Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Comparative and Superlative

FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Using the comparative of adjectives in English is quite easy once you have understood the few simple rules that govern them.
Below you will find the rules with examples for each condition.
If you are not sure what a syllable or a consonant is - have a look here.
big, bigger, biggest

Rules

Number of syllables Comparative Superlative (see rule)
one syllable + -er + -est
tall taller tallest
one syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant: double the final consonant:
fat fatter fattest
big bigger biggest
sad sadder saddest
Number of syllables Comparative Superlative
two syllables + -er OR more + adj + -est OR most + adj
ending in: -y, -ly, -ow
ending in: -le, -er or -ure
these common adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common, quiet
happy happier/ more happy happiest/ most happy
yellow yellower/ more yellow yellowest/ most yellow
simple simpler/ more simple simplest/ most simple
tender tenderer/ more tender tenderest/ most tender
If you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST +
Note: Adjectives ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky etc:. replace the -y with -ier or -iest in the comparative and superlative form
busy busier busiest
Number of syllables Comparative Superlative
three syllables or more more + adj most + adj
important more important most important
expensive more expensive most expensive

Examples

  • A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest
  • A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest
  • A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable
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  • IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

    These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms:
    Adjective Comparative Superlative
    good
    better best
    bad
    worse worst
    little
    less least
    much
    more most
    far
    further / farther furthest / farthest
     
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  • NOT AS + ADJECTIVE + AS

    Difference can also be shown by using not so/as ...as:

    Examples

    • Mont Blanc is not as high as Mount Everest
    • Norway is not as sunny as Thailand
    • A bicycle is not as expensive as a car
    • Arthur is not as intelligent as Albert


    COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY

    To show difference: more, less, fewer + than
    To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as


    COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY

    To show difference: more, less, fewer + than

    Examples:

    With countable nouns: more / fewer
    • Eloise has more children than Chantal.
    • Chantal has fewer children than Eloise.
    • There are fewer dogs in Cardiff than in Bristol
    • I have visited fewer countries than my friend has.
    • He has read fewer books than she has.
    With uncountable nouns: more / less
    • Eloise has more money than Chantal.
    • Chantal has less money than Eloise.
    • I spend less time on homework than you do.
    • Cats drink less water than dogs.
    • This new dictionary gives more information than the old one.

    So, the rule is:

    MORE + nouns that are countable or uncountable
    FEWER + countable nouns
    LESS + uncountable nouns


    COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY

    Rules

    To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
    • as many as / as few as + countable nouns
    • as much as / as little as + uncountable nouns

    Examples:

    With countable nouns:
    • They have as many children as us.
    • We have as many customers as them.
    • Tom has as few books as Jane.
    • There are as few houses in his village as in mine.
    • You know as many people as I do.
    • I have visited the States as many times as he has.
    With uncountable nouns:
    • John eats as much food as Peter.
    • Jim has as little food as Sam.
    • You've heard as much news as I have.
    • He's had as much success as his brother has.
    • They've got as little water as we have.




     

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