-er-----------------than for comparatives.
-est---------------- in for superlatives.
in other
cases longer forms are preferred, as follows
more ..than
the
most
in
1. spelling of shorter comparatives and
superlatives.
1.1 one syllable adjectives simply ad the
ending to their basic forms,
clean-------------cleaner---------------the cleanes
hard -------------harder----------------the hardest
1.2 when a short adjective contains the group:
fat---------------fatter-----------------the fattest
sad-------------sadder---------------the saddest
thin-------------thinner---------------the thinnest
1.3 whenever the adjective ends in
'-e', it
only adds -r or -st
nice-------------nicer------------------the nicest
late--------------later------------------the latest.
1.4 some two-syllable adjectives end in '-y'
and form their comparative by changing into
'-i' + -er/-est:
tidy------------------tidier---------------the tidiest
busy----------------busier--------------the busiest
but shy------------shyer---------------the shyest
1.5 the following endings in two-syllable adjectives form regular comparatives and superlatives
-er------------clever------------cleverer-------------the cleverest
-le------------humble----------humbler-------------the humblest
-ow-----------narrow----------narrower------------the narrowest
and others as well:
pleasant-------------pleasanter---------------the pleasantest
common-------------commoner---------------the commonest
however, it is safer to use the longer form with 'more' and 'most for 1.5
more humble than-------------the most humble
more pleasant than-----------the most pleasant.
1.6 some adjectives have specific irregular forms. These are the most common:
good---------------better---------------the best
bad-----------------worse--------------the worst
far-------------------farther-------------the farthest
much---------------more --------------the most
many
2. comparison and superlative of longer adjectives.
Some adjectives always use the longer comparison structure:
more ..than
the most in/of
2.1 adjectives of two syllables ending in known suffixes
famous-------------more famous than------------the most famous
careful--------------more careful-------------------the most careful
expensive----------more expensive--------------the most expensive
boring/bored-------more bored/boring----------the most boring/bored
2.2. Most can mean the
largest majority of
'Most doctors recommend not to smoke.'
3. comparatives with '-er and -er'
two comparatives, of any kind, joined by 'and' can convey the idea of increase or decrease. Usually verbs like, GET, GROW or BECOME are used.
My children are getting taller and taller.
Travelling abroad has become MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
4. the + comparative+ the
this structure implies a cause -
effect relationship between both adjectives. It can take place with both short
and long comparatives, either adjectives or adverbs(1)
The faster(1) she walks the thirstier she gets.
The longer he talked, the more interested they looked.
5. intensifiers with the comparative .
a
bit---------------a bit colder than
much--------------much more
interesting
a lot--------------a lot more
careful
5.1. intensifiers with the superlative.
Ex. This is by far the most dangerous mountain
It much the most expensive bit of land in the city.
6. other comparative structures.
These comparative structures are very frequent and should be remembered.
Switzerland is twice as expensive as Spain = more expensive and double.
Boys are three times as likely to have accidents as girls
6.1 the same as/different from
He doesn't earn the same as she ( does )
Or with a verb
Valencia didn't play the same way as they used to
We have a different car from last year
Or
We played in a different way from last year/ differently from last year
7. as .as to indicate the same degree/ not so ..as for lower degree.
Some motorbikes are as expensive as cars
A cat is not so faithful as a dog
7.1. with nouns much
and many becomes necessary.
They haven't got as much oxygen as they think, so they'll have to come down
We need as many blankets as possible for the injured people.
8. AS / LIKE
LIKE is a `preposition and is followed by noun or pronoun:
She's like her mother: always laughing
AS is a conjunction and is followed by a clause with a subject and a verb.
When in Rome do as the Romans do.
9. AS
IF / AS THOUGH.
Both are used in the same way in comparisons. They are followed by a past tense with a present meaning and WERE for the verb 'to be'.
It looks as if it had rained a lot around here.
He looks as if he were the happiest man on earth.
1.Put
the adjectives in brackets into the form which best suits the meaning of the
sentence.
1
That is__________ (incredible) story I have ever heard!
2
It is not always__________ (bright) students who do well in tests.
3
Fibre shirts are harder-wearing, but cotton shirts are much__________ (comfortable),
4
Which is __________(deep), Lake Garda or Lake Iseo ?
5
She is much__________ (self-confident) than she used to be.
6__________
(tall) man in Manresa is a basketball player.
7
I like both of them, but I think Michael is __________(easy) to talk to.
8
Most people are__________ (well off) than their parents were.
9
She has a lot to be thankful for__________________(sad) thing of all is that
she does not realize it.
10
I want to rent a car -__________
(powerful)
one you have.
11
You look a lot__________ (well) than you did last time I
saw
you.
12
There is nothing__________ (irritating) than locking yourself out of your own
house.
13
Both roads lead to the city centre, but the left-hand one is probably a
bit__________ (short) and
__________(direct).
.
14
As I get__________ (old), I notice that the policemen seem to be getting
__________(young)!
15
Nothing could be__________ (fine) than to be in Carolina. (song title)
16
'Is Cambridge __________(old) university in Britain?' 'No, Oxford is about 50
years__________ (old).'
17
If you were__________ (tidy) and __________(well-organized) than you are, you
would not keep losing things.
18
The boys in our school are much__________ (good- looking) and a lot
__________(good) at football than the boys in other schools in the town.
Also
for the following sentences:
1.
Aeroplanes are generally__________ (fast) than helicopters.
2.
Since I bought my car, I have__________ (little) money than I did before.
3.
Pompeu Fabra University is not__________ (old) the Barcelona University.
4.
The weather today is much__________ (warm) than it was yesterday.
5.
I can't babysit for your baby brother. I haven't got__________ (much) patience
as I used to.
6.
Mar's dad bought her a puppy yesterday. It was __________., (good) present she
has ever received.
7.
In England, the name Tom is__________ (common) than the name Wilbur.
8.
The damage was far __________(bad) than we had expected.
9.
Trevor is just __________, (active) Alan in student politics. ,
10.
The new pupil is __________(clever) at English than many of the other pupils
in his class.
11.
I think that is__________ (beautiful) painting I've ever seen.
12.
It looks like there are__________ (few) people at the party than we expected.
13.
Flights to England are__________ (frequent) than flights to China from this
airport.
14.
My sister cooked the__________ (bad) meal I have ever eaten.
15.
Xavier is not__________ (short) his sister.
16.
This gallery is not__________ (interesting) the one we saw in Florence.
17.
My shoes are in__________ (good) condition than yours.
18.
It is .__________ (noisy) in the city centre than it is in the suburbs.
Fill
in the blanks with the superlative form of the adjective in brackets.
1.
London is ___________(large) city
in England
2.
The Alps are__________ (high) mountains in Europe.
3.
According to the map, this is __________ (direct) route to Barcelona.
4.
That was__________ (bad) film I
have ever seen.
5.
I did not enjoy that book. It was__________ (exciting) out of all the books
I've read.
6.
David is__________ (funny) person I know.
7.
The old city of Florence is__________ (interesting) city in Italy.
8.
This is__________ (delicious) spaghetti I have ever eaten.
9.
Your friend is__________ (unpleasant) person I've ever met. I hope I never see
him again.
10. What is__________ (good) way to get to Roger's house? top