Comparatives and superlatives.

Use • We use comparative adjectives and adverbs to compare things or people that are different and separate from each other.

• We use superlative adjectives and adverbs to compare one member of a group with the whole group.

Formation Adverbs type of adverb

adverb

comparative

superlative

regular adverbs

slowly

more/less + adverb more slowly

most/least + adverb most slowly

Irregular adverbs

early late far fast hard well badly often

earlier later further/farther faster harder better worse more often

earliest latest furthest/farthest fastest hardest best worst most often

Adjectives Type of adjective

adjective

comparative

superlative

Regular adjectives with one syllable

old

+ -er older

+ -est oldest

Regular adjectives with one syllable (ending in vowel + consonant)

big

double final letter + -er bigger

double final letter + -est biggest

Regular adjectives with two syllables ending in -y

happy

replace -y with -ier happier

replace -y with -iest happiest

Other regular adjectives with two or more syllables

comfortable

more/less + adjective more comfortable

most/least + adjective most comfortable

Irregular adjectives/quantifiers

good bad far little much many

better worse further less more more

best worst furthest least most most

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To compare two or more things that are similar or the same, we can use as + adjective/adverb + as.

We can also use the negative form of this: not as + adjective/adverb + as

Examples. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

This coffee is very weak. I like it a bit stronger. It’s cheaper to go by train than by plane. Going by plane is more expensive than going by train. I want a bigger flat. We don’t have enough space here. You hardly ever phone me. Why don’t you phone me more often? Health and happiness are more important than money. What is the longest river in the world? It was the most boring film I’ve ever seen. That’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard. It’s a very good room. It is the best room in the hotel. It was an awful day. It was the worst day of my life  I didn’t want to wake anybody, so I came in as quietly as I could. I like to keep fit, so I go swimming as often as I can. Richard isn’t as old as he looks. (= he looks older than he is) Jenny didn’t do as well in the exam as she had hoped. (= she had hoped to do better) I’m sorry I’m late. I got here as fast as I could.

Exercises. 1. I was feeling tired last night, so I went to bed ……… usual.

5. Your work isn't very good. I'm sure you can do ………. 6. There were a lot of people on the bus. It was ……………… usual. 7. You're talking very loudly. Can you speak ………? 8. You're standing too near the camera. Can you move a bit ……… away? 9. You look ………. Have you lost weight? 10. It's a pity you live so far away. I wish you lived ……….

11. Our hotel was ……… than all the others in the town. We stayed at ………… hotel in the town. (cheap) 12. What's ……… country in the world? (small) 13. What is ………… actor in your country? (popular) 14. Everest is ………… mountain in the world. It is ……… than any other mountain. (high) 15. We had a great holiday. It was one of ………… holiday we've ever had. (enjoyable) 16. It's a very cheap café. It's …………… café in the town. 17. It's a very valuable painting. It's ……… painting in the gallery. 18. He's a very good player. He's one of ……… players in the team. 19. Sue and Kevin have got three children. ……… is 20 years old. 20. This is ……… dish I've ever tasted.

21. Lisa is quite tall, but Jane is taller. Lisa is not ………… Jane. 22. It's still cold, but it was colder yesterday. It isn't ……… it was yesterday. 23. Our neighbours have lived here for a long time, but we've lived here longer. Our neighbours haven't lived here ………. 24. The station was nearer than I thought. The station wasn't ……… I thought. 25. I know them better then you do. You don't know them ……….

Keys. 1. earlier than. 2. longer, than, as long as, the longest, of. 3. more dirty than a dog, less friendly than a dog, more intelligent than a rat, as noisy as a dog. 4. bigger than, smaller than, as big as, smallest of. 5. better. 6. more crowded than. 7. more quietly. 8. further/farther. 9. thinner. 10. nearer. 11. cheaper, the cheapest. 12. the smallest. 13. the most popular. 14. the highest , higher than. 15. the most enjoyable. 16. the cheapest. 17. the most valuable. 18. the best. 19. the oldest/the eldest. 20. the most delicious. 21. as tall as. 22. as cold as. 23. as long as us/as long as we have. 24. as far as. 25. as well as me/as well as I do.

Created by Kotova Anastasia