46. Comparative And Superlative 3

Comparative and Superlative 3 A.

Comparative of equality

When things being compared have equal characteristics, the comparison of equality is used. Si usa il comparativo di uguaglianza quando due cose o persone hanno uguali caratteristiche. 1. The comparisons of equality using adjectives or adverbs is formed in the following way: Il comparativo di uguaglianza con aggettivi o avverbi va formato nel seguente modo: Affirmative forms: as aggettivo/avverbio

as

George is as tall as his father. Tom doesn’t speak French as well as me. Negative forms: not as aggettivo/avverbio not so aggettivo/avverbio

as as

The wine isn’t as expensive as champagne. Tom doesn’t write so clearly as Sara. The bees are plentiful, but not so common as las summer. He doesn’t run as fast as me. 2. The comparisons of equality using nouns is formed in the following way: Il comparativo di uguaglianza con sostantivi va formato nel seguente modo: Affirmative forms: as much singular noun as many plural nouns

as as

There is as much traffic as yesterday. Tom drinks as much milk as her sister. I have as many books as you. In the classroom, there are as many students as yesterday. Negative forms: not so much not so many

singular noun plural nouns

as as

There is not so much traffic as yesterday. Tom drinks not so much milk as her sister. I have not so many books as you. In the classroom, there are not so many students as yesterday.

3. The comparisons of equality using verbs is formed in the following way: Il comparativo di uguaglianza con verbi va formato nel seguente modo: verbo

as much

as

My aunt earns as much as my uncle. Steve drinks as much as a camel.

Watch out:

Learn the following expressions by heart: as as as as

soon as far as long as well as

non appena fino a/per quanto finché/purché oltre che

Tony will come as soon as possible. This bus goes as far as the city hall. As far as I Know, she is not married. You can take my book as long as you bring it back tomorrow. Carol is intelligent as well as beautiful.

B.

Comparative of Inferiority

The comparative of inferiority is formed in the following way: Il comparativo di uguaglianza va formato nel seguente modo: less fewer

Aggettivi/avverbi/verbi/ sostantivi singolari Sostantivi plurali

than than

This dish is less tasty than I thought. I see them less frequently than I used to. You put less sugar in the coffee than me. I read less now than in the past. There are fewer cars on the roads today. Anyway, the comparative of inferiority isn’t very common in English. Either the comparative of superiority or the negative equality comparative is preferred instead of it. Comunque, il comparativo di minoranza non è molto usato in inglese. Al suo posto si preferisce il comparativo di maggioranza o quello di uguaglianza in negativo. My mother is less old than you think. My mother is younger than you think./ My mother is not so old as you think. Alice is less tall than carol. Alice is shorter than Carol. or Alice is not so tall as Carol.

C.

Superlative (the highest degree in absolute)

If someone or something is so good, bad or exhibits any quality in the highest degree such that no comparison would really be worth it or valid, you need the “absolute superlative”. Il superlativo assoluto indica una qualità nel grado più alto senza il bisogno di un paragone. Very/extremely

Adjective/adverb

Carol is very tall. Alice is very intelligent. Ted is extremely skillful.

*Interactive Exercises

http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.comp.p.htm http://www.better-english.com/grammar/comp2.htm http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english6657.php http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/compare1.html http://claweb.cla.unipd.it/home/scloke/grammar/comparatives_07.html http://www.quia.com/jq/16583.html

*Please note the videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLE5yPZa_Ow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fleok757P90&feature=fvsr