Grammar: comparatives and

superlatives

INTRODUCTION: COMPARATIVES
What can you say about these two animals?

Peacock Elephant

The peacock is ______________ than the elephant.

The elephant is ______________ than the peacock.

The peacock is not _______________________________ as the elephant.

The elephant is not _______________________________ as the peacock.

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GRAMMAR RULES: COMPARATIVES
Whats a comparative?

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You can form a comparative in two ways:

1. Using as as .
1. She's twice as old as her sister.
2. He's not as stupid as he looks!
3. I'm almost as good in maths as in science.
4. This book is not as exciting as the last one.

2. Using er than

When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not change. When
comparing with than, however, some changes are necessary, depending on
the number of syllables the adjective has.

EX 1: How many syllables are there in the following words:

1. Big
2. Boring
3. Exciting
4. Happy
5. Small

1-syllable adjectives: add -er to the adjective

My sister is much taller than me.

It's colder today than it was yesterday.

Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last

consonant is usually doubled in the comparative. Examples: big-bigger,
fat-fatter, hot-hotter.

2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -ier

She's looking happier today.

This grammar topic is easier than the last one.
Why is everyone else luckier than me?

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Other 2-syllable adjectives: use more with the unchanged
adjective

The shops are always more crowded just before Christmas.

Is there anything more boring than reading about grammar?
My sister is more careful with her writing than I am with mine.

Note: The comparative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed

with -er. Examples: simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be
sure which comparative method to use, you will need to consult a good
dictionary.

Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use more with the unchanged

adjective

Russian grammar is more difficult than English grammar.

My sister is much more intelligent than me.
I find maths lessons more enjoyable than science lessons.
The older you get, the more irritating you become.

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EXERCISES: COMPARATIVES
EX 2: Who said these sentences? Fill in either Bart or Homer.

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EX 3: Write the comparative form of these adjectives.

happy ____________ hot ____________

comfortable ____________ exciting ____________

fat ____________ sunny ____________

silly ____________ complicated ____________

tall ____________ cold ____________

intelligent ____________ big ____________

sad ____________ contagious ____________

funny ____________ ugly ____________

crazy ____________ pretty ____________

cheap ____________ disgusting ____________

EX 4: Compare Belgium to a country of your choice. Write down five comparisons

using full sentences.

Example: Belgium is smaller than the United Kingdom. France is more expensive
than Belgium.
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2.________________________________________________________________________________
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3.________________________________________________________________________________
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4.________________________________________________________________________________
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5.________________________________________________________________________________
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INTRODUCTION: SUPERLATIVES
What can you say about these two animals compared to the sun?

The peacock and the elephant are _____________________ the sun.

The sun is _________________.
The peacock is _________________.

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GRAMMAR RULES: SUPERLATIVES
What is the difference between the comparative and the superlative?
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Just like the comparative form, the superlative form depends on how many
syllables a word has:
1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the adjective (plus the)
My sister is the tallest in our family.
Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is
usually doubled in the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.

2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -iest (plus the)

The richest people are not always the happiest.
Which do you think is the easiest language to learn?
She's the luckiest person I know.

Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the unchanged adjective
The most boring thing about ESL class is doing grammar exercises.
My sister is the most careful person I know.
Note: The superlative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -
er. Examples:simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure
which superlative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.

Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use the most with the unchanged
adjective
Some people think that Russian is the most difficult language.
Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history.
My most enjoyable class is English.
You are the most irritating person I have ever met!

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Beware: some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. You
will have to know these by heart!
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
little less least
much more most
far further / farther furthest / farthest

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EXERCISES: SUPERLATIVES
EX 1: Fill in the comparisons about these Simpson characters.

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EX 2: Superlative media!

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EXERCISES: COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
EX 1: Complete the table with the comparative and superlative forms of the
adjectives.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

busy ________________ ________________

far ________________ ________________

noisy ________________ ________________

boring ________________ ________________

high ________________ ________________

cheap ________________ ________________

heavy ________________ ________________

early ________________ ________________

little ________________ ________________

much ________________ ________________

fit ________________ ________________

interesting ________________ ________________

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