GIL211

CHAPTER V

Comparison of Adjectives
Lecturer: Mr. Vinh Sovann
(B.Ed, MEd. TESOL)
Tel: 086 518 156
E-mail: vsovann@gmail.com
Blogspot: www.vinhsovann2013.blogspot.com
 Outline
 Positive Degree
 Comparative Degree
 Superlative Degree
 Too/Too many/Too much/Enough

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 Comparison of Adjectives
Positive Degree
 We use this degree to compare two people or
things which are similar.
…as + adjective + as…
…so/as + adjective + as…
Ex: - I am as tall as my brother. (informal) -
You are not so/as tall as me. (informal)
- I am as tall as my brother is. (formal) -
You are not so/as tall as I am. (formal)
 Comparison of Adjectives
Comparative Degree
 We use comparative adjective to compare two
people or things which are different.
…adjective + er + than…
… more + adjective + than…
Ex: - You are taller than me. (informal)
- She is more beautiful than her sister. (informal)
- You are taller than I am. (formal)
- She is more beautiful than her sister is.
(formal)
 Comparison of Adjectives
Superlative Degree
• We use superlative to compare more than two
people and things which one is very different.
…the + adjective + est +than…
…the + more +adjective + than…
Ex: - He is the tallest in our class.
- He is the tallest student in our class.
- She is the most beautiful in our class.
- She is the most beautiful student in our class.
 Comparison of Adjectives
Comparison with -er/-est
clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest
 We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:
1) Adjectives with one syllable

positive comparative superlative

clean cleaner cleanest
new newer newest
cheap cheaper cheapest
 Comparison of Adjectives
2) Adjectives with two syllables and the
following endings:
2.1) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y

positive comparative superlative

dirty dirtier dirtiest
easy easier easiest
happy happier happiest
pretty prettier prettiest
 Comparison of Adjectives
2.2) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in –er
positive comparative superlative
clever cleverer cleverest
2.3) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le
positive comparative superlative
simple simpler simplest
2.4) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow

positive comparative superlative

narrow narrower narrowest
 Comparison of Adjectives
3) Spelling of the adjectives using the endings-er/-est
positive comparative superlative comment
large larger largest leave out the silent -e
big bigger biggest Double the consonant after short
sad sadder saddest vowel

dirty dirtier dirtiest Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)

Here -y is not changed to -i.

shy shyer shyest
(although consonant before -y)
 Comparison of Adjectives
Comparison with more – most
positive comparative superlative
difficult more difficult (the) most difficult

 All adjectives with more than one syllable

(except some adjectives with two syllables - see
2.1 to 2.4)
 Comparison of Adjectives
Irregular adjectives
comparativ
positive superlative comment
e
good better best  
bad worse worst  
much more most uncountable nouns
many more most countable nouns
little less least  
little smaller smallest  
 Comparison of Adjectives
Special adjectives
 Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison
(-er/est and more/most).
positive comparative superlative
clever cleverer / more clever cleverest / most clever
common commoner / more common commonest / most common
likely likelier / more likely likeliest / most likely
pleasant pleasanter / more pleasant pleasantest / most pleasant
polite politer / more polite politest / most polite
quiet quieter / more quiet quietest / most quiet
simple simpler / more simple simplest / most simple
stupid stupider / more stupid stupidest / most stupid
subtle subtler / more subtle subtlest / most subtle
sure surer / more sure surest / most sure
 Comparison of Adjectives
Difference in meaning with adjectives
positive comparative superlative comment
farther farthest distance
far distance or
further furthest
time
later latest  
late latter x  
x last  
older oldest people and things
old
elder eldest people (family)
nearer nearest distance
near
x next order
 Comparison of Adjectives
Too
 We use too to say something or someone has an
excessive amount of a quality.
 We use it before adjective without a noun or an
adverb
- Did you drive too fast?
- You are too young to get married.
- He is too old to run fast.
 Comparison of Adjectives
Too many / Too much
 We use too many or too much before a noun
- Do you think you drink too much coffee?
- There are too many students in this room.
- I drink too much beer today.
Enough
 We use enough to say something is sufficient. It
comes before noun and after adjective or adverb.
- Do you take enough exercise?
- I’m full enough, so I don’t eat more food.
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Q&A

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