjectives that accept both constructions.that accept both constructions.

SOME RULES ABOUT FORMING SOME RULES ABOUT FORMING COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVESCOMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

One syllable adjectives generally form One syllable adjectives generally form the comparative by adding the comparative by adding -er-er and the and the superlative by adding superlative by adding -est-est, e.g.:, e.g.:

AdjectiveAdjective ComparativeComparative SuperlativeSuperlative

Soft Soft Softer Softer The softestThe softest

Cheap Cheap Cheaper Cheaper The cheapestThe cheapest

Sweet Sweet Sweeter Sweeter The sweetestThe sweetest

Thin Thin Thinner Thinner The thinnestThe thinnest

SPELLING RULESSPELLING RULES1. Note that if a one syllable adjective ends in:1. Note that if a one syllable adjective ends in:CONSONANT +VOWEL+CONSONANTCONSONANT +VOWEL+CONSONANTThe last consonant letter is doubled:The last consonant letter is doubled: e.g.: thin → thinner, big → the biggest. e.g.: thin → thinner, big → the biggest.

2. If an adjective ends in 2. If an adjective ends in -e,-e, this is removed when this is removed when adding -er/-est:adding -er/-est:

e.g.: wide → wider/widest. e.g.: wide → wider/widest.

3. If an adjective ends in a consonant followed by -y, -y 3. If an adjective ends in a consonant followed by -y, -y is replaced by -i when adding -er/-est:is replaced by -i when adding -er/-est:

e.g.: dry → drier/drieste.g.: dry → drier/driest..

TWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVESTWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

two syllable adjectives which end in two syllable adjectives which end in -y-y usually usually form the comparative by adding -er and the form the comparative by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est, (note the change superlative by adding -est, (note the change of of

-y to -i in the comparative/superlative) e.g.:-y to -i in the comparative/superlative) e.g.:

Adjective Adjective Comparative Comparative superlativesuperlative

Lucky Lucky luckierluckier The luckiestThe luckiest

Pretty Pretty Prettier Prettier The prettiestThe prettiest

Tidy Tidy Tidier Tidier The tidiestThe tidiest

TWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVESTWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

two syllable adjectives ending in two syllable adjectives ending in -ed, -ing, --ed, -ing, -ful, or -lessful, or -less always form the comparative always form the comparative with with moremore and the superlative with and the superlative with the mostthe most, , e.g.: e.g.:

Adjective Adjective Comparative Comparative superlativesuperlativeWorried Worried More worried More worried The most worriedThe most worried

Boring Boring More boringMore boring The most boringThe most boring

Careful Careful More carefulMore careful The most carefulThe most careful

Useless Useless More uselessMore useless The most uselessThe most useless

THREE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVESTHREE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVESAdjectives which have three or more syllables always form the comparative and Adjectives which have three or more syllables always form the comparative and superlative with superlative with MOREMORE and and THE MOSTTHE MOST, e.g.:, e.g.:

The only exceptions are some three syllable adjectives which have been formed by The only exceptions are some three syllable adjectives which have been formed by adding the prefix -un to another adjective, especially those formed from an adjective adding the prefix -un to another adjective, especially those formed from an adjective ending in -y. These adjectives can form comparatives and superlatives by using ending in -y. These adjectives can form comparatives and superlatives by using more/most or adding -er/-est, more/most or adding -er/-est, e.g.:unhappy – unhappier – the unhappiest/ the most unhappye.g.:unhappy – unhappier – the unhappiest/ the most unhappyHealthy- unhealthier- the unhealthiest / the most unhealthyHealthy- unhealthier- the unhealthiest / the most unhealthy

Adjective Adjective Comparative Comparative Superlative Superlative

Dangerous Dangerous More dangerous thanMore dangerous than The most dangerousThe most dangerous

Difficult Difficult More difficult thanMore difficult than The most difficultThe most difficult

IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBSIRREGULAR ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

PositivePositive Comparative Comparative Superlative Superlative

LittleLittle LessLess The leastThe least

LateLate LaterLater The lastThe last

Good/ wellGood/ well Better thanBetter than The bestThe best

OldOld Older/Elder thanOlder/Elder than The oldestThe oldestThe eldestThe eldest

muchmuch More More The mostThe most

Bad/badlyBad/badly Worse Worse The worstThe worst

Far Far Farther/furtherFarther/further The farthest/The farthest/furthestfurthest

USE OF COMPARATIVESUSE OF COMPARATIVES

Comparatives are very commonly followed Comparatives are very commonly followed by by thanthan and a pronoun or noun group, in and a pronoun or noun group, in order to describe who the other person or order to describe who the other person or thing involved in the comparison is, e.g.:thing involved in the comparison is, e.g.:

John is taller than me.John is taller than me.

I think that she’s more intelligent than her sister.I think that she’s more intelligent than her sister.

OTHER USES OF COMPARATIVESOTHER USES OF COMPARATIVESComparatives are often qualified by using words and phrases such as much, a Comparatives are often qualified by using words and phrases such as much, a lot, far, a bit/little, slightly etc., e.g.:lot, far, a bit/little, slightly etc., e.g.:

You should go by train, it would be You should go by train, it would be muchmuch cheaper.cheaper.Could you be Could you be a bita bit quieter? quieter?

I’m feeling I’m feeling a lota lot better. better.Do you have one that’s Do you have one that’s slightlyslightly bigger? bigger?

Two comparatives can be contrasted by placing Two comparatives can be contrasted by placing thethe before them, indicating that before them, indicating that a change in one quality is linked to a change in another, e.g.:a change in one quality is linked to a change in another, e.g.:

TheThe smaller the gift, smaller the gift, the the easier it is to send.easier it is to send.TheThe more stressed you are more stressed you are, the, the worse it is for your health. worse it is for your health.

Two comparatives can also be linked with and to show a continuing increase in Two comparatives can also be linked with and to show a continuing increase in a particular quality, e.g.:a particular quality, e.g.:

The sea was getting The sea was getting rougher and rougher.rougher and rougher. Her illness was becoming Her illness was becoming worse and worse.worse and worse. He became He became more and moremore and more tired as the weeks went by tired as the weeks went by

USE OF SUPERLATIVESUSE OF SUPERLATIVES

Like comparatives, superlatives can be placed before nouns in the Like comparatives, superlatives can be placed before nouns in the attributive position, or occur after be and other link verbs, e.g.:attributive position, or occur after be and other link verbs, e.g.:

the most delicious chocolatethe most delicious chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten cake I’ve ever eaten Annabel was Annabel was the youngestthe youngest This restaurant This restaurant is the bestis the best

As shown in the second two examples, superlatives are often used on As shown in the second two examples, superlatives are often used on their own if it is clear what or who is being compared. If you want to be their own if it is clear what or who is being compared. If you want to be specific about what you are comparing, you can do this with a noun, or specific about what you are comparing, you can do this with a noun, or a phrase beginning with a phrase beginning with inin or or ofof, e.g.:, e.g.:

Annabel was the youngest childAnnabel was the youngest child Annabel was the youngest Annabel was the youngest ofof the children (OF+GROUP) the children (OF+GROUP) This restaurant is the best This restaurant is the best inin town. (IN+PLACE) town. (IN+PLACE)

THE OPPOSITES OF COMPARATIVE AND THE OPPOSITES OF COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVESSUPERLATIVES

we use the forms we use the forms lessless (the opposite of (the opposite of comparative more), and comparative more), and the leastthe least (the opposite (the opposite of superlative the most).of superlative the most).

LessLess is used to indicate that something or someone does not have is used to indicate that something or someone does not have as much of a particular quality as someone or something else, e.g.: as much of a particular quality as someone or something else, e.g.:

This sofa is less comfortable.This sofa is less comfortable. I’ve always been less patient than my sister.I’ve always been less patient than my sister.

The leastThe least is used to indicate that something or someone has less is used to indicate that something or someone has less of a quality than any other person or thing of its kind, e.g.:of a quality than any other person or thing of its kind, e.g.:

It’s the least expensive way to travel.It’s the least expensive way to travel. She was the least intelligent of the three sisters.She was the least intelligent of the three sisters.

WELL, WELL, WELL…WELL, WELL, WELL…

NOW YOU KNOW EVERYTHING YOU NOW YOU KNOW EVERYTHING YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRADES OF THE ADJECTIVE AND THE GRADES OF THE ADJECTIVE AND THE ADVERB…. THE ADVERB….

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