MODIFIERS

ADJECTIVES: COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS

COMPARATIVES
• We use comparatives when we talk about two things:
Alexander of Macedonia was greater than Napoleon.
Elizabeth I of England was as great as Catherine of Russia.
• We form comparatives four ways:
> If the adjective has one syllable (great), we add -er to it {greater) and follow the word
with than (greater than).
> If the adjective has two syllables and ends in -y (friendly), we change the y to i and
add -er (friendlier) and follow the word with than (friendlier than).
> If the adjective has two or more syllables (interesting), we put more before it (more
interesting) and follow the word with than (more interesting than).
>• If two or more things are the same, we put as before and after the adjective
(as great as).
SUPERLATIVES
• We use superlatives when we talk about three or more things:
Of the five bosses I've worked for in my career, Mr. Honeywell is the friendliest.
• We form superlatives in siir\ilar ways:
> If the adjective has one syllable (great), we put the before it and add -est to it
(the greatest).
> If the adjective has two syllables and ends in y (friendly), we put the before it, change
the y to I, and add -est to it (the friendliest).
> If the adjective has two or more syllables (interesting), we put the most before it (the
most interesting).
• Some adjectives in English have irregular comparative and superlative forms:
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther/further farthest/furthest
little less (noncount) least
many/more more most
few (count) fewest

212 READING i.
Practice A
DIRECTIONS: Mark the choice that best completes the sentence.
1. The size ten envelopes are. for sending ๏ ® Cc) ®
documents than those small ones.
(A) better
(B) more better
(C) best
(D) the best
2. You can buy the slightly pens this time. ๏ CD CD CD)
We don't need the most expensive ones.
(A) cheap
(B) cheaper
(C) cheapest
(D) the cheapest
3. Paul is. candidate for that position. He CD CD C£) C^
hates speaking in public.
(A) the bad
(B) worse
(C) worst
(D) the worst
Our new handbook is than our old CD CD CD CD
one.
(A) interesting
(B) more interesting
(C) the interesting
(D) the most interesting
month of the year is usually January CD CD CD CD
or February.
(A) More slow
(B) Slower
(C) Slowest
(D) The slowest
Please don't call us between noon and one. That CD CD CD CD
is time of day.
(A) busy
(B) a busier
(C) busiest
(D) the busiest

i TEXT COMPLETION 213

 ๆ. Which room is one. Conference CD CD © CD
Room A or B?
(A) more quiet
(B) quieter
(C) the quieter
(D) quietest
8. The interior lights seem. than they CD CD CD CD
usually do.
(A) more bright
(B) brighter
(C) brightest
(D) the brightest
9. You'll get. response if you call rather CD CD CD CD
than e-mail the board members.
(A) the quick
(B) a quicker
(C) quickest
(D) the quickest
10. The flower bouquet was much _ when it CD CD CD CD
was delivered on Tuesday.
(A) beautiful
(B) more beautiful
(C) the prettiest
(D) more pretty

214 READING i.