COMPARTATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

GRAMMAR

MODULE 5

Trayecto Pre-Profesional en Inglés como Segunda Lengua

Dic./2009

Adjective is the word/s that describe the noun in a sentence. Comparative Adjective is the name for the grammar used when

comparing two things. In the superlative you talk about one thing only and how it

is the best, worst, etc. You do not compare two things.

One-syllable adjectives.Form the comparative and superlative forms of a one-syllable

adjective by adding –er for the comparative form and –est for the superlative.

Mary is taller than Max. Mary is the tallest of all the students.

One-Syllable Adjective

Comparative Form

Superlative Form

tall taller tallest

old older oldest

long longer longest

If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form and –st for the superlative form.

Mary's car is larger than Max's car. Mary's house is the tallest of all the houses on the block.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with a single consonant with a vowel before it, double the consonant and add –er for the comparative form; and double the consonant and add –est for the superlative form.

My dog is bigger than your dog. My dog is the biggest of all the dogs in the neighborhood.

Adjective Comparative Form

Superlative Form

large larger largest

wise wiser wisest

Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form

big bigger biggest

thin thinner thinnest

fat fatter fattest

Two-syllable adjectives With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with

more and the superlative with most.

This morning is more peaceful than yesterday morning. Max's house in the mountains is the most peaceful in the world.

• If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative formand add –est for the superlative.

John is happier today than he was yesterday. John is the happiest boy in the world.

AdjectiveComparative Form

Superlative Form

peaceful more peaceful most peaceful

pleasant more pleasant most pleasant

careful more careful most careful

thoughtful more thoughtful most thoughtful

AdjectiveComparative Form Superlative Form

Happy happier happiest

angry angrier angriest

busy busier busiest

Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, or –ow take –er and –est to form the comparative and superlative forms.

The roads in this town are narrower than the roads in the city. This road is the narrowest of all the roads in California.

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS: Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These

adjectives can be used with-er and -est and with more and most.

AdjectiveComparative Form Superlative Form

narrow narrower narrowest

gentle gentler gentlest

Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Formclever cleverer cleverest

clever more clever most clever

gentle gentler gentlest

gentle more gentle most gentle

friendly friendlier friendliest

friendly more friendly most friendly

quiet quieter quietest

quiet more quiet most quiet

simple simpler simplest

simple more simple most simple

Adjectives with three or more syllables. For adjectives with three syllables or more, you form the

comparative with more and the superlative with most.

John is more generous than Jack. John is the most generous of all the people I know.

Irregular adjectives: They have a spelling on their own.

Italian food is better than American food. My dog is the best dog in the world.

AdjectiveComparative Form

Superlative Form

generous more generous most generous

important more important most important

intelligent more intelligent most intelligent

Irregular Adjective

Comparative Form Superlative Form

good better best

bad worse worst

far farther farthest

little less least

many more most

Expressing Similitudee and Difference When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not change. It

can be Negative to express similitude or positive to express difference.

NOW: Check the exercise below, complete the dialogue in a paper and then check your answers.

Similitude Difference

She's twice as old as her sister.I'm almost as good in maths as in science.This book is not as exciting as the last one.

He's not as stupid as he looks!The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual.Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.

SOLDIER:  Hi, mate!  Can't wait to get home.  I haven't been home for six months.SAILOR:     Well, I have been away from home much ....................... than that.SOLDIER:   Where do you live?  I live in Scotland.SAILOR:      Well, I live in Kent; it is a bit ....................... than Scotland.SOLDIER:    Have you got a girlfriend or wife? SAILOR:       Yes, I have a girlfriend who wants to marry me, but she's ....................... than me.SOLDIER:     Is she a lot ....................... than you?   SAILOR:        Oh, yes.  10 centimetres.SOLDIER:     Well my girlfriend is much ....................... than that.  In fact she is ....................... woman I know.SAILOR:      My girlfriend's very ......................., too.  Have you got a photo of your one?   SOLDIER:         Yes, here it is.   My girlfriend is ....................... girl in the world, but she is so ........................SAILOR:        She reminds me of my girlfriend, but this woman has ....................... hair.  Let me look ....................... with my glasses.   Hmmmm!   This woman is definitely as ....................... as my girlfriend!   Just a minute!  She is MY girlfriend, not YOUR girlfriend!  You're ....................... scumbag I have ever met.  Get a girlfriend of your own!SOLDIER:    Are you sure she's your girlfriend?  Is her hair as ....................... as your girlfriend's?  SAILOR:   Well, no, but she must have dyed it.  It's usually much ....................... than that.   I have always preferred blondes. SOLDIER:   Well, there you are, then.  She can't be your girlfriend - her hair's the wrong colour.SAILOR:    Maybe you're right, but she does look just like my Meg.  Sorry, mate.  Didn't mean to turn on you like that.  I'm not usually as ....................... as that.  Look, here's a photo of Meg.SOLDIER:   Yes, she does resemble my Margaret a bit, but her hair is much ....................... and she also looks ....................... in the face.  (Thinks:  You must be ....................... than you look!)SAILOR:  Yes.  You're right.  Well then, bye mate.  ....................... to have met you.SOLDIER:  Bye, mate.  (Thinks:  You must be ....................... man I have ever met!)http://www.musicalenglishlessons.org/grammar-adjectives.htm#key