Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

I. FORM
Adjectives and adverbs change their form to show differences in
degree of quality, quantity, relation, or size. There are three degrees
of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
The POSITIVE form is used to express equal degrees when comparing
persons, places, or things. To show this equality, use the word as
both before and after the adjective or adverb.
Example (adjective): This book is as interesting as the last one I read.
Example (adverb): She dances as gracefully as a ballerina.
The COMPARATIVE form is used to express a greater (or lesser)
degree when comparing two persons, places, or things. Form the
comparative by adding the ending -er to the positive form of one-
syllable words and of some two-syllable words. With other two-
syllable and all words of three or more syllables, prefix the positive
form with the word more (or less). The comparative forms of the
adjective or adverb is always followed by the word than.
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
Example (adjective): The first job applicant seems less qualified than
the second.
Example (adverb): Samuel did the assignment more carefully than
Emmanuel did.
Example (adjective): The exam was tougher than the class has
expected.
The SUPERLATIVE form is used to express the greatest (or least)
degree when comparing three or more persons, places, or things.
Form the superlative by adding the ending -est to the positive form
of one-syllable words and of some two-syllable words. With other
two-syllable words and all words of three or more syllables, prefix
positive form with the word most (or least). Generally, the word the
appears before superlatives.
Examples (adjective): In Liberia, the most common name is Taylor.
Example (adverb): Carla was voted the least wisely of all council
members.
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
Example (adjective): He was the wisest of all their leaders.

POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

One-syllable words:
Tame tamer tamest
(Spelling: When the positive form ends in e, only r, or st, is added.)
Fat fatter fattest
(Spelling: When the positive form ends in a consonant with a single
vowel before it, the consonant is doubled before er or est is added.)
Soon sooner soonest
Kind kinder kindest
Two-syllable words:
Narrow narrower narrowest
Early earlier earliest
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
(Spelling: When the positive form ends in y with a consonant before it,
the y changes to i before er or est is added.)
Honest less honest least honest
Slowly more slowly most slowly
Three-or-more-syllable words:
Necessary more necessary most necessary
Comfortable less comfortable least comfortable
Exquisite more exquisite most exquisite
Interesting less interesting least interesting
Note: More, most, less, least may also be used for words of one
syllable, so for many comparatives and superlatives there are two
correct forms:
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Able abler ablest
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular forms:
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Bad worse worst
Good better best
Much, many more most
Little less least
Well better best
Positive: He has as many problems as I have.
Comparative: The chicken soup is better than the barley.
Superlative: My last test was the worst of the three.
In making comparisons, do not use both more and er for the
comparative or both most and est for the superlative.
Incorrect: My steak seems more tenderer than yours.
Correct: My steak seems more tender than yours.
Correct: My steak seems tenderer than yours.
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
Incorrect: Sally is the most brightest of the three girls.
Correct: Sally is the most bright of the three girls.
Correct: Sally is the brightest of the three girls.
II. Incomplete, Illogical, and Unclear Comparisons
A. Incomplete comparisons result when a writer fails to mention one of
the items being compared. To avoid this type of incomplete thought,
clarify exactly what is being compared with what.
Incomplete: The trees in Ghana are much larger. (Than what?)
Complete: The trees in Ghana are much larger than those in Nigeria.
Incomplete: She dances more gracefully. (Than whom?)
Complete: She dances more gracefully than the other girls in her class.
Incomplete: Petunias grow more rapidly in the sun. (Than where?)
Complete: Roses grow more rapidly in the sun than in the shade.
Incomplete: Titanic is the best movie. (Of what?)
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
Complete: Titanic is the best movie of all those nominated for the
Academy Awards.
Incomplete comparisons also result when the writer fails to complete
each part of a double comparison.
Incomplete: Dolphins are as intelligent, if not more intelligent, than
dogs.
Two comparisons are indicated in this sentence:
Dolphins are as intelligent as dogs.
Dolphins are more intelligent than dogs.
However, the omission of the second as results in a confused
positive/comparative comparison:
Dolphins are as intelligent than dogs.
Complete: Dolphins are as intelligent as, if not more intelligent than,
dogs.
Incomplete: My idea is as good as, if not better, than yours.
Complete: My idea is as good as, if not better than, yours.
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
Often, the sentence will be less awkward if the second part of the
comparison is shifted to the end of the sentence:
My idea is as good as yours, if not better.
B. Illogical comparisons result when a writer compares a person with
himself or a place or thing or thing with itself.
Illogical: Pavarotti is greater than any tenor I have heard. Since
Pavarotti is part of the group of tenor which the writer has heard, he
must be excluded from the compared group by using the word other.
Logical: Pavarotti is greater than any other tenor I have heard.
Illogical: Kumasi is larger than any city in Ghana.
Logical: Kumasi is larger than any other city in Ghana.
In some cases, the word else rather than the word other is needed to
separate the item being compared from the group with which it is
compared.
Illogical: My English class is more interesting than anything I am taking
this year.
 Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
Logical: My English class is more interesting than anything else I am
taking this year.
Illogical: He is faster than anyone.
Logical: He is faster than anyone else.
The words other and else are not used with the superlative when
comparing three or more persons, places, or things in the same
category.
Illogical: Lagos is the largest of all the other cities in Nigeria.
Logical: Lagos is the largest of all the cities in Nigeria.
Lagos is included in (rather than excluded from) the group of Nigeria cities
and is considered the largest in that group.
Illogical comparisons also result when a writer compares unlike items that
are not comparable.
Illogical: His salary was lower than a shoe clerk.
Logical: His salary was lower than that (the salary) of a shoe clerk’s.
Illogical: Students at Valley View University College pay less tuition than
the University of Ghana.
 Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
Logical: Students at Valley View University College pay less tuition than
those (students) at the University of Ghana.
C. UNCLEAR COMPARISONS result when a writer omits words which are
needed to make his meaning clear.
Unclear: Bill likes fishing more than his wife.
Clear: Bill likes fishing more than his wife does.
III. PROPER PRONOUN FORMS IN COMPARISONS
In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions in comparisons, the writer often
omits words which are clearly understood:
This gear turns faster than that wheel. (The word turn is understood).
Many listeners feel that radio provides better news coverage than
television. (The word provides is understood).
Sally’s dress is as short or shorter than Nancy’s. (The word dress after the
possessive Nancy’s is understood.)
As long as the words being compared are nouns, the writer is not faced
with the problem of choosing between one form of the word and another.
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
However, when the second word in a comparison is a pronoun, the
writer may have to add the omitted words in order to determine the
correct form of the pronoun.
Toni is more popular than (she or he)? Add missing verb.
Toni is more popular than (she or he) is.
Toni is more popular then she.