Comparative and Superlative

Comparative & Comparative & superlative superlative Comparative adjs Comparative adjs  When we compare When we compare 2 2 things, we things, we often use the often use the comparative comparative forms of adjs or advs. E.g. forms of adjs or advs. E.g.  5 + 5 is great 5 + 5 is great er er than than 6 + 3. 6 + 3.  A Rolls Royce car is much A Rolls Royce car is much less less expensive expensive than a Ford Focus. than a Ford Focus. Superlative adjs Superlative adjs  When we compare When we compare more than 2 more than 2 things, we often use the things, we often use the superlative superlative forms. E.g. forms. E.g.  A Jumbo Jet (Boeing 747) is A Jumbo Jet (Boeing 747) is the the largest largest passenger plane in the passenger plane in the world. world.  That was That was the best meal the best meal I've I've ever eaten. ever eaten. Useful expressions Useful expressions  Comparing 2 things: Comparing 2 things:  . . much/far/a lot much/far/a lot greater greater than than  . . a bit/a little more/less a bit/a little more/less expensive expensive than than . .  Comparing Comparing more than 2 more than 2 things: things:  . the (largest) . the (largest) in the world, in the in the world, in the class, in the group, of all class, in the group, of all  . the (best) that . the (best) that I have ever I have ever eaten/seen/drunk/tried . eaten/seen/drunk/tried . Practice: A or B Practice: A or B  1. John is 20. Peter is 21. John is . 1. John is 20. Peter is 21. John is .  A. younger than Peter. A. younger than Peter.  B. youngest than Peter. B. youngest than Peter.  A A  2. Frank's car = 20 kilometers per liter. 2. Frank's car = 20 kilometers per liter. Billy's motorbike = 80 kilometers per Billy's motorbike = 80 kilometers per liter. Billy's motorbike is . liter. Billy's motorbike is .  A. more economical than Frank's car. A. more economical than Frank's car.  B. most economical than Frank's car. B. most economical than Frank's car.  A A  3. Frank's watch = £99.99. 3. Frank's watch = £99.99. Sarah's watch = £49.99. Billy's Sarah's watch = £49.99. Billy's watch = £9.99. Billy's watch is . watch = £9.99. Billy's watch is .  A. the less expensive of the A. the less expensive of the three. three.  B. the least expensive of the B. the least expensive of the three. three.  B B Forming Comparative & Superlative Forming Comparative & Superlative Adjs Adjs  1. Adjs with 2 syllables ending in a 1. Adjs with 2 syllables ending in a consonant sound consonant sound  Consonants in English are the letters Consonants in English are the letters b, b, c, d, f, g c, d, f, g & so on. When we say adjs like & so on. When we say adjs like handso handso m m e e and and distan distan t t , they end in a , they end in a consonant sound consonant sound . .  Normal comparative Normal comparative : : more more (or (or less less ) ) + + adjective adjective  Normal superlative Normal superlative : : most most (or (or least least ) ) + + adjective adjective  E.g. E.g.  handsome --> handsome --> more more handsome --> handsome --> most most handsome handsome  distant --> distant --> more more distant --> distant --> most most distant distant 2. Adjs with 2 syllables ending in a 2. Adjs with 2 syllables ending in a vowel sound vowel sound  Vowels in English are the letters Vowels in English are the letters a, e, i, a, e, i, o, u, o, u, and sometimes and sometimes y y . When we say . When we say adjs like adjs like handso handso m m e e and and distan distan t t , they , they end in a end in a consonant sound consonant sound . .  Normal comparative Normal comparative : Adjective + : Adjective + er er  Normal superlative Normal superlative : Adjective + : Adjective + est est  Examples: Examples:  slow --> slow slow --> slow er er --> slow --> slow est est  busy --> bus busy --> bus ier ier --> bus --> bus iest iest  Spelling Spelling : Sometimes an adj ends in : Sometimes an adj ends in consonant + y consonant + y , e.g., busy: , e.g., busy:  change the change the y y to to ier, ier, for example: busy for example: busy --> bus --> bus ier ier 3. Adjectives with 3 syllables or 3. Adjectives with 3 syllables or more more  Comparative Comparative : : more more (or (or less less ) ) + + adjective adjective  Superlative Superlative : : the most the most (or (or least least ) ) + adjective + adjective 4. Irregular forms 4. Irregular forms  There are 3 common adjs - There are 3 common adjs - good good , , bad bad and and far far - with - with irregular irregular comparative and comparative and superlative forms: superlative forms:  good --> good --> better better --> --> best best  bad --> bad --> worse worse --> --> worst worst  far --> far far --> far ther ther or fur or fur ther ther --> --> far far thest thest or fur or fur thest thest . adjs - good good , , bad bad and and far far - with - with irregular irregular comparative and comparative and superlative forms: superlative forms:  good. like handso handso m m e e and and distan distan t t , they end in a , they end in a consonant sound consonant sound . .  Normal comparative Normal comparative