COMPARATIVES SUPERLATIVES
For comparisons in
Comparatives are used to larger groups, you must
compare two things and use the superlative.
MAIN USE to highlight the The superlative designate
superiority, inferiority, or s extremes: the best, the
equality of one term first, the worst, the last,
compared to another. etc.
a) Short adjectives: adj + a) Short adjectives: THE
-ER THAN + adj -EST
Peter is taller than Tom is the tallest boy of
Sandra. the school.
SUPERIORITY
b) Long adjectives: b) Long adjectives:
MORE + adj + THAN THE MOST + adjective
A Ferrari is more This is the most pleasant
expensive than a Mini. place on Earth!
Short & long adjectives:
AS... adjective... AS
EQUALITY Doesn't exist
English is as easy as
German.
Short & long adjectives:
Short & long adjectives:
THE LEAST + adjective
LESS + adjectif + THAN
INFERIORITY This is the least
July is less cold than
interesting movie of the
January.
year!
NOTES:
Short adjectives: 1 syllable (eg: young) + 2-syllable adjectives ending in -y
(eg: pretty)
Long adjectives: all the other adjectives
COMPARATIVES:
> If the adjective ends in "--y" the "y" becomes "i" : heavy --> heavier
> If the adjective ends in "--e" only an "r" is needed: wise --> wiser
> If the adjective ends with "single vowel + consonant" the consonant is
doubled and one adds "--er" : big --> bigger
> Some very common adjectives have irregular comparatives: good -->
better | bad --> worse | far --> farther
SUPERLATIVES:
Irregular forms: good --> the best bad --> the worst far --> the
farthest
Positive Form
Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the
following expressions:
as … as
Example: Jane is as tall as John.
not as … as / not so … as
Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.
Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est
silent ‘e’ is dropped
Example: late-later-latest
final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i
Example: easy-easier-easiest
final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled
Example: hot-hotter-hottest
* INFERIORITY: LESS + ADJECTIVE + THAN = menos ...que He is less tall than Gasol. The weather in
England is less hot than in Spain. This exam is less difficult than the last one.
EXERCISES
1. WRITE THE CORRECT COMPARATIVE FOR THESE SENTENCES
1 The Mississippi's longer than the Thames. (long)
2 This hotel's more comfortable than the other one. (comfortable)
3 I think this shop is _________________ that one. (good)
4 The restaurant is _________________ the café. (expensive)
5 Simon's _________________ Mark. (old)
6 I think Scotland is _________________ England. (beautiful)
7 My brother's _________________ I am. (young)
8 1 like this school because it's _________________ the other one. (big)
9 Accommodation here is _________________ in my country. (expensive)
10 The weather here is _________________ at home. (cold)
11 I think you're _________________ your father now. (tall)
12 His homework was _________________ mine, (bad)
13 This film is _________________ the one you wanted to see. (interesting)
14 The journey is _________________ I thought. (long)
15 This lesson is _________________ the last one. (difficult)
2. WRITE THE CORRECT COMPARATIVE FOR THESE SENTENCES
1 He is more helpful than he used to be. (helpful)
2 It was slowly getting hotter and hotter (hot)
3 I had _________________ time than T needed to finish the job.(little)
4 Peter gets _________________ and _________________ all the time (selfish)
5 You seem _________________ you were yesterday (happy)
6 My chair was getting _________________ and _________________ (uncomfortable)
7 We need _________________ actors for this film (young)
WRITE THE SUPERLATIVES OF THE WORDS GIVEN
1 This is the biggest building in the world, (big building)
2 This is _________________________ here. (comfortable chair)
3 He bought _________________________ in the shop. (expensive flowers)
4 I think she's _________________________ of the group. (good singer)
5 He's __________________________ of the company. (careful driver)
6 Who's __________________________ in the class? (old student)
7 It's __________________________ I've ever seen. (bad film)
8 She's ________________________ of all the students. (intelligent)
9 It was ________________________ I had ever heard. (beautiful music)
10 He's _______________________ of all the assistants. (helpful)
11 He's________________________ in his class. (young)
