Negative with

Comparative Expressions
Overview

In a positive statement, comparative

adjectives are used to compare two objects
they modify. For example, the word ‘larger’
shows that one object has considerably
greater size than the other object, or the word
‘more beautiful’ compares two different
objects by stating one has more beautiful
quality than the other.
Certain rules in writing comparative
adjective are as follows:

Adding -er to the end of the adjectives that have just one syllable.

For example: small – smaller; tall – taller

Changing the -y to -i and add -er for two-syllable adjectives ending in –y.

For example: pretty – prettier; lucky - luckier

Using the form “more + adjective” for two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y and for all three-or-
more-syllable adjectives.

For example: creative – more creative; exciting– more exciting

However, in a negative statement, those comparative words hold
superlative meaning (very/the most).

 Study the examples below.

My mother couldn’t be angrier.
 (She is extremely angry.)
No one is more intelligent than him in the class.
 (He is the smartest student in the class.)
Example

On the recording, you hear:

(man) : Did you notice Sushmita’s score on the last test?
(woman) : Sure, no one could have done better than her.
(narrator) : What does the woman mean?

In your textbook, you read:

(a) Susmitha should have done the test better.
(b) Susmitha got the highest score in the test.
(c) Susmitha was not able to do the test well.
(d) Susmitha did not join the last test.
Discussion

The woman’s response to the question directed by the man shows

Sushmita’s test score by using no (negative) and better
(comparative). This combination produces a superlative meaning.
Accordingly, the statement no one could have done better means
that Sushmita got the highest score in that test (superlative idea);
therefore, the answer is (b).