THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE
The comparative form between the unequal is used to show the
differences or the similarities between just two elements
The superlative form between the
unequal is used to show the differences or the similarities between more than two elements
A) Using short adjectives :
The
short adjectives are the adjectives that have only one or two syllables,
such as :
Bad,
Big, Cheap, Dirty, Hard, Heavy, High, Large, Old, Pretty, Short, Small,
Straight, Tall, Ugly, Young, (...etc).
The comparative form of a short adjective is
given by adding -er to the positive form of the adjective, and the
word -than is used after the adjective or the adverb:
Adj
+ er + than
Example:
- The Everest is
higher than Kilimanjaro.
- This watch is
cheaper than yours.
-. Mike is taller than my
brother
- I study
harder than you do.
The superlative form of a short adjective is given by adding -est
to the positive form of the adjective, and the word-the is used before
the second noun or pronoun
Example:
- The
-
He owns the largest house in the City.
-
She is the tallest in her
class.
-
Jane is the youngest child in
the family.
B) Using long adjectives :
The long adjectives
are the adjectives that have more than two syllables, such as :
Awful, Beautiful, Careful, Comfortable,
Delicious, Difficult, Expensive, Frightening, Handsome, Intelligent,
Interesting, (...ect).
The comparative form of a long adjective is
given by pacing more or less before the
adjectives, and the word than is used after the adjective or
the adverb:
More
+ Adj + than
Less + Adj + than
Examples:
- Sugar is more
expensive than tea.
- Tea is less
expensive than sugar.
- This chair is more
comfortable than mine
The superlative form of a long adjective is
given by placing the most or the least before
the adjective:
The
+ most + Adj....
The + Least + Adj...
Examples:
-The Exorcist is the
most frightening film.
- The donkey is the
least intelligent animal.
- Tom cruise is the most
handsome actor.
NOTE :
1) For all short adjectives
ending in ‘’w’’ make the comparative by adding er to the positive form of the adjective, and est for the superlative.
|
Positive form |
Comparative |
Superlative |
|
Slow |
Slower |
Slowest |
Example:
- She is slower than her sister.
- She is the slowest in her sisters.
2) For all short
adjectives ending in ‘’y’’ change ‘’y’’ by ‘’i’’ and
adding er for the comparative and est for the superlative.
|
Positive form |
Comparative |
Superlative |
|
Easy |
Easier |
Easiest |
|
Pretty |
Prettier |
Prettiest |
|
Happy |
Happier |
Happiest |
|
Funny |
funnier |
funniest |
Example:
- That was funnier
movie than I’ve seen.
- That was the funniest
movie I’ve ever seen.
3) When a short word ends in ‘’a consonant
preceded by vowel ’’, the last consonant is doubled with the
comparative and superlative forms: Examples:
- big bigger the biggest
- hot hotter the hottest
IV) THE COMPARATIVE BETWEEN THE EQUALS :
a) affirmative sentences (equality):
The equality is used to show that something is equal to something else or that those
things have the same characteristics.
The
equality is given by :
Affi.
Sente. + As + Adj + As + noun / pronoun
Affi.
Sente. + As + Adv + As + noun / pronoun
Examples:
-
Stealing is as bad as lying.
-
Our car is as expensive as yours.
- I drive as quickly as you.
b) negative sentences (inequality):
The inequality is used to show that something is not equal to something else or that
those things don’t have the same characteristics.
The
inequality is given by :
Not
As + Adj + Adv + As + noun / pronoun
Not
So + Adj + Adv + As + noun / pronoun
Examples:
-
The
-
Chicken is not as delicious as fish.
-
My car isn't as expensive as yours.
-
My car doesn't go so quickly as yours.
V) SIMILARITIES :
a) Singular subject :
Singular subject + verb + the same as / similar to /
like + noun / pronoun. Examples:
My car is the same as yours.
My car is similar to yours.
My car is like yours.
b) Plural subject :
Plural subject + similar / alike / the same. Examples:
- Those two books are similar.
- They are alike.
- They are the same.
VI) COORDINATE COMPARATIVES :
The coordinate comparative is used to show the compared elements are relayed to
each other. One depends up on to the other.
Examples:
* If the sea is
deep, the fish are big.
* If the sea is deeper, the fish are bigger.
- The deeper the sea is, the bigger the fish are.
- The less people smoke cigarettes, the better it is for the
environment.
VII) IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES :
|
ADJECTIVES |
COMPARATIVES |
SUPERLATIVES |
|
Good / Well |
Better |
The best |
|
Bad |
Worse |
The worst |
|
Little |
Less |
The least |
|
Many / Much |
More |
The most |
|
Far |
Farther / Further |
The farthest / The furthest |
Examples:
-
The best way to travel is by air.
-
This temperature is worse than it
was yesterday.
VIII) DO NOT COMPARE
THESE :
Remember there are some adjectives in English that are
usually not compared, simply because
they are absolute or have no degree of meaning. This is a partial list:
Chief Full Perfect Round Supreme
Dead Last Principal Single Unique
Empty
