chomp!

chomp!

This presentation is
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©2017 by Robin L.
Simmons.
 Degree

Am I Or the
smarter? smartest?
 This
presentation
covers
appropriate
comparative
and
superlative
forms of
adjectives
and adverbs.
A degree item on an objective
test might look like this ...
 Sample Item

Roxanne is the __________ member of her

family.

A. smartest
smartest
B. most smartest
C. more smart
Which choice
D. least smartest Smartest is
fills the blank
the correct
with the
superlative
correct form
form.
of smart?
 Comparative

• Forms include -er adjectives and the words

better, worse, more, and less.
• Use with two items.
taller.
Between those two friends, Yolanda is tallest.

Not the tallest!

Use -er when you
have only two!
 Super lative

• Forms include -est adjectives and the words

best, worst, most, and least.
• Use with three or more items.
the most
Of all of her friends, Yolanda is more
gregarious
gregarious. .

What can I
say—I’m a
people
person!
 Do not use a double
compar ative or super lative!

We saw that Thomas made an A on the difficult test.

He is the most happy student
happiest
most happiest Orsini’s
ProfessorOrsini’s
studentininProfessor
class.

Most happy or
happiest —not
both!
 Know the cor rect for ms.

One-syllable
words usually
take -er or -est:
Nice, nicer, Words with
nicest! three or more
syllables use
more, most,
less, and
least.
Two-syllable
For example,
words vary:
more
lazier but
interesting or
more
least
handsome.
interesting.
 Quick Test, Par t 1

Directions: In the items that follow, choose

the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion. If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”

The ball’s in
your court.
Show us what
you can do.
 Item 1

My standard poodle Jack is the biggest

biggestofofmy
my
two dogs.

A. bigger
bigger
B. more bigger
C. most big
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 2

Joseph’s parents have three sons. Joseph is the

most daring while Jason is the more
more cautious
cautiousofof
the three.

A. cautiouser
B. more cautiouser
C. most cautious
most cautious
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 3

Raphael, our new roommate, is lazy. Of the

truckload of boxes, Chuck and I had to carry the
heavier ones.
heavier ones.

A. heaviest
heaviest
B. more heavy
C. more heavier
D. No change is necessary.
 Item 4

Professor Zuromski read my essay in front of the

entire class. Obviously, I am the better
better writer
writer
among her many students.

A. best
best
B. most great
C. greater
D. No change is necessary.
 Quick Test, Par t 2

Directions: In the items that follow, choose

the word or phrase that best completes the
sentence.

Now try
some
different
items.
 Item 5

Roxanne can frost cupcakes __________ than

anyone else in the cake-decorating class.

A. quickest
B. more quickly
more quickly
C. most quickly
D. quicker
 Item 6

Of all our friends, Thomas is the __________

person we know.

A. more sad
B. sadder
C. saddest
saddest
D. most saddest
 Item 7

No one drives __________ than Grandmother

Ruth.

A. slowest
B. more slowest
C. more slower
D. more
more slowly
slowly
 Item 8

Cameron spent four hours cleaning our tiny

apartment. Now he is __________ than he was
when the place was a pigsty.

A. less grouchy
less grouchy
B. less grouchier
C. grouchiless
D. the least grouchy
 Item 9

David smiled and bowed; Glen offered a single

red rose; and Fred farted and picked his nose. Of
the three of us, poor Cheryl certainly has the
__________ date.

A. worse
B. more worse
C. worst
worst
D. more terrible
 Item 10

After Mrs. McKnight found 44 errors in his last

essay, Albert decided to proofread his next paper
__________.

A. slower
B. more carefully
more carefully
C. most carefully
D. carefuller
The End.