COMPARATIVE

by Patricia Galien
http://pjgalien.wordpress.com
 COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

Use the comparative form of an adjective + than

to compare two people, places, or things.

Remember that comparative adjectives are

adjectives, so you will need to use be verbs or
linking verbs in sentences of comparison.

http://pjgalien.wordpress.com/
 COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
What is the difference between a crocodile and an
alligator?

crocodile alligator
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media- http://www.floridanature.org/photos/Alligator_mississippie
live/photos/000/002/cache/american-crocodile_219_600x450.jpg nsis_9,_St._Marks_NWR,_20041016.jpg
 COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

Crocodiles’ jaws are the same width. Alligators have

wider upper jaws than crocodiles.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QAk_oiB1NBw/ThKabx3UyNI/AAAAAAAAABA/qv39FipsqRI/s1600/Crocodile+vs.+alligator.jpg
 COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

dark

Alligators are darker than crocodiles.

http://www.kidsstoppress.com/2011/07/difference-between-an-alligator-crocodile/
 COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

dangerous

Crocodiles are more

dangerous to humans than
alligators.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligatoridae http://www.moneyandshit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tiny_human.jpg
 Analyze the four groups of
FORMS OF THE
adjectives and write four grammar
COMPARATIVE rules for the comparative.

Group 1 Group 2
old older talkative more talkative
young younger punctual more punctual
tall taller beautiful more beautiful
dark darker interesting more interesting
long longer helpful more helpful

Group 3 Group 4
curly curlier handsome handsomer, more handsome
happy happier simple simpler, more simple
friendly friendlier quiet quieter, more quiet
hungry hungrier friendly friendlier, more friendly
busy busier
 COMPARATIVE
GROUP 1
For most short (one-syllable) adjectives, add –er to the
adjective. Add only –r if the adjective ends in e.
Use the be
verb with
adjectives.

My new boss is
nicer than my
old boss.

old boss new boss

http://yourlifementor.files.wordpress.com/20 http://www.justjared.com/2009/06/22/oprah-winfrey-to-
10/11/mean-boss.jpg staff-free-cruises-all-around/
 COMPARATIVE
GROUP 2
For most adjectives of two or more syllables, add more
before the adjective.

My new job is
old job more interesting new job
than my old job.
http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/Sections/News_And_Analysis/_Ne
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01930/bored_193 ws/_SLIDESHOWS/Americas_Best_Jobs_2011/SS_best_jobs_of_
0967c.jpg 2010_dentist.jpg
 COMPARATIVE
GROUP 3
For adjectives that end in y, change the y to i and add –er.

old job I was busier at new job

my old job than I
am at my new
http://www.nature.com/news/2007/071
job. http://cdashnaw.files.wordpress.com/200
113/images/paperwork.jpg 9/05/lazy-guy-on-computer.jpg
 COMPARATIVE
GROUP 4
Quiet, simple, handsome, and friendly are examples of
two-syllable adjectives that can follow the pattern of one or
two syllable adjectives.

My new coworkers are

more friendly than my
old coworkers.
old coworkers new coworkers
My new coworkers are
friendlier than my old
http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ds-
photo/getty/article/81/11/78228571_XS.jpg
coworkers.http://www.experience.com/entry-level-jobs/news/becoming-
friendly-with-your-coworkers/
 COMPARATIVE
EXCEPTIONS
Tired, bored, and fun are one-syllable adjectives that follow
the pattern of long adjectives.

Cooking is more
funer
fun than cleaning.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-08-
18/entertainment/17933207_1_gordon-ramsay-gender- http://www.wehatecleaning.com/wp-
equality-kitchen content/uploads/2012/10/teenagers-excuses.jpg
 COMPARATIVE
IRREGULAR
The adjectives good, bad, and far are irregular.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better the best
bad worse the worst
far farther the farthest

My 4th grade class was bad, but my 9th grade class is worse.

http://www.probloggertips.com/wp-
http://media.salon.com/2011/09/school_its_way_more_borin
content/uploads/2012/09/boring_class.jpg
g_than_when_you_were_there-460x307.jpg
 Work with a partner. Write
Practice comparative sentences or
questions about the pictures.
1. 2. http://noreallyimhappy.com
/wp-
content/uploads/2012/01/m
cdonalds-big-mac-with-
reflection.jpg

http://www.delish.com/re
cipes/cooking-
recipes/five-winter-
soups-salads-recipes

The orange is heavier than the

heavy Why/ isBig
why a salad
Mac / more
saladexpensive than a Big
/ expensive
apple. Mac?
http://bubbasmith.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/bom-compare.jpg

3. 4.

The boy on the

tallright is taller than Batman
Batman /isJoker
more/ handsome
handsome than the
the boy on the left. joker. handsomer
http://howcanigettallertoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/How-can-I-get- http://th09.deviantart.net/fs43/PRE/f/2009/116/2/6/266a412ccae352eca4e2eb963ec8bfd3.jpg
taller.jpg http://www.whosurmuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Batman-Arkham-City-1.jpg
 LESS + ADJECTIVES
Less is the opposite of more.

Group 2
talkative more talkative
less
punctual more punctual
less
beautiful more beautiful
less
interesting more interesting
less
helpful more helpful
less

Physical therapy was Medication was less

more helpful than helpful than physical
medication. therapy.
http://www.bipolarbrain.com/meds.html http://sp.life123.com/bm.pix/physical-therapy-requirements.s600x600.jpg
 MUCH + COMPARATIVE

before smoking after smoking

She looks much older since she started smoking.
http://annadannfelt.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/m2m_before-after_19.jpg?w=300&h=173
 Write a sentence. Use much
Practice and the comparative.

He is much fatter since he started using the internet.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PnGDRmMobXI/TPImn9jFHyI/AAAAAAAAAkc/k-D_Lmf0PVc/s1600/before+internet+comic.JPG
 Write a sentence. Use much
Practice and comparative adjectives.

my old car
safe my new car

expensive
My new car is much safer than my old car, but it is
much more expensive.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezflow_site/storage_RT_NEW/storage
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2012-01/ten-worst- /images/media/images/fc_2012-maserati-sports-car_lead1/1501757-1-
cars_67688306.jpg eng-US/fc_2012-maserati-sports-car_lead1.jpg
 A LITTLE + COMPARATIVE
Use a little to make comparisons weaker.

The yarn on the right is

a little
____________ darker than the
yarn on the left.

1
Group ___
2
Group ___
The yarn on the right is
a little
____________ more
expensive than the yarn on
the left.
http://www.carylldesigns.com/yarns/MC_river_twist_missouri_river_stillwater_compare.jpg
 Write a sentence. Use a little
Practice and the comparative.

expensive
big

The apartment on the right is a little more expensive than

the apartment on the left because it is bigger.
http://www.kearnycountyhospital.com/images/Assist_layout1.GIF
 COMPARATIVE You use more than, less than,
and fewer than with nouns.
WITH NOUNS What are the two rules?

Use more with count and noncount nouns.

Seattle has more rain than Chicago.
Chicago has more buildings than Seattle.
Use fewer with count and less
with noncount nouns.
I have less money than you
do.
Rita has fewer children than
Roberta.
http://static.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/824286-bigthumbnail.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_AQULAchAM/Ta-
Q3zC9HrI/AAAAAAAAAg4/_w_tRUwboa8/s1600/seattle-in-the-rain.jpg
Practice Complete the sentences.

Example: I am __________
busier than you are. (busy)

more
1. My sister is __________ popular than my brother.
than
2. He is older ________ his brother.
3. My old apartment was too small. My new apartment
much
is ________ bigger.
fewer
4. Palos Hills has __________ people than Chicago.

less
5. Florida has __________ snow than Chicago.