Comparative adjectives and adverbs fast, faster, the fastest… terrible, more terrible, the most...
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Transcript of Comparative adjectives and adverbs fast, faster, the fastest… terrible, more terrible, the most...
Comparative adjectives Comparative adjectives and adverbsand adverbs
fast, faster, the fastest…terrible, more terrible, the most
terrible…big, bigger, the biggest…quickly, more quickly, the
quickest…
By AJ Brown
What do they look like?What do they look like?
• My sister is more educated than I am.• AJ speaks faster when she is excited.• Blueberries are as delicious as raspberries.• San Francisco is farther away than Seattle.• She is prettier when she smiles.• AJ is older than her sister.• He moves as slowly as a turtle.• Level E is less difficult than level 2.
Why do we use them?Why do we use them?
We use comparative adjectives and adverbs to compare two nouns or two verbs.
• Sergio’s calculator is bigger than Kim’s pen.• A flu is more dangerous than a cold.• Antonio reads faster than I do.• Her voice is as sweet as honey.• He walks as slowly as a turtle (does).• Language is less confusing than math to me.
How to make comparativeHow to make comparative(for differences)(for differences)
1) (difference) One-syllable adjectives and adverbs(use …–er than)
neat neater thanslow slower than
late later thansweet sweeter thanyoung younger than
dark darker than
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)
Pay attention to one-syllable words:
• If it ends in C+V+C, double the final Cfat fatter than
wet wetter thandim dimmer than
big bigger thanthin thinner thanred redder than
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)
2) (for difference) Three-syllable adjectives and adverbs(use more/less…than)
dangerous more dangerous thanbeautiful more beautiful than
exciting less exciting thanimportant more important than
fascinating more fascinating than
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)
3) (for difference) Most two-syllable adjectives and adverbs
(use more/less…than)
famous more famous thancunning more cunning than
pleasant more pleasant thancareful less careful than
shallow more shallow than
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)
3a) (for difference) Two-syllable adjectives that end in –y(use …ier than)
pretty prettier thanbusy busier thanlazy lazier than
happy happier thanfriendly friendlier than
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)
3b) (for difference) Two-syllable adverbs that end in –ly*(use more/less…than)
slowly more slowly thanquickly more quickly than
carefully less carefully thanpleasantly more pleasantly than
reliably less reliably than
* early is both an adjective and an adverb. Form = earlier
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)
3c) (for difference) Some two-syllable adjectives use either form
(use more/less…than or …er than*)clever more clever than
cleverer thangentle more gentle than
gentler thanfriendly more friendly than
friendlier thancommon more common than
commoner than
* The idea of less is not possible when using the …er form
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)
4) (for difference) There are some irregular forms
(adj.) good better than(adj.) bad worse than
(adv.) well better than(adv.) badly worse than
(adv.) far farther* thanfurther* than
* Both farther and further compare distance, but only further (not farther) can also mean “additional”. (I require further help.)
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (for differences) (for differences)
Modify adjectives and adverbs with much or a little
hungry much hungrier thanquiet a little quieter than
Intriguing much more intriguing thanextensive much less extensive than
easy a little easier than
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative(equal or same)(equal or same)
5) (for same) all adjectives and adverbs(use as … as)
strong as strong asquietly as quietly as
beautiful as beautiful asdifficult as difficult as
big nearly as big asconfusing just as confusing as
happy almost as happy as
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (equal or same) (equal or same)
5a) (for same) all negative adjectives and adverbs(use not as … as)
strong not as strong asquietly not as quietly as
beautiful not as beautiful asdifficult not as difficult as
big not nearly as big aslow not quite as low as
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (equal or same) (equal or same)
5b) the opposite of –er/more is expressed by less or not as … as
More than one syllablequietly not as quietly as
less quietly thandifficult not as difficult as
less difficult thanexpensive not as expensive as
less expensive than
How to make a comparativeHow to make a comparative (equal or same) (equal or same)
5b) the opposite of –er/more is expressed by less or not as … as
Only one syllableold not as old as
Less old thanbig not as big as
Less big thanyoung not as young as
less young than
Wrong!
Wrong!
Wrong!
Remember that one-syllable words don’t have a less…
than form
Completing a comparativeCompleting a comparative
• In formal academic English, a subject pronoun (he) follows than
She is taller than he.
• In informal English, an object pronoun (him) is often used after than
She is taller than him.
Writing for your classes
NEVER use this form in your
writing
Completing a comparativeCompleting a comparative
• In formal academic English, a comparative can be followed by three different constructions
Stephanie is taller than I am.Stephanie is taller than I.
Stephanie is taller than am I.
This last construction (v+s) is often on
the TOEFL exam
Unclear comparisons…Unclear comparisons…Unclear
(repeat subject or object?)
• I like my dog better than my husband.
• I’ve known Jamal longer than Frieda.
Clear Two subject/verb pairs
• I like my dog better than my husband likes it.
• I like my dog better than I like my husband.
• I’ve known Jamal longer than I’ve known Frieda.
• I’ve known Jamal longer than Frieda has (known him).
Other comparisons…Other comparisons…
Repeating a comparative• Because he was afraid, he
walked faster and faster.• Life in the modern world is
becoming more and more complex.
Double comparatives• The harder you study, the
more you will learn.• The warmer the weather is,
the happier I am.• The sooner, the better.
Shows a progressive
increase
Both parts begin with the + comparative
Using superlatives…Using superlatives…
The …est • The funniest• The saddest• The wettest• The largest
The most/least …• The most generous• The most beautiful• The least expensive• The most developed
Superlatives compare one part of a group to
all the other members of the
group
Common completions of superlativesCommon completions of superlatives
+ (prepositional phrase)• Tokyo is one of the largest
cities in the world.• This one is the best of all!• He is the laziest student in
the class.• She walks the most slowly
of all the children.• It is the highest mountain
on the island.
+ (adjective clause)• She is the kindest person
(that) I have ever met.• That was the longest hike
(that) I have ever taken.• English is the craziest
language (that) I’ve ever heard.
• She writes the most carefully (that) I’ve ever seen.