COMPARATIVE AND COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVESADJECTIVES

COMPARISON WITHCOMPARISON WITH as…asas…asEQUALITYEQUALITY

as + adjective +asas + adjective +as George is George is as friendly asas friendly as Tim Tim

not as/so…asnot as/so…as ( (similar meaning to similar meaning to less less + adjective +than+ adjective +than) )

Germany Germany isn’t as big asisn’t as big as Russia/ Germany is Russia/ Germany is less less big than big than RussiaRussia

Also: Also: twice as..as, three times as…astwice as..as, three times as…as, etc , etc ; ;

That jumper is That jumper is twice as expensive astwice as expensive as this one. this one.

the same asthe same asPaul is Paul is the same age asthe same age as Brat. Brat.

COMPARATIVE WITH COMPARATIVE WITH LESS…LESS…THANTHAN

INFERIORITYINFERIORITY

less + adjective + thanless + adjective + than

This sofa is This sofa is less comfortableless comfortable.. I’ve always been I’ve always been less patient thanless patient than my my

sister.sister.

COMPARATIVES AND COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVESSUPERLATIVESSUPERIORITYSUPERIORITY

One syllable adjectives generally form the One syllable adjectives generally form the comparative by adding comparative by adding -er-er and the superlative by and the superlative by adding adding -est-est, e.g.:, e.g.:

AdjectivAdjectivee

ComparativComparativee

SuperlativeSuperlative

Soft Soft SoftSofterer (than)(than) The softThe softestest

Cheap Cheap CheapCheaperer (than)(than)

The cheapThe cheapestest

Sweet Sweet SweetSweeter er (than)(than)

The sweetThe sweetestest

Thin Thin ThinnThinnerer (than)(than)

The thinnThe thinnestest

SPELLING RULESSPELLING RULES Note that if a one-syllable adjective ends in Note that if a one-syllable adjective ends in

a consonant +vowel + consonant, the a consonant +vowel + consonant, the consonant letter is doubled,consonant letter is doubled,

AdjectivAdjectivee

CVCCVC

ComparativComparativee

SuperlativeSuperlative

Hot Hot Hot Hot ter ter (than)(than) The hot The hot testtest

FatFat Fat Fat ter ter (than)(than) The fat The fat testtest

BigBig Big Big ger ger (than)(than) The big The big gestgest

Thin Thin Thin Thin nerner (than)(than)

The thin The thin nestnest

TWO-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVESTWO-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

two syllable adjectivestwo syllable adjectives which end in which end in

-y-y / -le / -er / - ow / - e/ -le / -er / - ow / - e

Adjective Adjective Comparative Comparative superlativesuperlative

LuckyLucky LuckLuckier (than)ier (than) The luckThe luckiestiest

Polite Polite PolitPoliterer (than)(than) The politThe politestest

Narrow Narrow NarrowNarrowerer (than)(than)

The The narrownarrowestest

TWO-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVESTWO-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

two syllable adjectives ending in two syllable adjectives ending in

-ed / -ing / -ful / -less / other -ed / -ing / -ful / -less / other suffixessuffixes

AdjectivAdjective e

Comparative Comparative superlativesuperlative

Worried Worried MoreMore worried worried thanthan

The mostThe most worriedworried

Boring Boring MoreMore boring boring thanthan

The mostThe most boring boring

Careful Careful MoreMore careful careful thanthan

The mostThe most carefulcareful

Useless Useless MoreMore useless useless thanthan

The mostThe most uselessuseless

THREE-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVESTHREE-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

AdjectivAdjective e

Comparative Comparative Superlative Superlative

Dangerous Dangerous MoreMore dangerous dangerous The mostThe most dangerousdangerous

Difficult Difficult MoreMore difficult difficult The mostThe most difficult difficult

IRREGULAR ADJECTIVESIRREGULAR ADJECTIVES

AdjectivAdjective e

Comparative Comparative Superlative Superlative

Good Good Better Better thanthan The bestThe best

Bad Bad Worse Worse thanthan The worstThe worst

Far Far FartherFarther

Further Further thanthanThe farthestThe farthest

The furthestThe furthest

OldOld Elder Elder thanthan The eldestThe eldest

OTHER USES OF COMPARATIVESOTHER USES OF COMPARATIVES ComparativesComparatives are often qualified by using words and are often qualified by using words and

phrases such as much, phrases such as much, a lot, far, a bit/little, slightlya lot, far, a bit/little, slightly , , etc.,etc.,

e.g.:e.g.:

You should go by train, it would be You should go by train, it would be much cheapermuch cheaper..Could you be Could you be a bit quietera bit quieter??

I’m feeling I’m feeling a lot bettera lot better..Do you have one that’s Do you have one that’s slightly biggerslightly bigger??

Two comparativesTwo comparatives can also be linked with can also be linked with andand to to show a continuing increase in a particular quality, show a continuing increase in a particular quality,

e.g.:e.g.: The sea was getting The sea was getting rougher and rougherrougher and rougher.. Her illness was becoming Her illness was becoming worse and worseworse and worse.. He became He became more and more tiredmore and more tired as the weeks went as the weeks went

by.by.

USE OF SUPERLATIVESUSE OF SUPERLATIVES Like comparatives, superlatives can be placed before nouns, e.g.:Like comparatives, superlatives can be placed before nouns, e.g.:

the most deliciousthe most delicious chocolatechocolate cake I’ve ever eaten cake I’ve ever eaten Annabel was Annabel was the youngestthe youngest This restaurant is This restaurant is the bestthe best

In superlatives you can finish the sentence with a phrase In superlatives you can finish the sentence with a phrase beginning with beginning with inin or or ofof.. “ “ININ”” with with placesplaces and and groups of peoplegroups of people “ “OFOF” ” in most other cases in most other cases

Annabel was the youngest child Annabel was the youngest child in the classin the class Annabel was the youngest Annabel was the youngest of the childrenof the children This restaurant is the best This restaurant is the best in townin town..