THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE
The verb to compare means to tell apart, to distinguish, or to make the difference between.
The comparative form between the unequal is used to show the differences or the similarities between just two elements
The superlative form between the unequal is used to show the differences or the similarities between more than two elements
A) Using short adjectives :
The short adjectives are the adjectives that have only one or two syllables, such as :
Bad, Big, Cheap, Dirty, Hard, Heavy, High, Large, Old, Pretty, Short, Small, Straight, Tall, Ugly, Young, (...etc).
The comparative form of a short adjective is given by adding -er to the positive form of the adjective, and the word -than is used after the adjective or the adverb:
Adj + er + than
Example:
- The Everest is higher than Kilimanjaro.
- This watch is cheaper than yours.
-. Mike is taller than my brother
- I study harder than you do.
The superlative form of a short adjective is given by adding -estto the positive form of the adjective, and the word-the is used before the second noun or pronoun
Example:
- The
- He owns the largest house in the City.
- She is the tallest in her class.
- Jane is the youngest child in the family.
B) Using long adjectives :
The long adjectivesare the adjectives that have more than two syllables, such as :
Awful, Beautiful, Careful, Comfortable, Delicious, Difficult, Expensive, Frightening, Handsome, Intelligent, Interesting, (...ect).
The comparative form of a long adjective is given by pacing more or less before the adjectives, and the word than is used after the adjective or the adverb:
More + Adj + than
Less + Adj + than
Examples:
- Sugar is moreexpensive than tea.
- Tea is lessexpensive than sugar.
- This chair is morecomfortable than mine
The superlative form of a long adjective is given by placing the most or the least before the adjective:
The + most + Adj....
The + Least + Adj...
Examples:
-The Exorcist is the most frightening film.
- The donkey is the least intelligent animal.
- Tom cruise is the mosthandsome actor.
NOTE :
1) For all short adjectives ending in ‘’w’’ make the comparative by adding er to the positive form of the adjective, and est for the superlative.
Positive form | Comparative | Superlative |
Slow | Slower | Slowest |
Example:
- She is slower than her sister.
- She is the slowest in her sisters.
2) For all shortadjectives ending in ‘’y’’ change ‘’y’’ by ‘’i’’ and adding er for the comparative and est for the superlative.
Positive form | Comparative | Superlative |
Easy | Easier | Easiest |
Pretty | Prettier | Prettiest |
Happy | Happier | Happiest |
Funny | funnier | funniest |
Example:
- That was funniermovie than I’ve seen.
- That was the funniestmovie I’ve ever seen.
3) When a short word ends in ‘’a consonantpreceded by vowel ’’, the last consonant is doubled with the comparative and superlative forms: Examples:
- big bigger the biggest
- hot hotter the hottest
IV) THE COMPARATIVE BETWEEN THE EQUALS :
a) affirmative sentences (equality):
The equality is used to show that something is equal to something else or that those things have the same characteristics.
The equality is given by :
Affi. Sente. + As + Adj + As + noun / pronoun
Affi. Sente. + As + Adv + As + noun / pronoun
Examples:
- Stealing is as bad as lying.
- Our car is as expensive as yours.
- I drive as quickly as you.
b) negative sentences (inequality):
The inequality is used to show that something is not equal to something else or that those things don’t have the same characteristics.
The inequality is given by :
Not As + Adj + Adv + As + noun / pronoun
Not So + Adj + Adv + As + noun / pronoun
Examples:
- The
- Chicken is not as delicious as fish.
- My car isn't as expensive as yours.
- My car doesn't go so quickly as yours.
V) SIMILARITIES :
a) Singular subject :
Singular subject + verb + the same as / similar to / like + noun / pronoun. Examples:
My car is the same as yours.
My car is similar to yours.
My car is like yours.
b) Plural subject :
Plural subject + similar / alike / the same. Examples:
- Those two books are similar.
- They are alike.
- They are the same.
VI) COORDINATE COMPARATIVES :
The coordinate comparative is used to show the compared elements are relayed to each other. One depends up on to the other.
Examples:
* If the sea is deep, the fish are big.
* If the sea is deeper, the fish are bigger.
- The deeper the sea is, the bigger the fish are.
- The less people smoke cigarettes, the better it is for the environment.
VII) IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES :
ADJECTIVES | COMPARATIVES | SUPERLATIVES |
Good / Well | Better | The best |
Bad | Worse | The worst |
Little | Less | The least |
Many / Much | More | The most |
Far | Farther / Further | The farthest / The furthest |
Examples:
- The best way to travel is by air.
- This temperature is worse than it was yesterday.
VIII) DO NOT COMPARE THESE :
Remember there are some adjectives in English that are usually not compared, simply because they are absolute or have no degree of meaning. This is a partial list:
Chief Full Perfect Round Supreme
Dead Last Principal Single Unique
Empty
