CHAPTER 15 COMPARATIVES FORMULA: Equal comparation: S1 + Verb + AS + (short or long) Adj/adv + AS + S2 + (the auxiliary) S1 + Verb + AS MANY + plural count nouns + AS + S2 + (the auxiliary) S1 + Verb + AS MUCH + noncount nouns + AS + S2 + (the auxiliary) Unequal comparation: S1 + Verb + not + AS + (short or long) Adj/adv + AS + S2 + (the auxiliary) S1 + Verb + not + AS MANY + plural count nouns + AS + S2 + (the auxiliary) S1 + Verb + not + AS MUCH + noncount nouns + AS + S2 + (the auxiliary) Comparatives: Short adj/adv: S1 + V + Adj / Adv – ER + THAN + S2 + (the auxiliary) Long adj/adv: S1 + V + MORE + Adj / Adv + THAN + S2 + (the auxiliary) Use LESS / MORE / FEWER + NOUN in comparatives: S1 + VERB + MORE + count or noncount nouns + THAN + S2 + (the auxiliary) S1 + VERB + FEWER + count nouns + THAN + S2 + (the auxiliary) S1 + VERB + LESS + noncount nouns + THAN + S2 + (the auxiliary) Superlatives: in + singular noun Short adj/adv : S1 + V + adj / adv – EST + of + plural noun in + singular noun Long adj/adv : S1 + V + THE MOST + adj / adv + of + plural noun Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms: Adjective / Adverb Comparative Superlative Bad/badly worse the worst Far farther / further the farthest / the furthest Good/well better the best (a) little less the least Much / many more the most MAKING COMPARATIONS : Talking about differences : + Use comparatives with adjectives, adverbs, and nouns to talk about differences between two things (people, objects, ideas, places, or actions.) For example: 1. My father is older than my mother. 2. The new computer runs more smoothly than the old one. 3. There are more cars than buses on the highways. + Use the comparative without THAN when the meaning is clear from the context. For example: She’s a good student, but I think he’s smarter. ( = smarter than she is.) We sang well, but they sang better. Expressing Greater and Lesser degrees: + Use MORE / - ER … THAN shows a larger quantity, degree, or size than something else. Use LESS… THAN shows that something is smaller quantity, degree, or size than something else. For example: More / -er …than Less… than Diamonds are more expensive than rubies. Rubies are less expensive than diamonds. He works more quickly than she does. She works less quickly than he does. + Use MORE + count or noncount nouns to talk about larger quantities. Use FEWER + count nouns and LESS + noncount nouns to talk about smaller quantities. Count Nouns Noncount Nouns Mexico City has more people than Seattle. The Smiths have more money than the Johnsons. Seattle has fewer people than Mexico City. The Johnsons have less money than the Smiths. Changing Situations: + A comparative form can be repeated and joined with AND to show that a situation is changing. This use of the comparative is common with the verbs of change such as GET, BECOME, and GROW, especially in the present continuous. For example: 1. He looks older and older everyday. 2. I have less and less time to study. 3. Taxes are getting higher and higher. 4. Car engines are becoming more and more efficient. EQUAL COMPARATION: AS…AS with Adjectives, Adverbs, and Nouns: AS…AS to talk about similar or equal things: + Use AS…AS with adjectives, adverbs, and nouns to say that two things are equal or similar. For example: 1. My office is as big as his office. 2. The student explained the problem as simply as the teacher. 3. We saved as much money as Gina did. 4. They have as many friends as us. + Use ALMOST, ABOUT, NEARLY before AS…AS to say that two things are close but not quite equal. For example: 1. My office is almost as big as his office. 2. Elena is nearly as tall as Eva. + You can omit the second part of an AS…AS phrase when the meaning is clear from the context. For example: 1. Yes, she’s a good student, but he’s as good. (= as good as she is.) NEGATIVE STATEMENTS WITH AS…AS to talk about differences: + Use negative statements with AS…AS to talk about differences between two things. A negative statement with AS…AS has the same meaning as a comparative sentence with LESS or FEWER. For example: 1. Ken is not as athletic as Tom. ( = Ken is less athletic than Tom.) 2. He didn’t finish as quickly as us. (= He finished less quickly than us.) 3. I don’t have as much energy as they do. (= I have less energy than they do.) 4. He doesn’t know as many students as I do. (= He knows fewer students than I do.) CHAPTER 16 – SUPERLATIVES Comparing Members of a Group : + Use the superlative of adjectives, adverbs, and nouns to compare things in a group – three or more people, objects, places, or actions. For example: 1. Paris was the most interesting city that we visited. 2. I’m the youngest of four children. + Superlative adjectives are often followed by a noun. The noun indicates the thing you are comparing. For example: 1. All the teachers here are good. Ms. Jordan is probably the best. (=the best teacher) + Superlatives are often followed by a prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase indicates the group in the comparation. For example: 1. Who is the richest man in the world? 2. She’s the most popular student in the class. 3. He’s the best actor on TV. + Superlatives are also often followed by clauses. These, too, indicate the group. Often the clauses are in the present perfect with EVER. For example: 1. The Pink Panther is the funniest movie that I’ve ever seen. Emphasizing or Weakening Superlatives: + The prepositional phrase OF ALL gives the superlative more emphasis. It means “of all the people, places, or other things in the group.” For example: 1. I think mountain climbing is the most dangerous sport of all. 2. Everyone made an effort, but John tried the hardest of all. + You can use ONE OF before the superlative of an adjective. ONE OF weakens the superlative because it means that the thing you are talking about is not unique. For example: New York is one of the most famous cities in the world. Using THE MOST, THE LEAST, THE FEWEST: + Use THE MOST or - EST with adjectives and adverbs to show that something is a higher degree, quantity, or size than all the other members of a group. Use THE LEAST to show that something is a lower degree, quantity, or size than all the other members of a group. For example: 1. Diamonds are the most expensive gems in this shop. 2. He’s the richest man in the world. 3. He’s the least talkative of any of our friends. + Use THE MOST with count or noncount nouns to talk about the largest quantities. Use THE FEWEST with count nouns and THE LEAST with noncount nouns to talk about the smallest quantities. Count Nouns Noncount Nouns He made the most mistakes. I had the most trouble with the test. You made the fewest mistakes. She had the least trouble with the test. . continuous. For example: 1. He looks older and older everyday. 2. I have less and less time to study. 3. Taxes are getting higher and higher. 4. Car engines are becoming more and more efficient. EQUAL COMPARATION:. comparative form can be repeated and joined with AND to show that a situation is changing. This use of the comparative is common with the verbs of change such as GET, BECOME, and GROW, especially in. do. (= He knows fewer students than I do.) CHAPTER 16 – SUPERLATIVES Comparing Members of a Group : + Use the superlative of adjectives, adverbs, and nouns to compare things in a group – three