ADJECTIVE COMPARISONS

ADJECTIVE
COMPARISONS


Comparisons are used to compare only two
things. There are three different structures
to use for comparisons:
1. If the adjective is one syllable (tall), add
-er (taller).
2. If the adjective is two syllables and ends
with -y (busy), change the y to i and then
add -er (busier).
3. If the adjective is two syllables or more
(handsome/expensive), put more before it
(more handsome/more expensive).


If the people or things being
compared are used in the sentence,
put than after the comparative form
(taller than/busier than/more
expensive than).
Superlatives are used to compare
three or more things:
1. If the adjective is one syllable
(tall), add -est (tallest). Also put the
before it (the tallest).


2. If the adjective is two syllables
and ends with -y (busy), change the y

to i and then add -est (busiest). Also
put the before it (the busiest).
3. If the adjective is two syllables or
more (handsome/expensive), put the
most before it (the most
handsome/the most expensive).


STRATEGIES FOR ADJECTIVE
COMPARISON ITEMS
ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

 Is it a comparison of two things? If
so, is than used?
INCORRECT [He seems more
qualified then he is.]
CORRECT
He seems more
qualified than he is.


 Is it a comparison of more than two
things? If so, does the precede the adjective?
INCORRECT [Our company submitted
highest bid]
CORRECT Our company submitted the
highest bid.
 Are two equal things being compared? If
so, is as + adjective + as being used?
INCORRECT [They are not experienced as

they could be]
CORRECT They are not as experienced as
they could be.


 Is there an irregular adjective form? If so,
be sure to memorize it.
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES COMPARATIVE FORMS

SUPERLATIVE FORMS

good
better
best
bad
worse
worst
far
farther, further farthest, furthest
little
less
least
many, much more
most
INCORRECT [This is the good evaluation
I’ve ever gotten.]
CORRECT This is the best evaluation I’ve
ever gotten.

1. His last (A) test results
showed he was the quickest
(B) typist, yet he was the less
(C) accurate of all (D) the
applicants.


Yet (conj.) despite what has
just been said
SYN  Nevertheless:
Ex: It’s a small car, yet it’s
surprisingly spacious.


Accurate (adj.) correct and
true in every detail:
an accurate description /
account / calculation


Applicant (for sth) a person
who makes a formal request
for sth (= applies for it),
especially for a job, a place at
a college or university, etc.:
Ex: There were over 500
applicants for the job.


2. Best (A) available

predictions in some of the
most widely read (B) trade
papers indicate better (C)
days are ahead for the top (D)
manufacturers.


Prediction a statement that
says what you think will
happen; the act of making
such a statement:
Ex: Not many people agree
with the government’s
prediction that the economy
will improve.


To indicate to show that sth is
true or exists:
Ex: Record profits in the
retail market indicate a boom
in the economy.


Manufacturer (n) a person or
company that produces goods
in large quantities
SYN  maker:
a car / computer
manufacturer

3. Our most promising (A)
employee seems more cooperative
(B) now she (C) was when she was
younger (D).


Promising (adj.) showing signs
of being good or successful


4. Almost everyone has heard
the more famous (A) Olympic
saying: “Stronger (B), Higher
(C), Faster (D).”


5. The new (A) employees
enjoyed their first (B) day at
work, although everyone
agreed that (C) the lunch was
the bad (D) food they had ever
eaten.


6. Even though their first (A)
proposal was considered
better (B) and more thorough
(C), it wasn’t complete as (D)

ours.


Proposal (for sth) | Proposal
(to do sth) | Proposal (that … )
a formal suggestion or plan;
the act of making a
suggestion:
to submit / consider / accept / 
reject a proposal


Thorough (adj.) doing things
very carefully and with great
attention to detail:
She’s very thorough


7. We like to take our
preferred (A) clients to that
newly opened (B) Middle
Eastern restaurant where the
service is best than (C)
average and the food is superb
(D).


Superb (adj.) excellent; of
very good quality

8. The latest (A) addition to
our company, Ms. Nakamura,
attended one of the wellest (B)
known universities, had some
of the most famous (C)
business instructors, and
scored among the highest (D)
in her graduating class.