3B students

1st Grammar topic: Comparatives and Superlatives ----------------3B------------------


I) We use (-er) for the comparative of short adjectives and adverbs:

Cheap/cheaper hard/harder large/larger thin/thinner

- This jacket is too small. I need a larger size.
- Ann works harder than most of her friends.

* When the adjectives finish in letter “y”, we remove it and add (- ier):

Lucky/luckier funny/funnier easy/easier

- The exam was easier than we expected.

II) We use (more …) for other two-syllables adjectives and longer adjectives:

More modern more serious more expensive more comfortable

- More expensive hotels are usually more comfortable than cheaper ones.

* We also use (more…) for adverbs which end in (-ly):

More slowly more seriously more quietly more carefully

- Could you speak more slowly, please?

* We also say more often:

- I don’t play tennis much now. I used to play more often.

** But we say earlier (not “more early”):
- You should go to bed earlier.

Adj. ---------- Comp.------------- Super.
GOOD -------- BETTER ----------- (the) BEST
BAD ----------WORSE ----------- (the) WORST


**NOTE: The comparative words more (+) and less (-):

- I smoke more than I used to.
- We’ve got less time than I though.

III) When we want to talk about EQUALITY (as + adjective + as):
- This house is as good as mine.
- A tiger is as dangerous as a lion.

IV) When we want to talk about INEQUALITY (as/so + adjective + as):
- John is not as fat as you.
- Paul is not so thin as him.

V) When we want to talk about INFERIORITY (the least);
- My friend says that he is eating the least delicious dish: salad.


Exercise 1


Complete with the best adjective:

a) The house is …………………………. (comfortable) than the flat.
b) This is ……………………………….. (interesting) book I have ever read.
c) That film is ………………………….. (comic) than the other one.
d) I’ve spent ……………………………. (happy) day of my life.
e) Her illness was ………………………. (serious) today than yesterday.
f) Those guys are the …………………… (tall) I’ve seen in all my life.
g) A bird is …………………………….. (small) than a monkey.

-- Next week I'll post the answers.