Comparative and superlative adjectives presentation

And ADVERBS


Comparatives
Comparatives are used to show the
difference between two objects.

large

larger

The first apple is large.
The second apple is larger than the first.


To make comparative forms of
adjectives some rules must be
followed.


Long – short adjectives
•

words are made of syllables.
Fat
fat= 1 syllable
– Modern mo-dern
= 2 syllables
– Beautiful

Beau-ti-ful

= 3 syllables


1 syllable adjective - SMALL
•

Rule 1. If an adjective
has 1 syllable we add
the ending –er to the
adjective.
– i.e. small + er = smaller than
– i.e. hard + er = harder than

The ant is smaller
than the hippo.


1 syllable adjective that has 1 vowel and ends with a
consonant
FAT

•

Rule 2. you must double
the last consonant and
then ad –er.
i.e. big + er = bigger
than
i.e. fat + er = fatter

than

The elephant is fatter
than the giraffe.


LONG adjectives:
2 - syllable Adjectives end with -y

•

Rule 3. If an adjective
ends with a “y”,
remove the “y” and add
–ier.
i.e. happy –y + ier =
happier than
i.e. funny –y + ier =
funnier than

happy

The girl is happier
than the duck.


LONG adjectives:
2 - syllable Adjectives without – y ending
3 - syllable adjectives that ends with -y
Beautiful

•

Rule 4. add more before
the adjective
i.e. beautiful + more =
more beautiful than
i.e. expensive + more =
more expensive than
i.e. satisfactory + more
= more satisfactory
than

The butterfly is
more beautiful than
the frog.


•Rule 5. There are a few exceptions.
good = better than
bad = worse than
far = farther than
Little = Less than
Many = More than
My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's
cooking


•Remember, when using a comparative you must always follow it with
the word “THAN”.

The Toyota is smaller than the Ford.
The Ford is bigger than the Toyota.
The ant is smaller than the hippo.
The elephant is fatter than the giraffe.
The girl is happier than the duck.
The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.


Modifications of comparatives
•

Comparatives can be modified by the following words: many,
much, very much, far, a little, a bit, a lot, any, no, even, still.

•

That’s even worse than this one.

•

He is a bit taller than me.

•

There are many more guests this year than last year


Equality: as…as
 We use as ... as to say that things are equal or

unequal.
 Our house is as big as yours. = They're the same size.
 It's warmer today.= It isn't as cold as yesterday.
 In a negative sentence we can also use so ... as, but
this is less common than as ... as.
 This flat isn't as big as/so big as our old one.


The same as.
 The result of the match was the same as last year.
Multiplicative words ( twice, three times, etc) are placed in front of the
first as
Your car is twice as fast as my car
This house is three times as large as that house


Superlatives
Superlatives are used to show the
difference between more than two
objects.


Examples
Adjectives

large

larger

largest

The first apple is large.
The second apple is larger than the first.
The third apple is the largest of the three.


•

Rule 1. If an adjective has 1
syllable we add the ending –est to
the adjective.
i.e. small + est = the smallest
i.e. hard + est = the hardest

The ant is the
smallest.


•

Rule 2. If a one syllable adjective
ends with a consonant and its has
one vowel, you must double the
last consonant and ad –est.
i.e. big + est = the biggest
i.e. fat + est = the fattest

The hippo is the
fattest.

•

Rule 3. If an adjective ends with
a “y”, remove the “y” and add –
iest.
i.e. happy –y + iest = the happiest
i.e. funny –y + iest = the funniest

The elephant is the
heaviest.


•

Rule 4. If an adjective has two
syllables or more without a “y”
then add the word “most” before
the word.
• If the adjective ends with a “y”,
you will only add the word
“most” if it has three syllables or
more.
i.e. beautiful + most = the most
beautiful
i.e. expensive + most = the most
expensive
i.e. satisfactory + most = the most
satisfactory

The airplane is
the most
expensive.


• Rule 5. There are a few exceptions.
good = the best
bad = the worst
far = the farthest
•

Little = the least

•

Many = the most

•

My dog is the best dog in the world.


• Remember, when using a superlative you must always precede it
with the word “THE”.

The Toyota is the smallest.
The Ford is the biggest.
Brad Pitt is the most handsome.
The airplane is the most expensive.
Jim Carrey is the funniest.

Some adjectives have two possible forms
of comparison (-er/est and more/most).
positive

comparative

superlative

clever

cleverer / more clever

cleverest / most clever

common

commoner / more common

commonest / most common

likely

likelier / more likely

likeliest / most likely

pleasant

pleasanter / more pleasant

pleasantest / most pleasant

polite

politer / more polite

politest / most polite

quiet

quieter / more quiet

quietest / most quiet

simple

simpler / more simple

simplest / most simple

stupid

stupider / more stupid

stupidest / most stupid

subtle

subtler / more subtle

subtlest / most subtle

sure

surer / more sure

surest / most sure


Choosing comparatives and
superlatives
• Comparative + than:

 This restaurant is nicer than
the Pizza House.
 I had a bigger meal than you.
 The steak is more expensive
than the fish

• Superlative + ever/ (of)
all/ possible, in the
world
 This question is the most
difficult of all.
 August is the wettest month
of the year

 We often use a clause

after a superlative.
 That was the most delicious
meal (that) I've ever eaten.


Forming Comparative and Superlative
Adverbs
LY Adverbs. (adverbs formed from adjectives by adding -ly to
the end)
• we form the comparative and superlative forms with more and
most.
•

Adjective Adverb

Comparative Adverb

Superlative Adverb

quiet

quietly

more quietly

most quietly

careful

carefully more carefully

most carefully

happy

happily

most happily

more happily


Examples
•
•
•
•
•
•

Jeff works more quietly than Steve does.
Jeff works the most quietly of all the students.
Mary drives more carefully than John does.
Of the three drivers, Mary drives the most carefully.
Steve works more happily than he used to.
Mary sings the most happily of all the girls in the gro