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Comparatives and Superlatives

The document discusses forming comparatives and superlatives in English. It explains that comparatives compare two things using terms like "taller than", while superlatives compare multiple things using the definite article "the" and terms like "tallest". It then provides rules for forming regular comparatives and superlatives based on an adjective's syllables and ending letters. Finally, it lists some common irregular comparatives and superlatives and provides examples of using comparatives and superlatives in sentences.

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187 views3 pages

Comparatives and Superlatives

The document discusses forming comparatives and superlatives in English. It explains that comparatives compare two things using terms like "taller than", while superlatives compare multiple things using the definite article "the" and terms like "tallest". It then provides rules for forming regular comparatives and superlatives based on an adjective's syllables and ending letters. Finally, it lists some common irregular comparatives and superlatives and provides examples of using comparatives and superlatives in sentences.

Uploaded by

MagdaMelaniaGh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Comparatives and Superlatives

Forming regular comparatives and superlatives


1. We use comparatives
to compare two
things or two people.
(e.g She is taller than
her husband.)
2. Superlatives are used,
however, to show the
difference between
more than two things
or more than two
people. (e.g Paris is
the biggest city in
France)
3. To form
comparatives and
superlatives you need to know the number of the syllables in the
adjective.  Syllables are like "sound beats".

For instance:

 "find" contains one syllable,


 but "finding" contains two — find  and ing.

The rules to form comparatives and superlatives:

1. One syllable adjective ending in a silent 'e' — nice

 Comparative — add 'r' — nicer


 Superlative — add 'st' — nicest

2. One syllable adjective ending in one vowel and one consonant — big

 Comparative — the consonant is doubled and 'er' is added —bigger


 Superlative — the consonant is doubled and 'est' is added—biggest

3. One syllable adjective ending in more than one consonant or more than a
vowel (or long vowels) — high, cheap, soft.
 Comparative — 'er' is added — higher, cheaper, softer.
 Superlative — 'est is added — highest, cheapest , softest.

4. A two syllable adjective ending in 'y' — happy

 Comparative — 'y' becomes 'i' and 'er' is added — happier


 Superlative — 'y' becomes 'i' and 'est' is added — happiest

5. Tow syllable or more adjectives without 'y' at the end — exciting

 Comparative — more + the adjective + than — more exciting than


 Superlative — more + the adjective + than — the most exciting

Examples:

 The Nile River is longer and more famous than the Thames.


 Egypt is much hotter than Sweden.
 Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
 This is one of the most exciting films I have ever seen.

Peter (6 years Charley (5 months old)


old)

Peter is older than Charley.


Charley is younger than Peter.

Irregular comparatives and superlatives

Adjectives Comparatives Superlatives

bad worse worst

far(distance farther farthest


)

far(extent) further furthest

good better best

little   less least


many more most

much more most

How to use comparatives and superlatives


Comparatives Superlatives

Comparatives are used to Superlatives are used to compare


compare two things or more than two things or two people.
two people: Superlative sentences usually use 'the':
Alan is taller than John. Alan is the most intelligent.

Similarities
To express similarities use the following structure:

... as + adjective + as ...
Examples:

 Mike is as intelligent as Nancy.
 Larry is as popular as Oprah.

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