Comparative and Superlatives

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH II

JUDIT SARAI SARMIENTO PÁRRAGA

THIRD UNIT
 Comparatives
Comparatives are used to show the difference between two
objects.

A comparative shows the difference between the two cars.

• The blue car is bigger than the white one.
• The white car is smaller than the blue one.
 Comparison: Rule 1

If an adjective has 1 syllable:

• add the ending –er to the adjective and the word
than:
• small = smaller than
• hard = harder than
• tall = taller than

• The ant is shorter than the hippo

• The hippo is larger than the ant
 Comparatives: Rule 2
• For one syllable adjective ending with a consonant + a vowel + a
consonant,
• double the last consonant
• and then ad –er
big + er = bigger than
fat + er = fatter than
Thin + er = thinner than

• The elephant is fatter than the giraffe

• The girafe is thinner than the elephant
 Rule 3

If an adjective ends with a “y”, remove the “y” and add –ier.

happy = happier than heavy- heavier

funny = funnier than pretty- prettier

The toddler is happier than the baby

 Rule 4
If an adjective has two or more syllables without a “y” then add the word
“more” before the word
Handsome = more handsome
beautiful = more beautiful than
expensive = more expensive than
If the adjective ends with a “y”, you will only add the word “more” if it has
three syllables or more
easy = easier than
satisfactory = more satisfactory than

The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog

 Rule 5

There are few exceptions (irregular)

good = better than

bad = worse than

far = farther than

Far= further than

Australia is farther than Europe

 Remember
When using a comparative you must always follow it with
the word “than”
• Switzerland is smaller than Russia
• A killer whale is bigger than a dolphin.
• A humming bird is smaller than a thumb.
• The hyppo is fatter than the zebra.
• The dog is happier than the monkey.
• The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.
Superlatives
Inglés profesional 2
 Superlatives
They are used to show the difference between more than
two objects.

The truck is the biggest of the other cars.

Let’s learn to use these through five basic rules.

 Rule 1

If an adjective has 1 syllable: add the ending –est to the

adjective.
small = the smallest
hard = the hardest

The cat is the smallest animal of my pets.

 Rule 2
If a one syllable adjective ends with a consonant + a vowel + a consonant
Double the last consonant and add –est.
big = the biggest slim- the slimmest
fat = the fattest thin- the thinnest

The bear is the fattest.

 Rule 3

If an adjective ends with a “y”, remove the “y” and add –iest.
happy = the happiest dry- drier- the driest
funny = the funniest

The male is the heaviest.

 Rule 4

If an adjective has two syllables or more without a “y” then add the word
“most” before the word.
• beautiful + most = the most beautiful
• expensive + most = the most expensive
If the adjective ends with a “y”, only add the word “most” if it has three
syllables or more.
• easy = the easiest dirty= the dirtiest
• satisfactory + most = the most satisfactory

The airplane is the most expensive .

 Rule 5
There are a few exceptions.

• good = the best

The best team

• bad = the worst

the worst earthquake ever

• far = the farthest/ furthest

the farthest land in the world
 Remember
When using a superlative always precede it with
the word “the”.
• The Vatican is the smallest country in the world

• The blue whale is the biggest animal.

• The humming bird is the smallest bird

 Remember
When using a superlative always precede it with
the word “the”.
• The Vatican is the smallest country in the world

• The blue whale is the biggest animal.

• The humming bird is the smallest bird

 Comparative and superlative
adjectives
1 Look at the way we form comparative and superlative adjectives:
Adjective Comparative Superlative

Short adjectives old older oldest

fat* fatter fattest
Adjectives that
end in -y early earlier earliest
happy happier happiest
Adjectives with
two syllables or exciting more exciting most exciting
more delicious more delicious most delicious
difficult more difficult most difficult

Irregular
good better best
adjectives
bad Worse worst
far farther Farthest/furthest
* For short adjectives with one vowel + one consonant, double the consonant.
 Comparative and superlative
adjectives
2 Than is often used after a comparative adjective.

Neil is older than Ali.

Apple laptops are more expensive than HP laptops.
Paris is much more beautiful than Manchester,

Much/a lot can come before the comparative to give emphasis.

3 The is used before superlative adjectives.

Jann is the worst singer I know.

It was the happiest day of my life.
Use
1 Comparatives compare one thing, person, or action with another.
My new flat is nicer than my old flat.
Ian is friendlier than Dana.
 Exercise - Comparative
•Adjectives: Comparative
1.Slight
slighter
2.Gradual
more gradual
3.Steady

4.Sharp steadier
5.Dramatic sharper
6.Substancial
more dramatic
7.Low
more substancial
lower
 Comparative and
superlative adjectives
2 We use superlatives to compare somebody or something with the
whole group.

I’m the youngest in my family.

Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
3 As … as shows that something is the same or equal.

Lisa is as clever as you./ She is as intelligent as you.

My new neighbour is as friendly as the old one.

4 Not as … as shows that something isn’t the same or equal.

His computer isn’t as good as mine.

Boston isn’t as big as Los Angeles. Los Angeles is bigger than Boston.
Use an adjective with (not) as … as.
 Exercise - Superlative
•Adjectives: Superlative
1.Slight
slightest
2.Gradual
the most gradual
3.Steady

4.Sharp steadiest
5.Dramatic sharpest
6.Substancial
the most dramatic
7.Low
the most substancial
lowest
 Comparative and
superlative adjectives
Make the sentences.

1 Tokyo / more modern / Rome. Tokyo is more modern than Rome.

2 Lisa / young / in our class. Lisa is the youngest in our class.

3 Mumbai / big / city in India. Mumbai is the biggest city in India.

4 He / not / nice / his brother. He isn’t as nice as his brother.

5 The weather / bad / last year. The weather is worse than last year.
 Speaking Time!

• Look at the logos of some mutinational companies.

• What is the name of each company? What does it produce or sell?

• Compare between each one , use compartive or superlative
adjective
 Autoevaluación
Fill in the gaps. Use the comparative of the word in brackets.
smaller than yours (small)
Example: My house is __________
a) more small
b) smaller
c) The most small
1. Sara is _________ than Tom (young)
a) younger
b) more young
c) The most young
2. Teresa is _________ than John (old)
a) more older
b) older
c) the most small
 Autoevaluación
Write sentences. Use comparatives.
Example: Karol/ thin/ Maria
Karol is thinner than Maria
___________________________________________________
3) Rob /funny/ Sam
___________________________
4) My classroom/big/yours
_____________________________
5) Mary/happy/ Johanna
____________________________
 Autoevaluación
Complete the sentences. Use the comparative of the word in brackets.

more difficult than English (difficult)

Example: Chemistry is ___________________

6) Brad Pitt is ____________ than Marc Anthony (handsome)

7) Frank is _____________ than Susan (intelligent)

8) Jennifer is __________-__ than Angeline (beautiful)

 Autoevaluación

Fill in the gaps. Use the comparative form of good, bad and
far.

farther
Example: China is ___________________ than Mexico (far)

9) Italian food is _____________than North American food (good)

10) His handwriting is ___________ than Mabel’s (bad)

11) My school is ___________ from here than the park (far)

 Autoevaluación
Click on the answer you think is correct.
bigger
Example: Argentina is __________ than England.
a) bigger
b) more big
c) biggest

12) Tomas is __________________ than his brother.

d) most handsome
e) more attractive
f) intelligenter
13) Villages are __________________ than cities.
g) quieter
h) noisier
i) Busier
 Autoevaluación
Click on the answer you think is correct.
as stupid as he looks!
• Example: He's not ___________________
a) as stupid as
b) more stupid as
c) as stupider

14) I'm almost ___________________ in science.

a) as good in Maths than
b) as better in Maths as
c) as good in Maths as
15) This book is not ___________________ the last one.
a) as exciting than
b) more exciting as
c) as exciting as
 Autoevaluación
Click on the answer you think is correct.
16) The cafeteria is not ____________________ usual.
a) biggest
b) as crowded as
c) more big
17) Russian is not quite ____________________ Chinese.
a) -as difficult as
a) difficulter as
b) as difficult than
18) This book is not ____________________ the last one.
c) as exciting as
d) more exciting as
e) as more exciting than
 Autoevaluación
Click on the answer you think is correct.
19) That old machine works ____________________ the new one.
a) more good than
b) as better as
c) as well as
20) My friends live in a house ____________________ mine.
d) as bigger as
e) more big as
f) as big as
Answer key:
1) younger 11) Farther
2) Older 12) more attractive
3) Rob is funnier than Sam 13) quieter
4) My classroom is bigger than yours 14) as good in Maths as
5) Mary is happier than Johana 15) as exciting as
6) more handsome 16) as crowded as
7) more intelligent 17) as difficult as
8) more beautiful 18) as exciting as
9) Better 19) as well as
10) Worse 20) as big as