Unit 6

6.1 What . . . l i k e ? Use

Form We use comparatives to compare one thing, person, or action

with another.
what + to be + subject + like?
She's taller than me.

'
s (is) your teacher She's very patient. London's more expensive than Rome.

are his parents They're very kind. 2 We use superlatives to compare somebody or something with
What like?
was your holiday Wonderful. We swam a lot. the whole group.

were the beaches OK, but some were dirty. She's the tallest in the class.

It's the most expensive hotel in the world.

Note 3 As . . . as shows that something is the same or equal.

We don't use like in the answer. Jim's as tall as Peter.

She's patient. NOT She's like patient. I'm as worried as you are.

4 Not as/so . . . as shows that something isn't the same or equal.

She isn't as tall as her mother.

What . . . like? means 'Describe somebody or something. Tell me about

them. I don't know anything about them.'

Like in this question is a preposition, not a verb:

'What's Jim like?' 'He's intelligent and kind, and he's got lovely blue

eyes.'

In the following sentences like is a verb:

'What does Jim like?' 'He likes motorbikes and playing tennis.'

Note

How's your father? asks about health. It doesn't ask for a description.

'How's your father?' 'He's very well, thank you.'

6.2 Comparative and superlative adjectives

Form

Look at the chart.

Comparative Superlative

Short adjectives cheap cheaper cheapest

small smaller smallest

"big bigger biggest

Adjectives that funny funnier funniest

end in -y early earlier earliest

heavy heavier heaviest

Adjectives with careful more careful most careful

two syllables or boring more buying most boring

more expensive more expensive most expensive

interesting more interesting most interesting

Irregular far further furthest

adjectives good better best

bad worse worst

Short adjectives with one vowel + one consonant double the consonant:

hot/hotter/hottest, fat/fatter/fattest.

2 Than is often used after a comparative adjective.

I'm younger than Barbara.

Barbara's more intelligent than Sarah.

Much can come before the comparative to give emphasis.

She's much nicer than her sister.

Is Tokyo much more modern than London?

3 The is used before superlative adjectives.

He's the funniest boy in the class.

Which is the tallest building in the world?

Grammar Reference 135