Adjectives

Comparative/superlative
Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two
things. The two basic ways to compare are using as .. as or than.
Examples of each are shown below:
She's twice as old as her sister.
He's not as stupid as he loos!
"'m almost as good in maths as in science.
This boo is not as exciting as the last one.
The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual.
#ussian is not $uite as difficult as Chinese.
This computer is better than that one.
She's stronger at chess than " am.
"t's much colder today than it was yesterday.
%ur car is bigger than your car.
This grammar topic is easier than most others.
" find science more difficult than mathematics.
Today's ES& lesson was more interesting than usual.
'hen comparing with as .. as( the ad)ective does not change. 'hen
comparing with than( however( some changes are necessary(
depending on the number of syllables the ad)ective has:
1-syllable adjectives: add -er to the ad)ective
*y sister is much taller than me.+
"t's colder today than it was yesterday.
,ote: "f the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant( then the last consonant is
usually doubled in the comparative. Examples: big-bigger, fat-fatter, hot-hotter.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -ier
She's looing happier today.
This grammar topic is easier than the last one.
'hy is everyone else luckier than me- +
.eware: /o not confuse ad)ectives and adverbs. 01syllable adverbs ending in -
y must be compared with the word more. Example: I drive more quickly (quicklier)
than my brother.
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use more with the unchanged
ad)ective
The shops are always more croded )ust before Christmas.
"s there anything more boring than reading about grammar-
*y sister is more care!ul with her writing than " am with mine.
,ote: The comparative of some shorter 01syllable ad)ectives can be formed with -
er. Examples:simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be sure which
comparative method to use( you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives ith " or more syllables: use more with the
unchanged ad)ective
#ussian grammar is more di!!icult than English grammar.
*y sister is much more intelligent than me.+
" find maths lessons more enjoyable than science lessons.
The older you get( the more irritating you become.
"n the superlative you tal about one thing only and how it is the
best( worst( etc. 2ou do not compare two things. The following
guidelines apply to the superlative:
1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the ad)ective 3plus the4
*y sister is the tallest in our family.
2esterday was the coldest day of the year so far.
,ote: "f the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant( then the last consonant is
usually doubled in the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -
iest 3plus the4
The richest people are not always the happiest.
'hich do you thin is the easiest language to learn-
She's the luckiest person " now.
.eware: /o not confuse ad)ectives and adverbs. 01syllable adverbs ending in -
y form their superlative with the words the most. Example: Of all the people I know
my father drives the most quickly (quickliest).
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the unchanged
ad)ective
#he most boring thing about ES& class is doing grammar
exercises.
*y sister is the most care!ul person " now.
,ote: The superlative of some shorter 01syllable ad)ectives can be formed with -er.
Examples:simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure which
superlative method to use( you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives ith " or more syllables: use the most with the
unchanged ad)ective
Some people thin that #ussian is the most di!!icult language.
5lbert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history.
*y most enjoyable class is English.
2ou are the most irritating person " have ever met!
6ollowing are two common irregular comaparative7superlative forms:
good1better1the best
bad1worse1the worst
The following guidelines apply to the comparativesuperlative of
most adverbs:
1-syllable adverbs: add -er/-est
" can run !aster than you. 7 " can run the !astest in my class.
She wors harder than me.+ 7 She wors the hardest of all
students.
Other adverbs: use more / the most8
She ran more $uickly than me.+ 7 %f all the students she
ran the most $uickly
Exercises:
1. Complete the chart with the comparatives and superlatives:

Adjective Comparative Superlative
long longer than the longest
fast faster than _________________
pretty _______________ the prettiest
beautiful more beautiful than __________________
ugly uglier than ___________________
thin _________________ the thinnest
fashionable more fashionable than ___________________

2. Write the comparative:
a. old older
b. strong __________________
c. happy ___________________
d. modern ____________________
e. important ____________________
. Complete the sentences with a superlative:
a. !his building is very old. "t#s the oldest building in the town.
b. "t was a very happy day. "t was ___________________________of my
life.
c. "t#s a very good film. "t#s __________________________________ "#ve
seen.
d. "t was a very bad mista$e. "t was _____________________________ in
my life.
e. "t was a very cold day. "t was ______________________________of the
year.
f. She#s a popular singer. She#s ______________________________in the
country.
g. %e#s a very boring person. %e#s ______________________________ "
$now.
h. !his house is very big. "t is ________________________________ "#ve
lived in.
i. &y cousin is very tall. %e is __________________________________
" have.
j. 'aura is a very pretty girl. She is _______________________________"
$now.
(. Choose the correct answer:
a. !om#s car is as big as ) the biggest his friend#s.
b. *ho is shorter than ) the shortest person in your family+
c. *ho is more independent than ) the most independent person you $now+
d. !hese sofas are more comfortable than ) the most comfortable ours.
e. &y brother is taller than ) the tallest in the class.
f. "s ,ason#s dog older than ) the oldest yours+
g. *ho is the best ) better than singer in the world+