ADJECTIVES – COMPARISON

In English, we often compare things. When we go shopping, for example, we often

compare:

products - That one is better than this one.

prices - Yes, but that one's cheaper.

When we talk about what we like or prefer and give our opinions, we often compare:

things - Their car is newer than ours.

people - She's much more intelligent than her sister.
places - Oxford and Cambridge have the oldest universities.
experiences - This is the most delicious meal I have ever eaten!

Comparative and superlative adjectives

Comparative adjectives: When we compare two things, we often use the comparative
forms of adjectives or adverbs, the comparative is often followed by than, for example:

5 + 5 is greater than 6 + 3.
A Rolls Royce car is much less expensive than a Ford Focus.

Superlative adjectives : When we compare more than two things, we often use the
superlative forms, we generally use the with the superlative, for example:

A Jumbo Jet (Boeing 747) is the largest passenger plane in the world.
That was the best meal I've ever eaten.

COMPARISON CHART

ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

One syllable adjective: old,
fast, clean, long
One syllable adjectives
ending in –e: wide, nice
Two syllable adjectives
ending in –y, -er, -ow ,-le:
dirty, simple, clever,
narrow
Other adjectives with two
or more syllables: honest,
modern, comfortable
Irregular adjectives: good,
bad, far, old
Older, faster, cleaner,
longer
Wider, nicer
Dirtier, simpler, cleverer,
narrower
More honest, more
modern, more comfortable
Better, worse,
farther/further,
older/elder(only with
family members)
The oldest, the fastest, the
cleanest, the longest
The widest, the nicest
The dirtiest, the simplest,
the cleverest, the narrowest
The most honest, the most
modern, the most
comfortable
The best, the worst, the
farthest/the furthest, the
oldest/the eldest (only with
family members)

1
Useful expressions : Before comparatives you can use

Much a lot far (=a lot) a bit a little slightly (= a little)

For example:

Let’s go by car, it’s much cheaper.(it’s a lot cheaper)

Don’t go by train, it’s a lot more expensive.( much more expensive)
Could you speak a bit more slowly?
Her illness was far more serious than we thought at first.
This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.

Comparing more than two things:

... the (largest) in the world, in the class, in the group, of all
... the (best) that I have ever eaten/seen/drunk/tried ...

You can use any and no + comparatives (any longer/ no bigger, etc)
I’ve w aited long enough. I’m not w aiting any longer.
This hotel is better than the other one and it’s no more expensive

“DOUBLE” COMPA RA TIV ES: bigger and bigger

We repeat comparatives (….. and …..) to say that something is changing continuously, that something is
increasing.
More and more people travel from England
It’s becoming harder and harder to find a job
Your English is improving. It’s getting better and better.
THE …. THE BETTER
Note this construction: the + a comparative+ the better
The bigger the better, the cheaper the better
When w e want to talk about a change in one thing causing a change in another w e use the construction
the+a comparative follow ed by the+ a different comparative
The sooner w e leave the sooner w e w ill arrive
The younger you are, the easier it is to learn
The more electricity you use, the higher the bill w ill be
EXERCISE 1: Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use much/ a
bit … etc.+ a comparative.
1. Her illness was …………………. We thought at first (much/serious)
2. This bag is too small. I need something ………………. (much/big)
3. I’m afraid the problem is ……………….. it seems.(much/complicated)
4. You looked depressed this morning but you look ……….. now(a bit/happy)
5. I thought she was younger than me but in fact she’s ……….(slightly/old)
EXERCISE 2: Complete the sentences using an/no + a comparative
1. I’m fed up with waiting. I’m not waiting…………….. (long)

2
 2. This shop isn’t expensive. The prices are ……………. Anywhere else(cheap)
3. The traffic isn’t particularly bad today. It’s ……………… usual (bad)
EXERCISE 3: Complete the sentences using “Double” Comparatives
1. It’s becoming ……………….. to find a job (hard)
2. The hole in your pullover is getting ………….. (big)
3. My bags seemed to get ……………. As I carried them (heavy)
4. As I waited for my interview, I became …………….. (nervous)
5. As the day went on the weather got …………. (bad)
6. Travelling is becoming …………….. (expensive)
7. As the conversation went on, he became …………… (talkative)
8. Since she has been in England, her English has got …..(good)

EXERCISE 4: Finish these sentences using a comparative structure

1. I like warm weather. The warmer the weather, ………….. (good/ feel)
2. It’s hard to concentrate when you are tired. The more tired you are ……….
(hard/concentrate)
3. She had to wait a very long time. The longer she waited,…………..
(impatient/become)
EXERCISE 5: Match the two halves containing the structure “the ……the……”

the earlier we leave the faster you’ll learn

the longer he waited
the more I got to know him
the more you practise your English
the longer the phone call
the more goods you sell
the more you have to pay
the sooner we’ll arrive
the more profit you’ll make
the more impatient he became
the more I liked him

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

EXERCISE 6: Translate into English

1. Es la película más decepcionante que he visto en mi vida

2. La interpretación era pobre y la dirección incluso peor
3. El argumento era predecible ,pero los efectos especiales eran los más
increíbles que ha hecho
4. Cuanto más lo pienso, más miedo me da
5. Cuando viajábamos por esa carretera, el cielo se puso cada vez más oscuro
6. Cuanto más rápida era la persecución, más emocionante se ponía la escena

3
EXERCISE 7: Complete this conversation using comparison

Assistant: Good morning. Can I help you?

Man: Yes, we're looking for a computer for my wife. She starts a new job next
week.
Assistant: I see, so you want one right away.
Man: That's right.
Woman: The thing is, I'm not sure whether to get this laptop or a desktop like
that one over there.
Assistant: Well, they're both very good computers. Very reliable.
Man: The desktop is much (fast) and (powerful) than the
laptop, isn't it? And the hard drive's (large).
Woman: Yes, but look how much space it takes up. My office is so tiny, and it's
already full of stuff. There's wouldn't be enough room for it. The laptop is much
(compact).
Assistant: How essential is portability for you in your line of work?
Woman: Sorry?
Assistant: I mean, will you just be working in your office, or will you need to take
the computer out on the road with you?
Woman: Yes, I may need to take it out to see customers and do presentations
and things like that.
Assistant: Ah, well, for that you really need a laptop.
Woman: Yes, I think maybe that's what I'll get.
Man: Are you sure? Remember, the laptop is much (expensive)
than the desktop, and the screen is (small).
Woman: Yes. But the desktop's (ugly)! Oh, I don't know. I just like the
laptop (good). It's within my budget. I think I'm going to buy it.
Man: Fine, it's your decision. As long as you're sure.
Woman: I am.
Assistant: Fine.
Man: Now, I see the laptop doesn't come with any extras. How much is a good
printer?
Assistant: Well, if you'll just come over here, there are some very good printers
on special offer...

laptop PC TYPE desktop PC

£1,199 COST £899
1 GHz SPEED 2 GHz

4
40 GB HARD DRIVE 80 GB
14" SCREEN 17"
none EXTRAS printer