COMPARISONS: EQUALITY AND INEQUALITY

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVE

1. COMPARATIVE: In English, we often compare two things. For example When we go

shopping or when we talk about what we like or prefer and give our opinions.

Example:

1. Products: that sweater is better than this one.

2. Price: yes, but that one´s cheaper.
3. Things: Their car is newer than ours ……………………….

4. People: she´s more intelligent than her sister …………………………

5. Places: New York City is older than San Francisco ………………………

6. Sizes: that house is bigger than mine ………………………………………..

7. Experiences: this book is more interesting than the one I read last month. ………..

2. SUPERLATIVE: Superlatives are used to compare more than two thongs. The Superlative
forms of adjectives are usually preceded by the, and followed by the nouns they modify.
For example, in the previous sentences, the superlative forms smartest and fastest are
preceded by the and followed by the nouns boy and runner.

3. RULERS
ADJECTIVE FORM COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Only one syllable, ending in E. Add – R Add – ST
Example: wide, cute, barve, late,
close Wider, cuter, braver, later, Widest, cutest, bravest, latest,
closer closest
when an adjective ends in a Double the consonant and add Double the consonant and add
single consonant other than W, X -ER: -EST:
or Y , preceded by a single vowel,
and this vowel by a consonant, Hotter, bigger, fatter, thinner, Hottest, biggest, fattest,
the final consonant is doubled sadder thinnest, saddest
before the ending …
Example:
Hot, big, fat, thin, sad

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 Only one syllable, with more
than one vowel or more than
one consonant at the end.
Example:
Light, neat, fast, Young, loud,
soon
One or two syllables, ending in Y.
Example:
Dry, happy, silly, lonely, heavy
Two syllables or more not ending
in Y.
Example: modern, interesting,
beautiful
Add – ER
Lighter, neater, faster,
younger,louder, sooner
Change Y to I, then add -ER
Drier, happier, sillier, lonelier,
heavier
Use MORE before the
adjective:
more modern, more
interesting, more beautiful
Add – EST
Lightest, neatest, fastest,
youngest, loudest, soonest
Change Y to I, then add -EST
Driest, happiest, silliest,
loneliest, heaviest
Use MOST before the
adjective:
Most modern, most
interesting, most beautiful

4. IRREGULARS ADJECTIVES:
ADJECTIVE FORM COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Bad Worse Worst
Far Farther Farthest
Further Furthest
Good Better Best
Little Less Least
many More Most
much More Most

5. SENTENCES
5.1 Affirmative:
5.1.1 Comparative

5.1.2 Superlative
Superlative form
Noun, pronoun or To be of adjective
other expresión complement
Or other
representing the first Adjective -est or
linking verb
thing being compared Most + adjective

Examples:
Betty is the tallest of the class
Rous is the most intelligent of the class

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 5.2 Negative:
5.2.1 Comparative

Superlative form Noun, pronoun or

Noun, pronoun or To be + not of adjective other expresión
other expresión than representing the
Or other
representing the first Adjective -est or second thing being
linking verb
thing being compared Most + adjective compared

Examples:
Betty is not taller than Sue
Rous is not more intelligent than Raquel

5.2.2 Superlative

Superlative form
Noun, pronoun or To be + not of adjective
other expresión Or other complement
representing the first Adjective -est or
linking verb
thing being compared Most + adjective

Examples:
Betty is not the tallest of the class
Rous is not the most intelligent of the class
5.3 Interrogative:
5.3.1 Comparative

Superlative form Noun, pronoun or

Noun, pronoun or
of adjective than other expresión
other expresión
To be representing the
representing the first Adjective -est or second thing being
thing being compared Most + adjective compared

Examples:
- Is Betty taller than Sue?
Yes, she is
No, she is not

- Is Rous more intelligent than Raquel?

Yes, she is
No, she is not

5.3.2 Superlative

Noun, pronoun or Superlative form

other expresión of adjective
To be representing the first complement
thing being compared Adjective -est or
Most + adjective

Examples:
Is Betty the tallest of the class?
Is Rous the most intelligent of the class?

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 6. ADJECTIVE

Dra. Evelyn Alina Anicama Navarrete Ingles II

 EXERCISES
A) Write comparative sentences. Use the words given on the right.
Example: algebra / calculus difficult
Calculus is more difficult than algebra

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 B) Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the comparative
forms of the adjective shown in parentheses. Pay attention to the correct
spelling.
Example: The bedroom is ____________ than the studio. (cold)
The bedroom is colder than than studio.
1. This wool coat is _______________ than that cotton coat. (warm)
2. This sand is _______________ than that sand. (fine)
3. My skin is ________________ than yours. (dry)
4. The Grass is ______________ than it was last month. (green)
5. My clothes are _____________ than yours. (wet)
6. Susan´s room is _____________ than mine. (neat)
7. Victoria village is ______________ than unión city. (pretty)
8. The World Trade Center building is _______________ than the one next to
it. (big)
9. Turtles are _______________ than rabbits. (slow)
10. Those peaches smell _________________ than the apricots. (sweet)
11. The Oxxo convenient store is ___________________ than the supermarket.
(close)

C) Compare. The following table gives the ages and heights of five children.

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Following the modelo f the examples, write sentences comparing the age or height of
the children in each os the following pairs.
For example: Dick and Moria. (age) Dick is older than Moria.
Moria and Dick. (height) Moria is shorter than Dick.
1. Tamara and Dick. (age) _________________________________________
2. Dick and Tamara. (height) _________________________________________
3. Nancy and Dick. (age) _________________________________________
4. Dick and Brad. (height) _________________________________________
5. Brad and Moria. (age) _________________________________________
6. Moria and Brad. (height) _________________________________________
7. Tamara and Moria. (age) _________________________________________
8. Moria and Tamara. (height) _________________________________________
9. Tamara and Barbara. (age) _________________________________________
10. Tamara and Barbara. (height) ________________________________________
11. Barbara and Tamara. (age) _________________________________________
12. Barbara and Tamara. (height) ________________________________________

D) The following table gives the age, height and weight of each child in a group of
seven children, together with the amount of money each child has in their
“piggy-bank”. The highest and lowest numbers in each columna have been
underlined.

Following the modelo f the examples, complete the rest of the sentences,
indicating which is the youngest, shortest, tallest, heaviest, lightest, richest and
poorest child in the group.
For example: oldest Diana is the oldest child in the group.
1. Youngest _____________________________________________________
2. Shortest _____________________________________________________
3. Tallest _____________________________________________________
4. Heaviest _____________________________________________________
5. Lightest _____________________________________________________
6. Richest _____________________________________________________
7. Poorest _____________________________________________________

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 E) Paying attention to which adjectives form the superlative with the adverb most
and which form the superlative with the ending -est, fill in the blanks with the
superlative forms of the adjectives indicated in parentheses.

For example: The first question is the _______. (difficult)

The first question is the most difficult.
The last questions is the _______. (easy)
The last questions is the easiest

1. Sabrina is the ______________ girl in the class. (intelligent)

2. Tony in the _______________ boy in the school. (lucky)
3. This is the ________________ book in the store. (Good)
4. That is the ________________ painting in the museum. (valuable)
5. She is the ________________ student in the school. (new)
6. This movie is the _____________________. (entertaining)
7. He is the _________________ man in the village. (brave)
8. Summer is usually the ________________ time of the year. (hot)
9. He is the __________________ player on the team. (talented)
10. This is the __________________ route into town. (direct)
11. The library is the ________________ building on the Street. (old)
12. The red dress is the _____________________dress in the store. (expensive)
13. Yours is the __________ handwriting of the students in this group. (legible)

F) Work in teams. Answer these questions. If you do not know some of the
answers, look for them in an enciclopedia or almanac. Have fun!

1. Which is the largest country in the world?

2. Which is the smallest country in the world?
3. Which is the largest state in Mexico?
4. Which is the smallest state in Mexico?
5. Which is the highest mountain in the world?
6. Which is the longest river in Mexico?
7. Which is the biggest ocean in the world?
8. Which is the biggest island in the world?
9. Which is the longest river in America?
10. Which is the most populated city in the world?
11. Which is the biggest city in Canada?
12. Which is the largest state in the USA?
13. Which is the most exciting place near your home?
Now, investigate some interesting facts like these in the Guinness World Records
home page (http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com) and share your finding with your
Friends.

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 G) Work in pairs. Look at the following pairs of pictures.
Write two or three characteristics that you can compare of them. Use your
imagination if necessary. If you don´t know the Word you want, look it up in a
dictionary.
Use comparative or superlative.
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