Comparing Things

FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Number of syllables : one syllable
Comparative : + -er
Superlative : + -est
Exam: tall > taller > tallest

One syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant: double the final consonant:
Exam :
fat > fatter > fattest
big > bigger > biggest
sad > sadder > saddest

Number of syllables : two syllables
the word ending in: -y, -ly, -ow
the word ending in: -le, -er or -ure
(these common adjectives : handsome, polite, pleasant, common, quiet, etc)
Comparative : + -er OR more + adj
Superlative : + -est OR most + adj
Exam:
happy > happier/more happy > happiest/most happy
yellow > yellower/more yellow > yellowest/most yellow
simple > simpler/more simple > simplest/most simple
tender > tenderer/more tender > tenderest/most tender

Number of syllables : three syllables or more
Comparative : more + adj
Superlative : most + adj
Exam :
important > more important > most important
expensive > more expensive > most expensive

Exam :
a. A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest
b. A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest
c. A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable


IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms:
good > better > best
bad > worse > worst
little > less > least
much > more > most
far > further / farther > furthest / farthest


COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
THE + SUPERLATIVE
'the' is placed before the superlative:
For example:
• He is the richest man in the world.
• That is the biggest crocodile I have ever seen.
• She is the tallest girl in her class.
COMPARATIVE + THAN
To compare the difference between two people, things or events.
Examples:
• Mt. Everest is higher than Mt. Blanc.
• Thailand is sunnier than Norway.
• A car is more expensive than a bicycle.
• Albert is more intelligent than Arthur.
AS + ADJECTIVE + AS
To compare people, places, events or things, when there is no difference, use as + adjective + as:
• Peter is 24 years old. John is 24 years old. Peter is as old as John.
More examples:
• Moscow is as cold as St. Petersburg in the winter.
• Ramona is as happy as Raphael.
• Einstein is as famous as Darwin.
• A tiger is as dangerous as a lion.

NOT AS + ADJECTIVE + AS
Difference can also be shown by using not so/as ...as:
• Mont Blanc is not as high as Mount Everest
• Norway is not as sunny as Thailand
• A bicycle is not as expensive as a car
• Arthur is not as intelligent as Albert

COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY
To show difference: more, less, fewer + than
Examples:
With countable nouns: more / fewer
• Eloise has more children than Chantal.
• Chantal has fewer children than Eloise.
• There are fewer dogs in Cardiff than in Bristol
• I have visited fewer countries than my friend has.
• He has read fewer books than she has.
With uncountable nouns: more / less
• Eloise has more money than Chantal.
• Chantal has less money than Eloise.
• I spend less time on homework than you do.
• Cats drink less water than dogs.
• This new dictionary gives more information than the old one.
So, the rule is:
MORE + nouns that are countable or uncountable
FEWER + countable nouns
LESS + uncountable nouns

To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
• as many as / as few as + countable nouns
• as much as / as little as + uncountable nouns
Examples:
With countable nouns:
• They have as many children as us.
• We have as many customers as them.
• Tom has as few books as Jane.
• There are as few houses in his village as in mine.
• You know as many people as I do.
• I have visited the States as many times as he has.
With uncountable nouns:
• John eats as much food as Peter.
• Jim has as little food as Sam.
• You've heard as much news as I have.
• He's had as much success as his brother has.
• They've got as little water as we have.



EXERCISE :
Quest 1
1) Which sofa should we buy?
2) I need a new watch.
3) Which runner are you cheering for?
4) I like the blue sweater.
5) How much sugar should I add?

Quest 2
1. The Sears Tower in Chicago is (high)…. the Empire State Building in New York.
2. He is (good)…. at maths …. his brother.
3. English is (easy)…. to learn …. Chinese.
4. The river Loire is (long)…. the Seine.
5. Roses are probably (pretty)…. flowers that exist.
6. I did not like his previous film, but I think the new one is even (bad)…..
7. The days are (short)…. in winter.


Answer 1
1) This one is larger, but it is also more expensive.
2) The Classie is nicer than the Timebox ; That one is less affordable though.
3) Sammy. He's the fastest ; But Timmy is the most handsome.
4) I think the red one is better ; but the green one is the best.
5) Only a little ; That's too much!

Answer 1
1. Higher than
2. Better
3. Easier ; than
4. Longer than
5. The prettiest
6. Worse
7. Shorter