Grammar A25 Comparatives and superlatives

1 Read the task and the student’s response. Write S if the meaning is the same, or D if it is different.

Academic writing, task 1

The charts below show average monthly rainfall and temperatures in three cities: New York,
Tokyo and Sydney. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

Average monthly temperature, in Centigrade Average monthly rainfall, in mm

250
200
150
100
50
Iff: SB
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f m a m j
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I I
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□ New York □ Tokyo □ Sydney

The information in the first chart compares average temperatures in New York, Tokyo and Sydney. We can
see that January and February are the hottest months in Sydney, but the coldest in New York and Tokyo.
In Tokyo, Winter temperatures are warmer than in New York, but the warmest Winters are in Sydney.
Sydney also has the least variation in temperature of the three cities, while New York is the most extreme.
Tokyo is around 6° hotter than New York in the middle of Summer, making it the hottest city of all.

The second chart shows the average amount of rain the cities get each month. Patterns of rainfall vary
more widely than temperatures. September in Tokyo is the rainiest month on the chart, with more than
200 mm on average. However, it is slightly less rainy than New York in August. Sydney is much drier than
Tokyo in September, and a little drier than New York. Rainfall in Tokyo is the most variable, with a
minimum in January of 50 mm, showing a difference of around 150 mm between January and September.

1 When Sydney is hot, the other cities are cold.

2 Temperatures in Sydney change more than in Tokyo and New York. .......
3 Average monthly rainfall is easier to predict than temperatures. .......
4 New York is drier than Tokyo in September, but wetter in August. ........
5 In September, there is not much difference in rainfall between New York and Sydney. .......

Comparatives and superlatives

Comparative forms Superlative forms
We use comparatives when comparing two or We use superlatives when comparing a group, to say
more things. which has the greatest degree of something.
In Tokyo, Winter temperatures are warmer than January and February>are the hottest months in
in New’ York... Sydney...
However, it is slightly less rainy than New York in Sydney also has the least variation in temperature
August. ...while New York is the most extreme.
Patterns o f rainfall vary' more widely than
temperatures.

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 Adjective spelling rules
• Adjectives with one syllable take -e r or -est. Use it for IELTS!
You can use comparatives
cold colder coldest and superlatives to describe
differences shown in a bar
chart or pie chart.

Adjectives ending with short vowel /ae/, Id , Some common adjectives are irregular.
hL /o/, /a/ + consonant, double the consonant. worse worst
bad
hot hotter hottest far farther / further farthest / furthest

good better best

• Adjectives ending in —y normally change
to - i before - er, -est. Two-syllable adjectives can take e ith e r - ^ -est
dry drier driest or more, most.
common commoner/ commonest /
• Adjectives with three or more syllables take
more common most common
more and most.
variable more variable most variable Quantifiers such as a little and much can be used
to show large or small differences.
Sydney is much drier than Tokyo in September,
and a little drier than New York.

2 Read the passage again and count the number of (a) comparative and (b) superlative forms.

3 Complete the passage using the correct comparative form of the words in brackets.

The chart shows how much people have to pay for things they buy every day in three cities: New York,
Tokyo and Sydney. A ride on the bus or subway is (1) (cheap) in Sydney than in New
York, but Tokyo is (2) (expensive) of all three. Buying a newspaper in Sydney, however,
is (3) (much / costly) than in Tokyo, which is (4 )........................ (inexpensive) of the
three cities. The cost of a cup of coffee is (5) (high) in New York, at over £2. In Tokyo
or Sydney you can buy one (6) (cheaply), at around £1.50 per cup. For a hamburger
meal, New York is (7) (dear), and Sydney is (8) .................... (expensive). Overall it
seems that prices in Sydney are (9) (low) than in New York, unless you buy newspapers.
If you want to save money, it’s a (10) (good) place to live.

4 Write C for correct or I for incorrect next to each sentence.

1 The climate in Eastern Europe is much more colder than in Western Europe. D
2 The Taj Mahal is far more widely known than the Egyptian pyramids. □
3 It is much more costlier to live in the US than in Africa. . ]
4 The graphs show which commuters travel the further to work. ' 1

Now check your answers. p172

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 Grammar A26 Too / too much / too many / enough / as... as

1 Read the passage and write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.

Lie (Detectors
Polygraphs (or lie detectors) measure changes in the
body that often occur when people tell lies, such as
breathing rhythms and body temperature. They can
even monitor the response of the eye during
questioning. If the iris contracts too suddenly, this may
indicate that a person is lying. The questions used fit
into three categories. The first are a set of control
questions such as Have you ever borrowed anything
and not returned it?’ These are questions which almost everyone should answer yes’ to, but which
may be too uncomfortable for some people to give honest answers to. These are followed by
irrelevant questions such as ‘Do you think you drink too much coffee?’ 'Do you take enough
exercise?’ They can help distract the respondent from the relevant questions that follow. These are
specific questions such as ‘Did you drive too fast last night and exceed the speed limit?’ that should
determine whether you are telling the truth or not. The problem is that polygraphs only really
work with those who become stressed when they lie. Those able to remain calm enough can easily
beat the test. Recent scientific research also suggests that the tests themselves may not be reliable
enough. One study has found their level of accuracy to be as low as 65%.

1 Polygraphs are more commonly known as lie detectors. ........................

2 There are three different types of question used during polygraph tests. ........................
3 People taking the test are asked every question twice. ........................
4 Specific questions are followed by irrelevant questions. ........................
5 The majority of questions asked during a polygraph test are irrelevant. ........................
6 There is general agreement among scientists that polygraphs are unreliable. ........................

Too many / much

We use too to say that something or someone has an excessive amount of a quality. We use it before an
adjective without a noun or an adverb.
Did you drive too fast?
We use too many or too much before a noun.
Do you think you drink too much coffee?

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Enough
We use enough to say something is sufficient. It comes after an adjective or adverb. It comes before
a noun.
Do you take enough exercise?
Those able to remain calm enough can easily beat the test.

As... as
We use as + adjective / adverb + as to say that something or someone is like something or someone else,
or that one situation is like another.
One study found their level of accuracy to be as low as 65%.

2 Read the passage again and underline examples of too, enough and as... as.

3 Read the grammar rules again and classify them as referring to A too , B enough or C as... as.
1 means more than you want or more than is good for you □
2 comes before an adjective [ ]
3 means as much as you need or is good for you . 1
4 is placed after an adjective or adverb . ]
5 describes the similarity between things or people [ ]

4 Rewrite the sentences using too or enough.

1 He is strong. He can carry the machine.

2 You are very young. You can’t take the test.

3 She was nervous. She couldn’t answer the questions.

4 You weren’t calm. You didn’t pass the test.

5 She is very honest. She doesn’t tell lies.

6 I’m not very clever. I can’t understand how the machine works.

5 Complete the sentences using an appropriate phrase with too, enough, or as... as.
1 The film wasn’t .............................. funny................................. I thought it would be. I didn’t laugh
once!
2 sugar in it.
I can’t drink this tea. There’s ................................suga
3 We couldn’t get a good view of the stage. There were ..............people in front of us.
4 I won’t go back to that restaurant. There was choice for vegetarians.
5 I can’t see to read in this room. There’s light.

Now check your answers. pp172-173

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