Lecture 25Lecture 25

Comparison Comparison

and and

ComparativeComparative

ConstructionsConstructions

25.1 Comparison of adjectives and 25.1 Comparison of adjectives and adverbsadverbs

1) Regular comparison of adjectives1) Regular comparison of adjectives -er, -est -er, -est (eg. smaller, smallest)(eg. smaller, smallest) - more, -most (more than two syllables) - more, -most (more than two syllables)

(eg. more interesting, most interesting)(eg. more interesting, most interesting) 2) Regular comparison of adverbs2) Regular comparison of adverbs -er,-est -er,-est (eg. faster, fastest)(eg. faster, fastest) -more, -most -more, -most (eg. more carefully, most c(eg. more carefully, most c

arefully)arefully)

3) Irregular comparison of adjectives and adverbs3) Irregular comparison of adjectives and adverbs

eg. bad, good/well, old, far, much, badly, etc.eg. bad, good/well, old, far, much, badly, etc.

25.2 Comparative constructions25.2 Comparative constructions 1) “As…as” construction 1) “As…as” construction Basic patternBasic pattern: “as + adjective/adverb + : “as + adjective/adverb +

as”as” Eg. John is as bright as BobEg. John is as bright as Bob. . Negative sentenceNegative sentence: : John is not so bright John is not so bright

as Bob. as Bob.

2) “More…than” construction 2) “More…than” construction Basic pattern:Basic pattern: “comparative degree + than-cl “comparative degree + than-cl

ause”ause” Eg. This parcel is heavier than that oneEg. This parcel is heavier than that one.. Another patternAnother pattern : “determiner more /less /few : “determiner more /less /few

er + noun + than-clause”er + noun + than-clause” Eg. I have done more work than he.Eg. I have done more work than he. A variant form pattern:A variant form pattern: “compatative adjectiv “compatative adjectiv

e + noun + than-clause”e + noun + than-clause” Eg. John is a more efficient worker than Jack. Eg. John is a more efficient worker than Jack.

3) “(The)+ superlative adjective / adverb + sc3) “(The)+ superlative adjective / adverb + scope of comparison ”ope of comparison ”

eg. eg. The Sahara is the largest desert in the wThe Sahara is the largest desert in the w

orldorld. . 25. 3 Contrast between comparative constru25. 3 Contrast between comparative constru

ctionsctions 1) “More…than” vs quasi-coordinative typ1) “More…than” vs quasi-coordinative typ

ee 2) “Not so…as”vs “not so much…as”2) “Not so…as”vs “not so much…as” 3) “Not more/ -er…than”vs “no more/-er3) “Not more/ -er…than”vs “no more/-er

…than”…than” 4) “The more …the more”vs “more and m4) “The more …the more”vs “more and m

ore”ore”