There are three forms of comparison:

- positive - comparative - superlative

A - Comparison with -er/-est

clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest

We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:

1) adjectives with one syllableclean cleaner cleanestnew newer newestcheap cheaper cheapest

2) adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ydirty dirtier dirtiesteasy easier easiesthappy happier happiestpretty prettier prettiest

2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -erclever cleverer cleverest

2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -lesimple simpler simplest

2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ownarrow narrower narrowest

Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-estlarge larger largest leave out the silent -ebig bigger biggest Double the consonant after short vowelsad sadder saddestdirty dirtier dirtiest Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)

shy shyer shyest Here -y is not changed to -i.(although consonant before -y)

B - Comparison with more - most

difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult

all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4)

C - Irregular adjectivesgood better best  bad worse worst  much more most uncountable nouns many more most countable nounslittle less least  little smaller smallest  

D - Special adjectives

Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison.

common commoner / more common commonest / most commonlikely likelier / more likely likeliest / most likelypleasant pleasanter / more pleasant pleasantest / most pleasantpolite politer / more polite politest / most politesimple simpler / more simple simplest / most simplestupid stupider / more stupid stupidest / most stupidsubtle subtler / more subtle subtlest / most subtlesure surer / more sure surest / most sure

Difference in meaning with adjectives:

farfarther farthest distance

further furthest distance ortime

latelater latest  Time latter x  Second of two persons x Last  When more than two have been mentioned

old older oldest people and things elder eldest people (family)

near nearer nearest distancex next order

Comparison of adjectives with as ... as

Adjectives - Comparison as ... as - Exercise

1. A=B

Our car is as fast as Peter's car.

2. A><B

a) John's car isn't as fast as our car. (A<B)

b) Our car is faster than John's car. (A>B)

Our car is faster than Peter's car.

Peter's car is slower than our car.

NOTE! John is taller than me.

Max is as tall as me.

!!!!! Do not mix up th a n with th e n .

Use either as … as or not as … as in the sentecnes below.

Example: Ben Nevis is __________ as Mont Blanc (not/high).

Answer: Ben Nevis is not as high as Mont Blanc.

1) The blue car is the red car. (fast)

2) Peter is Fred. (not/tall)

3) The violin is the cello. (not/low)

4) This copy is the other one. (bad)

5) Oliver is Peter. (optimistic)

6) Today it's yesterday. (not/windy)

7) The tomato soup was the mushroom soup. (delicious)

8) Grapefruit juice is lemonade. (not/sweet)

9) Nick is Kevin. (brave)

10) Silver is gold. (not/heavy)

"Griffin's Talents"

Directions: Read the story. Then answer the questions below.

Griffin plays the violin.

He takes lessons after school on Tuesdays.

Griffin’s violin teacher is Mr. Thomas. Mr. Thomas tells Griffin to practice every day.

Griffin practices his violin on most days.

On the days Griffin does not practice his violin, he plays soccer with his friends or fixes old clocks for fun.

“You are a boy of many talents,” Griffin’s parents tell him. “That means you are good at doing many things.”

Griffin likes when his parents say this to him.

He loves playing the violin. He loves playing soccer. He loves fixing clocks. Griffin loves to do many things, but he does not have the time to do them all every day.

1 / 9 What does Griffin play?

▼Check all that are correct.board gamesthe pianosoccerthe violin

1. When does Griffin take violin lessons?1.   on Tuesdays after soccer2.   on Thursdays after soccer3.   on Tuesdays after school4.   on Thursdays after school

2. When does Mr. Thomas tell Griffin to practice?1.   every day2.   most days3.   only on Tuesdays4.   when he wants to

3. When does Griffin practice the violin?1.   every day

2.   most days3.   never4.   only on Tuesdays

4. How does Griffin feel about the violin?1.   He loves it.2.   He thinks it is hard.3.   He hates to practice.4.   He does not like the sound.

5. What things does Griffin love to do?

Check all that are correct.

read books

fix old clocks

build birdhouses

play soccer with his friends6. What does Mr. Thomas teach Griffin?

1.   to play soccer2.   to fix old clocks3.   to play the violin4.   to build birdhouses

7. What does it mean to have many talents?1.   to want to do a lot2.   to be good at playing the violin3.   to be busy doing many things4.   to be good at doing a lot of things

8. How come Griffin does not play the violin every day?1.   He does not like the violin.2.   He wants to play the piano.3.   He is busy doing other things.4.   His mom says not to play every day.