DEGREES OF COMPARISON
POSITIVE,COMPARATIVES, SUPERLATIVES & MORE
DEGRESS OF COMPARISON
POSITIVE,COMPARATIVES, SUPERLATIVES & MORE
Adjectives have three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative and
superlative.
1. Earth is near the sun. (positive)
2. Venus is nearer the sun than the Earth. (comparative)
3. Mercury is the nearest planet to the sun. (superlative)
POSITIVE
The positive degree is formed by using the simple form of the
adjective.
Earth is near the sun.
COMPARATIVES
We use the comparative form of adjectives to compare two
things.
COMPARATIVES
Adjectives of one or two syllables form their comparative
degree by adding –er to the positive.
The rabbit is faster than the turtle.
COMPARATIVES
Some adjectives of two syllables and all adjectives of three or
more syllables form their comparative degree by using more
with the positive.
A car is more expensive than a motorcycle.
Complete the sentence using the comparative form of the words in parenthesis.
1. For Waldo, hiking is ____________ biking.
(tiring)
2. Uncle is _____________ father. (strong)
3. The sofa is ___________ the rocking chair.
(comfortable)
4. This tree is ___________ that one. (tall)
5. Your antics are __________ mine. (funny)
SUPERLATIVES
We use the superlative form of adjectives to compare one thing
with a group of things.
SUPERLATIVES
Adjectives of one or two syllables form their superlative degree
by adding –est to the positive.
An astronaut has the coolest job!
SUPERLATIVES
Some adjectives of two syllables and all adjectives of three or
more syllables form their superlative degree by using most
with the positive.
.
The plane is the most comfortable means of transport.
Complete the sentences. Use the superlative form of the words inside the
parenthesis.
1. They say that basketball is the ________ of all sports.
(exciting)
2. Diamonds are the_________of all precious stones.
(brilliant)
3. She is the ___________ girl in the group. (charming)
4. Lola Nita is the ___________ person I have ever met.
(nice)
5. According to legend, Bernardo Carpio was the
_________ man that ever lived. (strong)
OTHER COMPARISONS
We can use other structures to make comparisons.
COMPARISON OF EQUALITY
To compare nouns of equal rank, we use the expression as +
adjective + as.
Our language is as useful as any other.
COMPARISON OF EQUALITY
However, there is a shade of difference in its equality, we use
less + adjective + than.
A ballpoint pen is less expensive than a fountain pen.
Complete the sentences using as+adjective+ as
1. Manual labor is (honorable) white collar job.
2. Wooden beds aren’t (comfortable) beds with
mattresses.
3. The book I read is (interesting) that best-
seller.
4. Here, she isn’t (well-known) abroad.
5. Your contribution (valuable) theirs.
Complete the sentences using less+adjective+ than
1. Urban life is (quiet) rural life.
2. Locally made goods are (costly) imported
ones.
3. Fishing is (back-breaking) farming.
4. Rock music is (soothing) classical music.
5. Football is (popular) basketball in the
country.
The diver kept going lower and lower.
SUMMARY OF FORMS
Let's review how to make the comparative and superlative
forms of adjectives and adverbs.
COMPARATIVES
1 syllable -er smaller - faster - longer - taller - cheaper
2-syllable ending in -y -ier funnier - happier - healthier - sillier
1-syllable ending in -e -r larger - safer - nicer - freer
1-syllable ending in CVC* consonant + -er hotter - bigger - thinner - sadder
2 or more syllables** more more expensive - more sweetly
irregular*** irregular form (good) better - (bad) worse - (far) farther/further -
(old) older/elder
*CVC = consonant-vowel-consontant.
(**) and (***) see Notes.
SUPERLATIVES
1 syllable -est smallest - fastest - longest - tallest - cheapest
2-syllable ending in -y -iest funniest - happiest - healthiest - silliest
1-syllable ending in -e -st largest - safest - nicest - freest
1-syllable ending in CVC* consonant + -est hottest - biggest - thinnest - saddest
2 or more syllables** (the) most (the) most expensive - (the) most sweetly
irregular*** irregular form [good] (the) best- [bad] (the) worst - [far] (the)
farthest/furthest - [old)] (the) oldest/eldest
*CVC = consonant-vowel-consontant.
(**) and (***) see Notes.
IMPORTANT NOTES
NOTES
**Some two-syllable adjectives can take both forms (adding -er/-est or more/the most): narrow - clever
- simple - cruel - common - likely - gentle - common.
**Adverbs ending in -ly always add more/the most.
***Old has a regular form (older/the older) and an irregular one (elder/the eldest) when describing
people's ages, especially when they are family members.
NOTES
Less/the least are the opposites of more/the most.
Planes are less dangerous than cars. / I bought the least expensive phone.
Before comparatives, we can use much/a lot/a bit/no/any.
Your car is much faster than mine.
Superlatives are common in expressions with ever.
This is the biggest hamburger I've ever eaten!
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