COMPARISON

(The comparative and the superlative forms)

1/ The regular adjectives
The adjective The comparative The superlative
form form
Short adjectives Short Shorter The shortest
(one-syllable adjectives) Cheap Cheaper The cheapest
Young younger The youngest
Ending in one vowel + Fat Fatter The fattest
one consonant Slim Slimmer The slimmest
Big Bigger The biggest
Ending in-e Late Later The latest
Ending in-y Dirty Dirtier The dirtiest
Long adjectives (two- Expensive More / less expensive The most / the least
syllable adjectives or Beautiful More / less beautiful expensive
more) The most / the least
beautiful

Examples: -They think that tennis is harder than football.

- Berlin is more expensive than Paris.
- New York is one of the largest cities in the world.

2/ The irregular adjectives

The adjective The comparative form The superlative form

Good Better The best

Bad Worse The worst
Many / Much More The most
Little Less The least
Far Farther / Further The farthest / The furthest

Examples: - I’ve got the best mark in my class.

- This is the worst CD I have ever listened.

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 Practice
Task 1: Write the comparative form of the words in brackets.
1. They’ve made these chocolate bars …smaller…..(small).
2. Sport is …………………………(interesting) than politics.
3. Can’t you think of anything ………………………..(intelligent) to say.
4. Well, the place looks ……………………..(clean) now.
5. Janet looks ……………………………….(thin) than she was.
6. You need to draw it …………………………(carefully).
7. The weather is getting ……………………..(bad).
8. The programme will be shown at a………………… (late) date.
9. I can’t stay ………………………(long) than half an hour.
10. A mobile phone would be a ……………………….(useful) present.
11. I will try to finish the job ……………………….(soon).
12. It was …………………..(busy) than usual in town today.
Comparative form.
Sport is more interesting (interesting) than politics
1. Can't you think of anything more intelligent to say?
2. Well, the place looks cleaner now.
3. Janet looks thinner than she did.
4. You need to draw it more carefully.
5. The weather is getting worse.
6. The programme will be shown at a later date.
7. I can't stay longer than half an hour.
8. A mobile phone would be a more useful present.
9. I'll try to finish the job sooner.
10. It was busier than usual in town today.
11. I'll be even more annoyed if you do that again.
12. Since the break-in I feel more nervous

Task 2: Write the superlative form of the words in brackets

1.it’s the …………………………..(short) day of the year.
2.It’s the (……………………………(beautiful) building in the world.
3.That was the ……………………….(funny) film I’ve ever seen.
4.It was the ………………………….(horrible) feeling I’ve ever had.
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5.Have you read her …………………………(.recent) book?
6.It’s the …………………………..(large) company in the country.
7.It was the ……………………….(boring) speech I’ve ever heard.
8.You’ve got the …………………………(far) to travel.
9.That’s the …………………………..(helpful) idea so far.
10.The factory uses the …………………(modern) production methods.
11.This is the …………………………..(early) I’ve ever got up.
12.It was the ……………………….(sad)day of my life

Task 3: Some of these statements are correct and some have a word which
should not be there. If a sentence is correct, put a tick (√). If it’s incorrect,
cross the unnecessary word and write it in the space.
1. I’ve got the least powerful computer in the world √
2. London is more bigger than Birmingham. ….more………..
3. Indian food is the nicer than Chinese, I think. …………………
4. The telephone is one of the most useful inventions ever. …………………
5. I feel a much better now, thank you. ………………...
6. The piano is heavier than the sofa. ……………….
7. This is the most quickest way to the hotel . ….…………….
8. You’re taller than he is. ………………..
9. Who is the cleverest student in of the class. ……………….
10.The weather is getting hotter and more hotter. ……………….

Task4: Put the adjectives in the comparative or superlative forms.

1. 6/20 is……………………..(bad) 8/20.
2. Tunis is ………………(large) and ………….…….(populated) town in
Tunisia.
3. This is ………………..(interesting) film I’ve ever seen.
4. Mrs. brown is two years ……………………(young) her husband.
5. July and August are …………………………(hot) months.
6. Fatma is ……………………(good) pupil in the class whereas Sarah is
………………….….(bad) one.
7. When you travel by plane, you have to go to the airport at …………..(little)
two hours before departure time.
8. If you go ……………………(far)away, you will see ………………(many)
things.
9. His marks are getting ………………..(bad) than before because he works
……………….(little).
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 10.If you come ……………….(soon), we will be …………………(happy).
11.She looks much ……………….(young) than she really is.
12.She is even ………………………..…(beautiful) her photo.

Task5: Complete this conversation using the correct form of the bracketed
words.
-Fred: How was your physics test?
-George: Oh, not so bad really. It was ………………………..(much/easy)
than I’d expected.
-Fred: So you’ve passed?
-George: Yes, I have.
-Fred: Congratulations! That’s ……………….(good) news I’ve heard.