Guide Comparatives And Superlatives

Forming regular comparatives and superlatives Adjective form Only one syllable, ending in E.

Comparative

Superlative

Add -R:

Add -ST:

WIDER, FINER, CUTER

WIDEST, FINEST, CUTEST

Double the final consonant, and add -ER:

Double the final consonant, and add -EST:

HOTTER, BIGGER, FATTER

HOTTEST, BIGGEST, FATTEST

Add -ER:

Add -EST:

LIGHTER, NEATER, FASTER

LIGHTEST, NEATEST, FASTEST

Two syllables, ending in –Y.

Change Y to I, then add -ER:

Change Y to I, then add -EST:

HAPPY, SILLY, LONELY

HAPPIER, SILLIER, LONELIER

HAPPIEST, SILLIEST, LONELIEST

Use the word “MORE” before the adjective:

Use the word “MOST” before the adjective:

MORE MODERN, MORE INTERESTING, MORE BEAUTIFUL

MOST MODERN, MOST INTERESTING, MOST BEAUTIFUL

WIDE, FINE, CUTE Only one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at the end. HOT, BIG, FAT Only one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant at the end. LIGHT, NEAT, FAST

Two syllables or more, not ending in Y. MODERN, INTERESTING, BEAUTIFUL

Irregular comparatives and superlatives Adjective form

Comparative

Superlative

GOOD, BAD, FAR .

BETTER, WORSE, FARTHER/FURTHER

BEST, WORST, FARTHEST/FURTHEST

How to use comparatives and superlatives

Comparatives

Comparatives are used to compare two things. You can use sentences with THAN, or you can use a conjunction like BUT. Examples: •

Jiro is taller than Yukio.

•

Yukio is tall, but Jiro is taller.

Superlatives are used to compare more than two things. Superlative sentences usually use THE, because there is only one superlative. Examples:

Superlatives

•

Masami is the tallest in the class.

•

Yukio is tall, and Jiro is taller, but Masami is the tallest.

EXERCISES 1) Give the comparative form for each of the adjectives listed. (Escriba los comparativos correspondientes de los adjetivos de la lista) ADJECTIVE……….COMPARATIVE • interesting …….._more interesting_ • weak …………..___________ • funny ………….___________ • important……… ___________ • careful …………___________ • big ……………..___________ • small…………... ___smaller___ • polluted ………..___________ • boring …………___________ • angry ………….___________ 2) Make new sentences with the adjectives in the list. Follow the sentences below. (Realice oraciones como las de los ejemplos con los adjetivos de la lista) • • •

• • • • • •

Tennis is a more difficult sport than Rugby. (El Tennis es un deporte más difícil que el rugby) I think John is happier now than a year ago. (Yo pienso que John es más feliz ahora que hace un año) Could you open the window, please? It's getting hotter in this room by the minute. (¿Podrías tu abrir la ventana?, por favor. Se está haciendo más caliente en esta habitación cada minuto) Tennis is a more interesting sport than Rugby.

3) Give the superlative form for each of the adjectives listed. (Escriba los superlativos correspondientes de los adjetivos de la lista) ADJECTIVE……….SUPERLATIVE • interesting ………. ___________ • weak ……………..___________ • funny …………….___________ • important………… ___________ • careful ……………_most careful__ • big ………………..___________ • small ……………..___________ • polluted …………..___________ • boring …………….___________ • angry ……………..___________

4) Make new sentences with the adjectives in the list. Follow the sentences below. (Realice oraciones como las de los ejemplos con los adjetivos de la lista) • New York has got to be the most exciting city in the world. (New York ha llegado a ser la ciudad más excitante del mundo) • His biggest desire is to return home. (Su más grande deseo es volver a casa) • She is probably the angriest person I know. (Ella es probablemente la persona más enojona que yo conozco) • • • • • •

New York has got to be the most important city in the world.

5) One sentence has a mistake. Choose the correct sentence. Put √ or X. ( Una oración está incorrecta, escoja la correcta) a)

* Yesterday was more hot than today. * Yesterday was hotter than today.

b)

* She’s taller than her brother. * She’s taller that her brother.

c)

* I’m the most young in the class. * I’m the youngest in the class.

d)

* Last week was busier than this week. * Last week was busyer than this week.

e)

* My homework was the baddest in the class. * My homework was the worst in the class.