| Regular
forms
Adjectives |
Adjective
|
Comparative |
Superlative |
| 1. Of one syllable,
add-(e)r/-(e)st to form their comparative & superlative
forms. |
small
hot
safe |
smaller (than)
hotter (than)
safer (than) |
the smallest (of/in)
the hottest (of/in)
the safest (of/in) |
2. Of two syllables
ending in
-ly, -y, -w, also add -er/-est. |
friendly
busy
shallow |
friendlier (than)
busier (than)
shallower (than) |
the friendliest (of/in)
the busiest (of/in)
the shallowest (of/in) |
3. Of two or more syllables,
take more/most. |
serious
amazing |
more serious (than)
more amazing (than) |
the most serious (of/in)
the most amazing (of/in) |
Usage
1. We use the comparative to compare one person/ thing with another.
e.g. Mary is prettier than Ann.
This car is more expensive
than the others.
2. We use the superlative to compare one person/ thing with more
than one of the same group.
e.g. He is the fastest runner of all.
She is the most intelligent
child in the family.
3. We often use than after a comparative. We normally use the
before a superlative. We often
use of or in after a superlative. We
use in with places.
e.g. She is shorter than you.
This problem is more complicated
than that one.
I am the smartest of all.
This room is the most comfortable
one in the hotel.
4. Certain adjectives form their comparative and superlative in both
ways, either by adding -er/-est to the adjectives or by taking
more/most. Some of these are: clever, common, cruel, friendly,
gentle, narrow, pleasant, polite, shallow, simple, stupid, quiet.
e.g. simple - simpler - the simplest ALSO
simple - more simple - the most simple
Regular forms
Adverbs |
Adverb |
Comparative |
Superlative |
| 1. Adverbs having the
same forms as their adjectives add -er/-est. |
long
fast
early |
longer (than)
faster (than)
earlier (than) |
(the) longest
(the) fastest
(the) earliest |
| 2. Two syllables or
compound adverbs (adjectives+-ly, e.g. careful-carefully) take more/most.
|
often
slowly
quickly |
more often (than)
more slowly (than)
more quickly (than) |
(the) most often
(the) most slowly
(the) most quickly |
Irregular forms
| Adjectives/Adverbs |
Comparative
|
Superlative |
good/ well
bad/badly
much/ many/ a lot of
little
few
far |
better
worse
more
less
fewer
farther/further |
best
worst
most
least
fewest
farther/furthest |
Usage
1. Well is the adverb of good.
e.g. He is a good cook. He cooks well.
2. further (adj) = more
e.g. For further information contact Mr White.
further/farther (adv) = longer (in distance)
e.g. He walked further/farther than I did.
3. very + adjective
e.g. It is very hot weather.
4. most + adj/adv = very
e.g. He was most obliging. = He was very obliging.
5. even/much/far/a bit + comparative
e.g. My sister behaved even worse than before.
Susan is much more
patient with children than Lily is.
6. any + comparative (used in negatives & questions)
e.g. This article was not any better than the previous one.
| Types
of Comparison |
Examples
|
1. as ¡K (adj/adv) ¡K
as
not so/as as ¡K (adj/adv) ¡K as
such a(n)/so ¡K as |
She speaks as calmly
as usual.
It is not so/as hot as it was yesterday.
This is not such an exciting film as the last one. |
2. twice/three times
/half/ etc as ¡K
(adj/adv) ¡K as |
Their house is three
times as big as ours.
His watch cost half as much as mine. |
| 3. the same as |
Your violin is the
same as the one I¡¦ve bought. |
4. less ¡K (adj/adv)
¡K than
the least ¡K (adj/adv) ¡K of/in |
The red sofa is less
expensive than the blue one,
but the black one is the least expensive of all. |
| 5. the + comparative
¡K , the + comparative |
The earlier you
start, the sooner you¡¦ll finish. |
| 6. comparative + and
+ comparative |
Their life is getting
better and better. |
Sentence transformation
1a. I¡¦ve never seen such a boring movie.
b. It is the most boring movie I¡¦ve ever seen.
2a. He is taller than his sister.
b. His sister is not as tall as he is/him.
3a. If you work more, you will earn more.
b. The more you work, the more you will earn.
4a. She is the quickest runner of all.
b. She is quicker than any other runner.
c. No other runner is as quick as she is/her.
5a. He is a terrible driver.
b. He drives terribly.
6a. Jack has got the same number of books as Peter.
b. Peter has got as many books as Jack.
7a. She hasn¡¦t made as many mistakes as last time.
b. She has made fewer mistakes than last time.
Ouiz
Notes & Exercises
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