Comparatives - introduction

We use the comparative structure to compare two or more things:

• A lion is bigger than a pet cat.
• Gold is more expensive than silver.
• Portugal isn't as big as Spain.
• I speak English better than you.
• A plane travels more quickly than a car.

Comparatives - form

We make the comparative with:
comparative adjective + "than"
or
"not as" + base adjective + "as".

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If we use "as" + adjective + "as" in the positive, it means the two things are the same:

• Anna is as happy as Sue.
• I speak English as well as you.

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Making comparative adjectives

1. For one-syllable adjectives such as: big or sad, we double the final consonant and add "er":
   • bigger
   • sadder
   If the base adjective ends with a double consonant we just add "er":
   • smaller
   • taller
2. For adjectives with two or more syllables we put "more" or "less" before the adjective:
   • more expensive, less expensive
   • more exciting, less exciting
3. For two-syllable adjectives which end with the consonant "y", we take away "y" and add "ier":
   • happier
   • crazier

Irregular comparative adjectives include:

• good – better
• bad – worse

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We can use determiners before comparative adjectives to modify or add emphasis:

• It is much colder in Sweden than in Thailand.
• James is a bit shorter than Susan.
• I get up a lot earlier than my sister.

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the adjective in brackets:
.

1)

A new car is    than an old car. (expensive)

 

2)

Sophie is a    singer than Maria. (good)

 

3)

Maths is    than physics. (easy)

 

4)

A king is    than a doctor. (rich)

 

Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

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Superlatives - introduction

We use the superlative structure to say that something is more than all the others in a group:

• It's the tallest building in the world (no other is taller)
• He's the fastest runner in the race. (no one runs faster)
• She bought the most expensive watch. (the others were all cheaper)
• They are the worst football team. (the other teams are better)
• My mum is the happiest person I know. (I don’t know anyone happier)

Superlatives - form

We make the superlative with: "the" + superlative adjective

Making superlative adjectives

• For one-syllable adjectives such as: big or sad, we double the final consonant and add 'est':
  • biggest
  • saddest
• If the base adjective ends with a double consonant we just add 'est':
  • smallest
  • tallest
• For adjectives with two or more syllables we put 'most' or 'least' before the adjective:
  • most expensive, least expensive
  • most exciting, least exciting
• For adjectives which end with the consonant 'y', we take away 'y' and add 'iest':
  • happiest
  • craziest

Irregular superlative adjectives include:

• good – best
• bad – worst

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the adjective in brackets.
.

1)

Paul is the    singer in the group. (bad)

 

2)

Mrs Smith is the    teacher in the college. (amazing)

 

3)

That man has the    dog on our street. (wild)

 

4)

That is the    movie I have ever seen. (funny)

 

Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

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Further practice

Complete the sentences with the correct answer from a, b, c or d:
.

1)

I think New York is ____ than many other cities.
 

the well-known

well-known

more well-known

the more well-known

 

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2)

I was ____ to arrive at the meeting.
 

earliest than

earliest

the earlier

the earliest

 

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3)

The blue table is ____ the red one.
 

widest than

widest

wider

wider than

 

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4)

Luxembourg ____ Russia.
 

isn't as big as

isn't as big

not as big as

isn't bigger

 

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5)

My room is much ____ yours.
 

tidy than

tidier than

tidier

more tidier than

 

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6)

A dictionary is ____ book to have.
 

the most useful

most useful

more useful

the useful

 

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Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

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Further language point

Sometimes we talk about how something is done and so we use adverbs to describe the verb:

• I run more quickly than Anna.
• Rob speaks Italian more fluently than he speaks German.

• I run the most quickly.
• Rob speaks Italian the most fluently.