Making Comparisons

in English

By, G. Javier Burgos

Who do you think is MORE ATTRACTIVE?

The Giraffe says.

“I am TALLER THAN that ant”

The Ant Responded:

“ Yes, the giraffe is taller than me but I am SEXIER than

her”

We often use comparisons because we want to talk about the differences between people,

places, and things. Here is an example:

1. Javier´s house is bigger than Anita´s.

2. Anita´s house is smaller than Javier’s.

3. Javier’s house is more expensive and prettier than Anita’s house.

The comparative forms from the previous example are:-bigger than-smaller than-More expensive than-Prettier than

So . . . When do we use “–er” and when do we use “more?”

How many syllables are the words: “big” and

“small?” 1For 1-syllable adjectives, JUST add “er” to the end.

Example: Tom is smarter than Joe.

*If the 1-syllable adjective ends with the letter “e,” JUST add “r” to the end.

Examples: nicer wiser

**If the 1-syllable adjective has a C-V-C pattern, Double the consonant and add “er.” 

Examples: San Francisco is wetter than San Diego.

San Diego is bigger than San Francisco.

For adjectives that end with the letter “y,” DROP the “y” and add “ier.”

Examples:Adjective = ugly Anita´s house is Uglier than Javier´s house.

Adjective = pretty FECYT faculty is prettier than CC.SS. Faculty

Adjective = friendly Angelina is friendlier than Fiona.

How many syllables is the word: beautiful ? 4 (more than 1)

For adjectives that are 2 or more syllables, use “more” + the adjective to make the comparative form.

Examples:Adjective = beautiful Mery ’s face is more beautiful than Javier´s face .

Adjective = comfortableThis armchair is more comfortable than that chair.

Irregular comparatives:

You MUST memorize these!

Examples:good = better than far = farther (further) thanbad = worse than

Adjective = good My grades are better than Michael’s.

Examples:

· good =  better

· bad =  worse

· far = farther (further)

· well = better

· badly = worse

· little = less

Many/much/ a lot of/lots of/ few/ a few

= more/less

Grammar Rule:Never use both MORE and “ER!”

Incorrect:Lisa’s job is more better than mine.

Correct:Lisa’s job is better than mine.

Using “less than”Sometimes we compare two things by using “less than.”

To do this, use LESS + adjective + THAN

When using “less than,” the adjective DOES NOT CHANGE

Examples:He is LESS energetic than my other teacher.

This class is LESS crowded than the other one.

New York City is LESS polluted than Los Angeles.

Rule . . . ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE

1. Adjectives with one syllable:

add “er”

oldbig cheap

older thanbigger thancheaper than

2. Adjectives that endin “Y”: drop “Y”, add “ier”

friendlybusy easy

friendlier thanbusier thaneasier than

3. Adjectives with two or more syllables: use “more”

politebeautifulimportant

more polite thanmore beautiful thanmore important than

4. Irregular forms: (memorize)

goodbadfar

better thanworse thanfarther/further than

5. Less Than quietcrowded

less quiet thanless crowded than

There are a few exceptions with comparative grammar . . .These are adjectives that don’t follow the basic rules or that have more than one acceptable form. To learn these, you must memorize them.

1.“fun” We say: more fun funner

2. “simple” We say: more simple ORsimpler

3. “narrow” We say: more narrow OR narrower

4. “quiet” We say: more quiet ORquieter

Try these examples. Use the comparative form.

1.I think Social Studies is _________________ (interesting) than Math.

2. San Diego is a _____________ (pretty) city than L.A.

3. A dog is usually _______________ (friendly) than a cat.

4. It is _____________ (hot) today than it was yesterday.

5. My cousin is ______________ (rich) than I am.

6. USE LESS: Some people think that Spanish is __________________ (difficult) than English.

SuperlativesSuperlatives RULE # 1

Use THE  and add -est

Examples:

· smart =  the smartest

· young =  the youngest

· fast = the fastest

Superlatives RULE # 2

If the adjective has a CVC pattern, double the consonant and add -est.

Don't forget THE! Examples:

· wet  =  the wettest · big  =  the biggest · sad = the saddest

Superlatives RULE # 3

Change the Y to I and add -est. Don't forget to use THE!

Examples: · pretty =  the prettiest · happy =  the happiest

· busy = the busiest

Superlatives RULE # 4Adjectives or adverbs with two or more syllables (not ending in

Y):

Use THE MOST Examples:

· famous =  the most famous · interesting =  the most interesting

· carefully = the most carefully

IRREGULAR SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

Examples: · good =  the best · bad =  the worst

· far = the farthest (the furthest) · well = the best

· badly = the worst · little = the least

Many/much/ a lot of/lots of/ few/ a few = The most/ the least

Who has the widest mouth in the world?

His name is Francisco Domingo,. He is from

Angola.

Where was the largest bikini parade held?

Hundreds of Women stood at

Where is the smallest man in the world from?

He is from Nepal

His name is Chandra Dangi and he is 67 cm tall.

Who is the tallest man in the world?

His name is Sultan Kosen Burgos, he is my cousin

He is from «Alpachaca»

Which man has the longest fingernails in the world?

His name is Melvin Boothe

Who has the smallest waist in the world?

Her name is Cathie Jung

Who has the biggest natural breasts in the world?

Her name is Annie Turner

Under breasts: 109.22 cmChest-over-nipple: 177.8

cm

How big is the largest Mining Truck ?

Volume: 470.4 cubic metres

Density of : 0.86 tons/ m3

Who is the hairiest teenager in the world?

Her name is Supatra Nat

She is from Ibarra and

studies “Enfermeria”

at UTN. The true fact: She is from Thailand

Who has the largest rifle in the world?

James DeCaine. U.S.A.

Measurement: 10.18 m

Could you do this?

It is simple, I can do

it.Teacher Javier can do

it easily.

He is as strong as the Teacher.

Check for the most amazing recordsin the world

• http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/size/

• http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/extra-ordinary/

• http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/size/smallest-dog-living

SUMMARY:COMPARATIVE VS SUPERLATIVES

Comparatives Superlatives

Simply add -er

Examples:

· smart =  smarter

· young =  younger

· fast = faster

Use THE  and add -est

Examples:

· smart =  the smartest

· young =  the youngest

· fast = the fastest

Rule 1 - one syllable adjectives or adverbs:

If the adjective has a CVC pattern, double the consonant and add -er. 

Examples:

· wet  =  wetter

· big  =  bigger

· sad = sadder

Practice comparatives with one-syllable words.

If the adjective has a CVC pattern, double the consonant and add -est. Don't forget THE!

Examples:

· wet  =  the wettest

· big  =  the biggest

· sad = the saddest

Practice superlatives with one-syllable words.

Rule 1B - One syllable adjectives with a Consonant-Vowel-Consonant  Pattern: (Review Consonants and Vowels)

Change the Y to I and add -er   

Examples:

· pretty =  prettier

· happy =  happier

· busy = busier

Practice comparatives ending in Y.

Change the Y to I and add -est. Don't forget to use THE!

Examples:

· pretty =  the prettiest

· happy =  the happiest

· busy = the busiest

Practice superlatives ending in Y.

Rule 2 - two syllable adjectives ending in Y

  Use MORE

Examples:

· famous =  more famous

· interesting =  more interesting

· carefully = more carefully

Practice comparatives with 2 or more syllables.

Use THE MOST

Examples:

· famous =  the most famous

· interesting =  the most interesting

· carefully = the most carefully

Practice superlatives with 2 or more syllables.

Rule 3 - Adjectives or adverbs with two or more syllables (not ending in Y):

Examples:

· good =  better

· bad =  worse

· far = farther (further)

· well = better

· badly = worse

· little = less

Practice irregular comparatives.

Examples:

· good =  the best

· bad =  the worst

· far = the farthest (the furthest)

· well = the best

· badly = the worst

· little = the least

Practice irregular superlatives.

Rule 4 These are the irregular words. There is no system

or pattern here, so you'll just have to remember them. Fortunately, there are only a few...

Thanks!

You are the best!

elt@gmx.us

Javier Burgos E.L.T.