Unit 6 – Comparative forms

Comparative forms
Let’s look at:
1. When we use comparative and superlative adjectives.
2. How we make comparative adjectives.
3. How we make superlative adjectives.
4. How we make comparative and superlative adverbs.

When do we use them?

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Function: When do we use comparative
adjectives?
The red car is bigger than the
blue car. It is better and more
comfortable for the children.
I’m not sure. The red car is older
than the blue car and I think the
blue car is nicer. Let’s buy the blue
car. I am happier with it.

Which picture is correct?

Comparing A.
them. A.
Is he describing the
B.
Two cars – cars or comparing
the red car them?
and the blue
How many examples of
car. Six.
comparing can you find in
Look at what the man says:
the conversation?
‘The red car is bigger than the blue
car.’ Is he talking about one or
two cars? Let’s see where they
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are…
 Function: When do we use comparative
and superlative adjectives?
1. Comparative adjectives: to compare two people, things or places.

Here are the The red car is older than the blue
The red car is bigger than the blue car. car.
two objects.

It is more comfortable for the I am happier with The blue car is

It is better. In these four it.
children. nicer.
examples, we don’t
need to mention both I am happier with it The blue car is
It (the red car) is more
It (the red car) is objects because we (the blue car than the nicer (than the
comfortable (than the blue
better (than the blue know we are talking red car). red car).
car).
car). about the red and
blue cars.

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Function: When do we use superlative
adjectives?
No. Not the blue car, please! It’s the
most expensive car here. I think it’s the
worst car in the shop.
Look! Superlatives and comparatives are different.
Look at what the man says: ‘It’s the
most expensive car here.’ Is he
comparing the blue car to one
other car or all the cars in the
shop?
All the cars
(a group of
cars).
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Ok. And the yellow car? It’s the
cheapest car in the shop, but it is
also the biggest. What do you think?
Comparative: compares two objects.
The red car is bigger than the blue car.
Superlative: compares one object to a group of
objects.
The blue car is the most expensive car (in the shop).
How many examples of
superlative adjectives can you
find?
Four.
Let’s see where they are…
 Function: When do we use comparative
and superlative adjectives?
1. Comparative adjectives: to compare two people, things or places.

Here are the The red car is older than the blue
The red car is bigger than the blue car. car.
two objects.

It is more comfortable for the In these four I am happier with The blue car is
It is better. children. examples, we don’t it. nicer.
need to mention both
It (the red car) is more objects because we I am happier with it The blue car is
It (the red car) is nicer (than the
comfortable (than the blue know we are talking (the blue car than the
better (than the blue red car).
car). about the red and blue red car).
car).
cars.
2. Superlative adjectives: to compare one person, thing, etc. to a group.
It’s the most expensive car It’s the cheapest car in the
Here, the man and woman
here. shop.
are comparing one car to
all the cars in the shop (a It’s the biggest in the How do we make
It’s the worst car in the shop. group of cars). shop. comparative
adjectives?
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Form: How do we make comparative
adjectives?
I’m not sure. The red car is older
The red car is bigger than the
than the blue car and I think the blue
blue car. It is better and more
car is nicer. Let’s buy the blue car. I Look at the conversation
comfortable for the children.
am happier with it. again and use the
examples to complete the
types of adjectives comparative adjectives table below. The first one is
short adjectives (one syllable) done for you.
older (old)

adjectives ending in -e nicer (nice) Now look at the rules and

add them to the table. The
first one is done for you.
one syllable adjectives ending in bigger (big)
a vowel and then a consonant double
happier (happy) consonant + -er + -r
two syllable adjectives ending in
-y
more comfortable + -er more + adjective
long adjectives (more than two
syllables)
better (good) no rule delete -y + -ier
irregular adjectives
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Form: How do we make comparative
and superlative adjectives?
types of adjectives comparative adjectives
short adjectives (one syllable) older (old) + -er
We use comparative adjectives
+ than to compare two objects,
adjectives ending in -e nicer (nice) + -r people or places. Look…

The red car is bigger than the

one syllable adjectives ending in bigger (big) double consonant
blue car.
a vowel and then a consonant + -er
two syllable adjectives ending in happier (happy) delete -y + -ier The red car is more comfortable
-y than the blue car.

long adjectives (more than two more comfortable more + adjective

syllables) (comfortable)
irregular adjectives better (good) no rule Here are some other
worse (bad) examples of irregular
further (far) comparative adjectives. How do we make
superlative
comparative adjective + than… adjectives?
e.g. The red car is bigger than the blue car .
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Form: How do we make superlative
adjectives?
No. Not the blue car, please! It’s the most Ok. And the yellow car? It’s the
expensive car here. I think it’s the worst cheapest car in the shop, but it is Look at the conversation
car in the shop. also the biggest. What do you think? again and use the
examples to complete the
table below. Some
types of adjectives comparative adjectives
examples are done for
short adjectives (one syllable) the cheapest you.
(cheap)

adjectives ending in -e the nicest (nice) Now look at the rules and
add them to the table. The
the biggest (big) first one is done for you.
one syllable adjectives ending in
a vowel and then a consonant. the + double
consonant + -est the + -st
two syllable adjectives ending in the happiest
-y (happy)
the most expensive the + -est the most + adjective
long adjectives (more than two
syllables) the worst (bad) no rule
the + delete -y + -iest
irregular adjectives
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Form: How do we make comparative
and superlative adjectives? Don’t forget
the!

types of adjectives comparative adjectives superlative adjectives

short adjectives (one syllable) older (old) + -er the cheapest the + -est
(cheap)
adjectives ending in -e nicer (nice) + -r the nicest (nice) the + -st

one syllable adjectives ending in bigger (big) double consonant the biggest (big) the + double
a vowel and then a consonant + -er consonant + -est
two syllable adjectives ending in happier (happy) delete -y + -ier the happiest the + delete -y +
-y (happy) -est
long adjectives (more than two more comfortable more + adjective the most the most +
syllables) (comfortable) expensive adjective
(expensive)
irregular adjectives better (good) no rule the best (good) no rule
The rules are very similar worse (bad) the worst (bad)
for both. further (far) the furthest (far)
We often use expressions like in the world, in the school, in the
class, in the shop with superlative structures.
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Form: How do we make comparative
and superlative adverbs?​ Adverbs which look identical to
adjectives form the
comparatives in the same way.

types of adverb comparative adverbs Superlative adverb

Adverbs ending in -ly more quietly more + adverb the most quietly the most + adverb
(quietly) (quietly)
short adverbs (one faster (fast) adverb + -er the fastest (fast) the + adverb + -est
syllable) harder (hard) the hardest (hard)
later (late) the latest (late)
longer (long) the longest (long)
sooner (soon) the soonest (soon)
irregular adverbs better (well) no rule the best (well) no rule
worse (badly) the worst (badly)
further (far) the furthest (far)
more (much/a lot) the most (much/a
little (less) lot)
the least (less)
Let’s
practise!
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 Practice activities
Complete the gaps with the correct form of the comparative or superlative
structures. Use the adjectives in brackets.
the best
1. My apartment is……………………………… (good) in the whole building because it has more light.

easier
2. I think my dad’s job is…………………………………..(easy) than my mum’s. He gets more time off.

better
3. Is this film…………………………..(good) than the film we watched last week? I hope so!

the most intelligent

4. Maria is…………………………………(intelligent) person in the school. She studies so hard!

the happiest
5. Look! My dog is………………………………………(happy) in the park. He loves playing.

hotter
6. A: It is very hot today! B: I think it was……………………………(hot) yesterday.

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