Lecture no 4

B. COMPARISON OF MULTISYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

Multisyllable adjectives form their comparative of superiority by putting more

(the comparative of superiority form of the irregular adjective much) in front of their
positive form, followed by the preposition than:
intelligent – more intelligent (than)
The other forms of the comparative degree, i.e. of equality and inferiority, are
built in a similar way to that of one-syllable adjectives: as … as (for equality in the
affirmative), less … than /not as (so) … as (for inferiority in the affirmative and,
respectively, in the negative):
less interesting than; not as (so) interesting …as
The superlative forms are built as follows:
a. most (the superlative form of the irregular adjective much) which is preceded by the
definite article the when the superlative form is used attributively placed before the
positive form of the respective adjective:
This book is (the) most interesting (of all).
This is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.
The negative superlative uses the articulated superlative form of the irregular
adjective little, i.e. least:
the least interesting
The absolute superlative of multisyllable adjectives is built by means of the
adverb very in front of the adjective:
very interesting
Obs. Like in the case of –er and –est adjectives, the absolute superlative of multisyllable
adjectives can be formed with the prefixes ultra-, super- and –over, as well as with a
number of intensifying adverbs such as awfully, grossly, highly, greatly, deeply,
extraordinary, extremely, terribly, tremendously placed in front of a positive degree
adjective:
grossly mistaken; greatly encouraged; awfully clever; extremely efficient.

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Exercises: 1. My house is (big) bigger than yours.

1. This flower is (beautiful) … than that one.

2. This is the (interesting) … book I have ever read.
3. Non-smokers usually live (long)…than smokers.
4. Which is the (dangerous) …animal in the world?
5. A holiday by the sea is (good) …than a holiday in the mountains.
6. It is strange but often a coke is (expensive)… than a beer.
7. Who is the (rich)… woman on earth?
8. The weather this summer is even (bad)… than last summer.
9. He was the (clever)… thief of all.

2. Paying attention to which adjectives form the comparative with the adverb more
and which form the comparative with the ending er, rewrite the following sentences
as comparisons, in the manner indicated by the examples. Use the words given in
brackets as the second parts of the comparisons. For example:       Collies have long
hair. (dalmations do)       Collies have longer hair than dalmatians do.

He is an experienced architect. (we thought)

He is a more experienced architect than we thought.

1. Terry is a good cook. (I am)

2. That is a complex question. (you realize)
3. My puppy has big feet. (yours does)
4. It was a difficult decision. (you might think)
5. That is a sandy part of the beach. (this is)
6. He runs a successful business. (his father did)
7. Cliff has a bad temper. (his brother does)
8. This rose bush has small flowers. (that one does)
9. They own expensive bicycles. (we do)
10. Robin proved to be a courageous leader. (anyone had expected)
11. The school has a large auditorium. (the city library does)
12. That car has an efficient engine. (this one does)

3. Each of the following sentences contains a comparison which is logically

incorrect. Rewrite the sentences, adding whatever nouns or phrases are necessary
in order to make the comparisons logically correct. For example:

      The price of honey was higher than sugar.

      The price of honey was higher than the price of sugar.

      The average rainfall for September is the same as February.

      The average rainfall for September is the same as the average rainfall for February.

1. The vegetation of Europe differs from North America.

2. The taxes in Singapore are lower than Canada.

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3. The invention of the clarinet occurred more recently than the flute.
4. The speed limit in residential areas is lower than uninhabited areas.
5. The grammar of English is simpler than Arabic.
6. The climate of California is somewhat similar to Greece.
7. The boiling point of oil is higher than water.
8. The geometry of a pentagon is more complex than a square.
9. The density of water is greater than ice.
10. The location of the library is more convenient than the post office.

4. Give the following degrees of comparison as specified between brackets:

1. big (comparativ)
2. small (superlativ)
3. tall (superlativ)
4. blue (comparativ)
5. happy (comparativ)
6. pretty (superlativ)
7. good (comparativ)
8. good (superlativ)
9. little (superlativ)
10. little (comparativ)
11. much (superlativ)
12. many (comparativ)
13. few (comparativ)
14. fat (comparativ)
15. old (superlativ)

C. Comparison of Compound Adjectives

Compound adjectives usually form their degrees of comparison like multisyllable

adjectives, i.e. by putting more and (the) most in front of them for their comparative of
superiority and superlative degrees and by using the same means of comparison
belonging to all adjectives in the other degrees of comparison:
nerve-racking; more nerve-racking; most nerve-racking
However, a number of compound adjectives have as their first part one-syllable
adjectives or adverbs which are consequently compared, the second part of the
compound staying unchanged:
good-looking; better-looking; (the) best looking

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Other such compound adjectives are: high-paid, long-lasting, low-paid, low-

ranking, short-lived, well-behaved, well-dressed, well-known, well-off.

Exercise: well-known (comparative of superiority, equality), bad-tempered

(comparative of inferiority), old-looking building (superlative relative).

D. Irregular Comparison

A small group of highly frequent adjectives have comparative of superiority and

superlative degree forms with stems which are different from their base.
Good better best
Bad/ill worse worst
much (also many) more most
little (also adverb) less least
Far further furthest
farther farthest
old (regular and older oldest
irregular) elder + noun eldest
Late
Near

Obs.1 The two pairs farther/farthest and further/furthest (which are both adjectives and
adverbs) are used by many people alternatively to express both physical and abstract
relations. The basic distinction, however, is that farther and farthest are mostly used to
express physical distance, and, in all senses further and furthest are the usual forms
found:
They went farther/further East until they reached the river.
The speaker stopped talking for a few moments then he went further.
Note1: The most common use of further is as an adjective with the meaning of more,
additional, later:
There’s no further reason for us to listen to her.
Are there any further questions?
The weather report says that it’s going to rain for a further two weeks.

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Note2: The forms elder and eldest are only used attributively to express seniority among
the members of a family especially in Br.E., whilst in Am.E. both elder/older and
eldest/oldest are used alternatively for the same purpose:
My elder/older brother is three years older than me.
Note3: The comparative form elder is also used as an adjective or noun to express old
age, seniority, as well as sagacity in such combinations as: William Pit the Elder;
Mircea the Elder; an elder statesman (i.e. an influential, often retired high official
whose advice is sought by government officials); the elders of the town.

Other Expressions of Comparison

There are some Latin comparatives in English such as senior (to), junior (to),
superior (to), inferior (to), major, minor, anterior and posterior which retain their
comparative force, without being true comparatives, since they cannot be used in
comparative constructions with than as explicit basis for comparison. Instead, Quirk et
al. (1992, 466) propose the term implicit or absolute comparatives:
He fired Jane because he felt inferior to her.
John is senior/junior to Peter.
a major event; a minor mistake; the anterior/posterior part of the brain
Other such implicit or absolute comparatives are represented by the comparative
degree of superiority forms of some adjectives used attributively, such as later (more
recent), older (rather old), better (rather/fairly good):
later news; an older gentleman; the better hotels/restaurants etc.