FORMING ADJECTIVES COMPARISONS

To make it possible to tell the difference between things or people, adjectives take different forms, or degrees of
comparisons.
 COMPARATIVE DEGREE: expresses a comparison between two things, people, groups, etc.
A Mercedes is better than a Toyota.
 SUPERLATIVE DEGREE: expresses the highest degree of quality, it compares one thing or person from the rest
of the group.
Susan is the best student in the class.
ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

Short adjectives ………… er than the …………est

(one syllable + 2 syllables ending in “Y”)

Long adjectives more…………than the most ………

Adjectives + ing
two or more syllabus (that does not end with y)

Less………….than the least ………

as………………..as

Short adjectives that end with a “Y” preceded by a consonant we change it to an “i” then the er or est.
 Pretty - Prettier than - The prettiest.  Heavy - Heavier than - The heaviest.

Short adjectives that end with one consonant preceded by one vowel, we add another consonant (the same). Except for
“W”, “X” and “Y”.
 Big - Bigger than - The biggest.  Bay - Bayer/more bay – bayest/most bay
 Red - Redder than - The reddest.  Lax - Laxer - laxest
 Slow - Slower than - The slowest.  Coy - Coyer - coyest

Several adjectives have irregular comparisons.

 Good - Better than - The best  Few - fewer than - the fewest
 Well - Better than - The best  Much - More than - The most
 Bad - Worse than - The worst  Many - More than - The most
 Little - Less than - The least  Far - Farther than - The farthest
There are a few adjectives that we have to use 'more' or 'most' with, even though they only have one syllable. We CAN'T
add 'er' or 'est'.
Fun more fun most fun (NOT funner / funnest)
Real more real most real (NOT realer / realest)
Right more right most right (NOT righter / rightest)
Wrong more wrong most wrong (NOT wronger / wrongest)
Adjectives of two syllables that end in -y: change the -y to an -i and add -er / -est
Busy busier the busiest
Easy easier the easiest
Early earlier the earliest
Some two syllable adjectives can take 'er' or 'est'. It's also fine to use 'more' or 'the most'.
Clever cleverer (more clever) cleverest (the most clever)
Simple simpler (more simple) simplest (the most simple)
Narrow narrower (more narrow) narrowest (the most narrow)
Quiet quieter (more quiet) quietest (the most quiet)
* Bay (adj.) dark brown in color (of a horse) * Lax (adj.) not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.
* Coy: shy or pretending to be shy and innocent. / Not willing to give information about something or give too much
information about yourself.
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 Exercise 1 - Comparatives and superlatives

1. My sister thinks she's………………………………………………(intelligent) than me, but I don't agree!

2. Avatar is probably…………………………………………(bad) film I've seen!
3. What is……………………………………….(wet) month of the year in England?
4. Do you think the Harry Potter films are………………………………………(good) than the books?
5. Who is………………………………………………..(powerful) person in your country?
6. I think Men in Black 1 was………………………………………………..(funny) than Men in Black 3.
7. Is Angelina Jolie………………………………………………………….(old) than Sandra Bullock?
8. John is ………………………………………………..(nice) person that I know.
9. My brother has a (tidy) ……………………………………. room than me.
10. Australia is (big) ……………………………………….. than England.
11. I'm (good) ………………………………………… now than yesterday.
12. She's got (little) …………………………………….. money than you, but she doesn't care.
13. He thinks Chinese is (difficult) …………………………………. language in the world
14. Valencia played (bad) ………………………………….. than Real Madrid yesterday.
15. Cats are not (intelligent) ……………………………………………… as dogs.
16. Show me (good) …………………………………………….. restaurant downtown.
17. (hot) ………………………………………… desert of all is the Sahara and it's in Africa.
18. Who is (talkative) …………………………………………………………….. person in your family?
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QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest country in the world?
2. How old is the oldest person in your family?
3. Who is the most famous person in the world?
4. Where can you find the best restaurant in this city?
5. Who is the most generous person you have ever met?
6. What is the best film you have ever seen?
7. What is the most beautiful city you have been to?
8. Who, in the world, do you admire the most?
9. What is the most exciting thing you have ever done?
10. What is the biggest lie you have ever told someone?

1. Which country is more interesting, Brazil or Spain? Why?

2. Which subject is more difficult, Math or Chemistry?
3. Which animal is more friendly, a cat or a dog? Why?
4. Do you prefer to date someone who is older or younger? Why?
5. Which food is tastier, Italian or Chinese?
6. Are jeans more popular than dresses?
7. Is pop music more positive than rock music?
8. Is jazz more boring than classical music?
9. What is worse than failing an exam?
10. Which do you think is more important, money or friendship?