Comparative and superlative adjectives.

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify
(larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this
pattern:

Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).

The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).

EXAMPLES

My house is larger than hers.

This box is smaller than the one I lost.

Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.

The rock flew higher than the roof.

Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better. ("than Jim" is understood)

SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality
(the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is
compared to a group of objects.

Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).

The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example
below).

EXAMPLES
My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.

This is the smallest box I've ever seen.

Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.

We all threw our rocks at the same time. My rock flew the highest. ("of all the rocks" is
understood)
FORMING REGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Forming comparatives and superlatives is easy. The form depends on the number of syllables in the
original adjective.

ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant + single
vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Tall Taller tallest

Fat Fatter fattest

Big Bigger biggest

Sad Sadder saddest

TWO SYLLABLES

Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceeding the
adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceeding
the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are used, although one usage will be more
common than the other. If you are not sure whether a two-syllable adjective can take a comparative
or superlative ending, play it safe and use moreand most instead. For adjectives ending in y,
change the y to an i before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Happy Happier happiest

Simple Simpler simplest

Busy Busier busiest

 Adjective Comparative Superlative

Tilted more tilted most tilted

Tangled more tangled most tangled

THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES

Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front of the
adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Important more important most important

Expensive more expensive most expensive

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Good Better best

Bad Worse worst

Little Less least

Much More most

Far further / farther furthest / farthest

 Adjective Comparative Superlative

EXAMPLES

Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.

You play tennis better than I do.

This is the least expensive sweater in the store.

This sweater is less expensive than that one.

I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.

PRACTICE
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the comparative adjective

he red jacket is cheaper (cheap) than the blue jacket.

The shoes are nicer (nice) than the boots.

The pink socks are more expensive (expensive) than the white

socks.

The brown sweater is better (good) than the blue sweater.

The chocolate looks worse (bad) than the candy.

The radio is newer (new) than the DVD player.

 The CDs are older (old) than the DVDs.

These apples are brighter (bright) than those apples.

This dress is more beautiful (beautiful) than that dress.

Those green tomatoes are sweeter (sweet) than the red tomatoes.

Superlative adjectives
Use the superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.

1. Who is the tallest__________ (tall) person in your family?

2. My mum is the_____best_____ (good) cook in the world.

3. December is the__coldest________ (cold) month of the year in my country.

4. What's the_____most dangerous______ (dangerous) animal in the world?

5. Ethan is the _____happiest_____ (happy) boy that I know.

6. Where are the ___nicest_______ (nice) beaches in your country?

7. She bought the ___biggest_______ (big) cake in the shop.

8. Who is the ________most famous_________ (famous) singer in your country?

VOCABULARY
 Exercises.
1. Make 6 sentences using the new vocabulary of health problems.

Ex: Mary has a headache.

 1. Write c for countable and u for uncountable

Time _u_ flour ____ meat ___U__ rice __U___

Books __C__ butter _U___ apples ___C_ tea __U__
Sugar _U__ pencils ___C_ oil __U__ games___C_
Jam ___ salt__U__ cream __U_ houses C

a) a / an + singular countable noun ( a pen, an apple)

some + plural countable nouns - positive sentences ( There are some cars)
some + uncountable nouns -
positive sentences ( There is some oil)
Any - we use any in negative sentences and in most questions.(countable and uncountable
nouns) I don't have any pens. There isn't any salt.
Do you have any sisters?

2. Choose a, an, some or any

 a. It is ___a____ dog.
b. We don't have ___any___ bread.
c. There is ____some____orange on the table.
d. Do you have ____some__ eggs?
e. My brother found ____some____ money.
f. There are _____some_____ students in the classroom
g. Tim eats ____some____ cheese every day.

b) how much - we use with uncountable nouns

c) how many - we use with countable nouns

Complete the sentences using How much or How many

a. _____How much______ cheese do you buy?
b. _____How many_______ books are there in your bag?
c. ___________ films did Tom see last week?
d. ___How many________ money do you spend every week?
e. ___________friends does Linda have?
f. _____How many_______ tomatoes are there in the fridge?
g. ___How much_________ meat are you going to buy?
h. ____How much ________ milk did you drink yesterday?