Comparison

Comparative

Index

Usage …………………………………………………………3Form/Examples …………………………………………..4Irregular Comparisons ………………………………..6Exercises …………………………………………………….7Bibliography ………………………………………………12

Usage

A «comparison» is used when it is necessary to consider people or things in order to see how similar or how different they are. So a «comparison» is an act of comparing always two things.

How is it formed ? The comparative of superiority is used in sentences with THAN, but sometimes THAN is omitted.

Number of syllables

Form Example

OneOne + er Tall > taller

OneOneWith the spelling

Consonant + single vowel + consonant

Fat >fatter Double the final consonant

Two Two Ending in –y; -ly; -ow

Ending in –le; -er; ure

+ erOr

More + adj.

Happy >happier/more happy

Yellow > yellower/more yellow

Simple > simpler/more simple

Tender > tender/more tender

Two syllables or moreTwo syllables or more More + adj. Intelligent > more intelligent

Superiority

Inferiority

Form Example

Less + adjective +

than

Days are less warm in

January than in May.

Not so + adjective +

as

Days are not so warm in

January as in May

Equality

Form Example

as + adjective +

as

Jack is as tall as his

brother

Irregular comparisons

A few English comparatives do not follow the usual pattern. Here is a list of common exceptions.

Positive Comparative

Late Later

Less Lesser

Little (amount) Less

Many More

Much More

Well Better

Positive Comparative

Bad Worse

Badly Worse

Far (distance) Farther

Far (extent) Further

Good Better

Ill Worse

Exercises

www.better-english.com/grammar/comparatives.htm Joe is ______ than Ed. (short) 1. superiority

Joe is shorter than Ed

Joe is ______ than Al. (thin)

Joe is thinner than All

Al is _______ than Joe. (heavy)

All is heavier than Joe

Joe is ______ than Ed. (happy)

Joe is happier than Ed

Joe is ______ than Ed. (energetic)

Joe is more energetic than Ed.

Exercises

• This shirt is ________ (expensive) than the other. 2. inferiority • This shirt is less expensive (expensive) than the other• He is _________ (problematic) than his brother.• He is less problematic (problematic) than his brother.• Alice is __________ (intelligent) as I thought she was.• Alice is not so intelligent (intelligent) as I thought she was.

3. Rewrite the sentences using the equality comparative .Helen is nice. Sandra is nice. ____________________________________________Helen is as nice as SandraMy English teacher is clever. My history teacher is clever. _____________________My English teacher is as clever as my history teacher.

Exercises

4. Complete using the right form.

Anne is _________ (smart) as her sister.

a) Less smart b) not so smart

Michael is __________ (strong) than his friend Jordan.

a) Less strong b) not so strong

My father is __________ (brave) as the unknown soldier.

a) Not so brave b) less brave

Exercises irregular adjectives

a) Well _____b) Ill _____c) Less _____d) Much _____e) Bad _____f) Good _____g) Late _____

Better

Worse

Lesser

More

Worse

Better

Later

Bibliography

www.better-english.com

www.english-zone.com

www.edufind.com

Trabalho elaborado por:

11º C1Ana Cristina, nº 1

Sónia Valente, nº 16