COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES AND EXERCISES

COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES 1. COMPARATIVES WITH er: one syllable words (i.e. Fast faster) twosyllable words ending in y (i.e. Early earlier) IMP. words ending in e add only r (i.e. Late – later) WITH more or less: other twosyllable words (i.e. More modern) words of more than two syllables (i.e. More interesting) − WORDS WITH 2 POSSIBILITIES: − some twosyllable words are used with either – er or more (i.e. Clever, common, narrow, simple) − IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES: − elder – cannot be used to make a comparison – This is my elder sister − furtherfarther – meaning more far – How much furtherfarther do we have to go? − Further – meaning more – I cant really advise you any further. − Good – better – best − Bad – worse – worst − COMPARATIVES WITH ADVERBS − They are normally made with more and less (more quickly – less carefully) − Some adverbs (not formed from adjectives) have a comparative with er (i.e. Faster, harder) − MAKING COMPARISONS − with THAN – food here is more expensive than I thought − with NOT ASSO …. AS – Being a teacher is not as interesting as being a translator. − With JUST AS … AS – Living in the country is just as expensive as living in London. − MAKING COMPARISONS STRONGER − we can use these words: MUCH – FAR – A LOT – A LITTLE (i.e. This book is muchfara lota little more expensive) 2. SUPERLATIVES........EXERCISES AND ANWERS

COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

1 COMPARATIVES

- WITH -er:

- one syllable words (i.e Fast - faster)

- two-syllable words ending in -y (i.e Early - earlier)

IMP words ending in -e add only -r (i.e Late – later)

- WITH more or less:

- other two-syllable words (i.e More modern)

- words of more than two syllables (i.e More interesting)

− WORDS WITH 2 POSSIBILITIES:

− some two-syllable words are used with either – er or more (i.e Clever, common, narrow, simple)

− IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES:

− elder – cannot be used to make a comparison – This is my elder sister

− further/farther – meaning more far – How much further/farther do we have to go?

− Further – meaning more – I can't really advise you any further

− Good – better – best

− Bad – worse – worst

− COMPARATIVES WITH ADVERBS

− They are normally made with more and less (more quickly – less carefully)

− Some adverbs (not formed from adjectives) have a comparative with -er (i.e Faster, harder)

− MAKING COMPARISONS

− with THAN – food here is more expensive than I thought

− with NOT AS/SO … AS – Being a teacher is not as interesting as being a translator

− With JUST AS … AS – Living in the country is just as expensive as living in London

− MAKING COMPARISONS STRONGER

− we can use these words: MUCH – FAR – A LOT – A LITTLE (i.e This book is much/far/a lot/a little more expensive)

2 SUPERLATIVES

− THEY FOLLOW THE SAME RULES:

− the latest

− the earliest

− the most modern

1 Put one suitable word in each space:

- My brother is two years older me

- The train takes just long as the bus

- I’ve never tasted such delicious apples these

- I thought the second hotel we stayed in was more friendly

- Unfortunately we are well-off than we used to be

- Marion doesn’t feel so happy there she did at first

- Do you think you could make a less noise?

- These exercises seem to getting harder and

- Jean doesn’t need as much help as Harry

- David didn’t enjoy the match as much as I

2 Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

- Jill can run faster than Peter

Peter

- I thought this journey would last longer than it did

This journey didn’t

- I didn’t arrive as early as I expected

I arrived

- You are working too slowly

You’ll have to

- I have a brother who is older than me

I have an

- Martin thought the second part of the film was more interesting

Martin didn’t think the first

- Paula’s work is less careful than before

Paula has been working

- There aren’t any trains earlier than this one

This is

- All other pubs are further away

This pub

- Is this the best price you can offer?

Can’t you

3 Complete each sentence by choosing the most suitable word or phrase:

- I really think that apologising is you can do

a not as much as b A little c The least d As far as

- I can’t stand this weather It’s getting

a more and more b Worse and worse c Coldest and coldest d Further and further

- Although Brenda came last, everyone agreed she had her best

- I wish Charles worked as hard as Mary

- The more you water this plant, the it will grow

a best b Tall c Wetter d Faster

- From now on, we won’t be able to go out as much as we

- I’ve never owned independent cat as this one

a a more than b Such an c A so d As much an

- Brian has been working since he was promoted

a much harder b As harder c Just as hardly d More hardly

- I’ve been feeling lately, doctor

a such a b The most c More and more d Much

- This exercise will give us practice

a farther b Much more c As better d A lot

4 Put one suitable word in each space, beginning with the letter given:

- Is William feeling any b today?

- Everyone ate a lot, but Chris ate the m

- What’s the l news about the situation in India?

- I’d feel a lot h if you let me help

- Graham has been sinking d into debt lately

- It’s 35 degrees today! It must be the h day so far this year

- Only £45? Is that all? Oh well, it’s b than nothing

- I’ll have to wait a f two months before I get my promotion

- Ruth wore her b dress to her sister’s wedding

- Harry has got over the w of his cold

5 Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same:

- That’s the best meal I’ve ever eaten

I’ve never eaten

- Fish and meat are the same price in some countries

Fish cost just

- I’ve never enjoyed myself so much

I’ve never had

- If you run a lot, you will get fitter

The more

- The doctor can’t see you earlier than Wednesday I’m afraid

Wednesday

- I must have a rest I can’t walk any more

I must have a rest I can’t go

- Home computers used to be much more expensive

Home computers aren’t

- I don’t know as much Italian as Sue does

Sue knows

- I thought that learning to drive would be difficult, but it isn’t

Learning to drive is

- Barbara can skate just as well as John can

John isn’t

6 Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word given in capitals, and so that the meaning stays the same The word cannot be changed in any way.

Your car _ did.

- I’m not as good at maths as you are BETTER

You _ I am.

- Keith is slightly taller than Nigel LITTLE

Keith Nigel.

- Bill was growing angrier all the time AND

Bill _ angrier.

- Sally tried as hard as she could DID

Sally best.

- I thought this film would be better AS

This film I expected.

- This is the bumpiest road I’ve ever driven along! SUCH

I've never road.

The _ you get.

- George said he couldn’t do any better COULD

George said it do.

- This year’s exam and last year’s exam were equally difficult JUST

This year's exam last year's exam.

7 Look carefully at each line Some lines are correct, but some have a word which should not be there Tick each correct line If a line has a word which should not be there, write the word in the space.

Transport Solutions

First of all, walking is obviously the cheapest correct

means of travelling, and can be the quicker the

in a city centre Of course, the further you have ….

to go, the more so tired you will become ….

In some ways walking is more healthier than ….

travelling by bus or car, but it can be just as the ….

unhealthy because cities are the much more ….

polluted than they used to be Cars are faster ….

of course and more than convenient, but as cities ….

become more of crowded, parking is getting ….

harder Sometimes public transport is better, ….

even though buses don't go as fast as cars do it ….

Cars are a lot more and convenient but as they ….

cause most pollution, it is better to avoid ….

using them if possible In a city the fastest way ….

of travelling is on a bike, which keeps you fitter ….

and is not so that noisy as a motorbike or a car ….

KEY:

1 than/as/as/much/less/as/little/harder/does/did

2 Peter can't run as fast as Jill/This journey didn't last as long as I thought it would/ I arrived later than I expected/You'll have to work harder-faster/ I have an elder brother/ Martin didn't think the first part of the film was as interesting/ Paul has been working less carefully than before/ This is the earliest train/ This pub is the nearest/ Can't you offer a better price?

3 C/B/A/D/D/C/B/A/C/B

4 better/most/latest/happier/deeper/hottest/better/further/best/worst

5 I've never eaten a better meal/ Fish costs just as much as meat in some countries/ I0ve never had such a good time/ The more you run, the fitter you will get/ Wednesday is the earliest the doctor can see you, I'm afraid/ I must have a rest, I can't go (on) any further/ Home computers aren't as expensive as they used to be/ Sue knows more Italian than I do/ Learning to drive isn't as difficult as I thought it would be – is easier than I thought it would be/ John isn't a better skater than Barbara.

6 Cost less than mine/ are better at maths than / is a little taller than / was growing angrier and/ did her/ isn't – wasn't as good as/ driven along such a bumpy/ more you eat, the fatter/ was the best he could/ was just as difficult as

7 correct/ so/ more/ the/ the/ correct/ than/ of/ correct/ it/ and/ the/ correct/ correct/ that