THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE

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

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

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.

Sport cuts teenage crime

When teenagers go out and do stupid things, take drugs, vandalize property, or frighten
people, one reason is often "peer pressure".
Well everyone else was doing it.... is a common excuse, so often heard from teenagers who
find themselves on the wrong side of the law. But peer pressure does not have to be negative,
as a project with young people in the city of Bristol is clearly showing.

Youth crime and vandalism in the Patchway district of Bristol have fallen by 20% in just a few months.
Why? Because young people have stopped encouraging each other to do stupid and antisocialthings,
and are now making sure that they keep out of trouble. And it's all the result of a new football league!

"Peer pressure" is a strong force, specially among young people. Almost

everyone can remember a moment when they have felt compelled to do something because their
friends were doing it, or to buy something because their friends had bought it.

Without peer pressure, fashion would not be the same, and advertising would be much harder. There
would also be fewer of today's big social problems: drugs, crime and so on. Yet although peer
pressure is usually seen as a bad influence, it can also produce positive results.

Jon Owen and David Morgan, two Bristol policemen, have organised a six-a-side football league for
teenagers in Patchway, one of the poorest parts of the city. Police in several parts of Britain organise
similar football leagues or competitions, but usually the aim is just to keep teens occupied, and build
confidence between teenagers and the police. Jon and Dave, however, had a better idea.

They have introduced a system in which football results are linked to young people's behaviour off
the pitch. Teams score points for winning their matches, but lose points if any team-member does
anything he shouldn't.... on the football field or off it! Teams score ten points for winning a match, and
five if they draw; but if any player is arrested, the team loses ten points. If a member is caught doing
an act of vandalism, such as spraying graffiti, the team loses five points. Three points are lost for more
minor offences. The teams also lose points if their members behave badly on the football pitch.

The result has been spectacular; since the football league started, crime and vandalism in the area
have fallen by 20%, and none of the teenagers playing in the league has been apprehended by the
police.

Instead of encouraging each other to do antisocial things, and cause problems, these teenagers are
now encouraging each other to behave properly!

"If any of the lads loses points for the team, 'e won't 'alf get it from the rest!" says Craig, who plays for
one of the teams. "We're making sure we all keep out of trouble!"

The idea is already raising interest in other parts of Britain, and similar programmes may be set up in
other cities. Social workers will also be looking for other ways in which "peer pressure" can be used to
produce positive results, rather than negative ones. If more original ways can be found, to make
positive use of peer pressure, levels of crime and other social problems among teenagers and young
people could soon be falling quickly.

Some people also suggest that a similar system should be introduced for professional footballers. If
red cards led to lost points, they might become very rare! Fifty years ago, before red cards were
introduced, professional footballers rarely got into fights. In those days, there was enormous peer
pressure on them to behave....

In another example of positive peer pressure, statistics show that the number of British teenagers
smoking and taking drugs has fallen by up to 25% in the last four years. In the past, many teenagers in
Britain thought it was very cool to smoke or take drugs; but recently this pressure has fallen, as
teenagers have found a new symbol of growing up; the mobile phone. Research shows that mobiles
have replaced cigarettes, or drugs as a symbol of growing up, in many teenage circles.

WORDS

advertising: publicity - aim: objective -antisocial: that cause problems for other people -
behaviour:activities, actions - compel: force - draw: neither win nor lose - keep out of
trouble: avoid problems - league: competition - led to: caused - offence: illegal act - peer: a person
who is in the same age group, or social group, as others - peer pressure: a force that makes people
behave in the same way as their friends - pitch: field for sports - won't 'alf get it: will certainly be in
trouble -

Student worksheet

Cloze exercise. Complete this extract from the article, without consulting the original text.
If you can't remember the original word, try to use any word that makes good sense. Your teacher will
tell you if your words are acceptable.

Jon Owen and David Morgan, two Bristol policemen, _________________ a six-a-side football
league for teenagers in Patchway, one of the __________ parts of the city. Police in several
parts of Britain organise similar football leagues or competitions, but usually the ________ is just
to keep teens _________, and build confidence ___________ teenagers and the police. Jon and
Dave, however, had a better idea.
They have introduced a system in _________ football results are linked to young people's
_________ off the pitch. Teams score points for __________ their matches, but lose points if
____ team-member does __________ he shouldn't.... on the football field or off it! Teams score
ten points for ________ a match, and five if they draw; but if _______ player is arrested, the
team loses ten points; if a member is caught ________ an act of vandalism, such as ________
graffiti, the team loses five points. Three points are lost for more minor offences. The teams also
lose points if their members _________ badly on the football pitch.

The Car of the Future ?

Is this "snail car" the car of the future ? It does not resemble any of the cars we use
today, and indeed it is very different.... and totally high-tech. But you won't see a car like this
on the roads tomorrow. The future is coming, but not quite so fast.
 Is this "snail car" what tomorrow's car will look like ?
Here is the car of the future! This car is the opposite of todays' cars; today's cars are noisy and
dirty, this one is silent and clean. Today's cars have wheels, this one does not. It moves like a snail,
but much faster than a snail !
This car will use electric energy, not petrol or gasolene; it will have batteries that can be recharged
instantly from chargers in the road. It will also be very easy to drive.
In fact, you won't need to drive it; it will drive itself. You will just need to tell the computer: "Go to X"
and the car will go there. Also, it will reach X very quickly, much faster than today's cars. It will also be
very safe and comfortable.
A lot of the technology already exists, but it is very experimental. Already today scientists are
developing new materials for the surface of roads: In fifty years from now, perhaps sooner, some new
roads will capture solar energy : they will store this energy under the road, and some cars will be able
to use it.
However you probably won't ever drive a "snail car", even if you're under 20 today. This, perhaps, is
the car of the year 2100, the car that your grandchildren will maybe drive.
Driving will be nice in the 22nd century ! No pollution, no traffic-jams, no stress.
If, of course, we reach the 22nd century....With all today's problems of global warming, pollution,
and natural resources, nothing is certain any more. Scientists have lots of ideas about the car of the
future: but the future itself is perhaps less sure.....

WORDS
are noisy : they make a lot of noise - snail: look at the picture - petrol or gasolene: In Britain people
say petrol, in the USA they say gasolene. It is the same. - capture : catch, absorb - traffic jams: when
there are so many cars that they all stop.

Student Worksheet
The Car of the Future?
Put back the missing words in this extract from the article. Some test your vocabulary, others will test
your grammar !

This car is the opposite of __________ cars; ___________ cars are noisy and _______, this one is
_________ and clean. Today's cars have ________, this one does not. It moves like a snail, but much
faster _______ a snail !
This car will use electric energy, not petrol or gasolene; it will have batteries that ______ be
recharged instantly from chargers in the road. It will also be very ________ _____ drive.
In fact, you won't need to drive it; it will drive _________. You will just need to _______ the
computer: "Go to X" and the car will go _______. Also, it will reach X very quickly, much ________
than today's cars. It will also be very safe and comfortable.
A lot of the technology already exists, but it is very ___________. Already today scientists are
developing new materials for the surface of roads: In fifty years _ ____ ______, perhaps sooner,
some new roads will capture solar energy : they will store _______ energy under the road, and some
cars will be able to use it.
However you probably won't ______ drive a "snail car", _______ if you're under 20 today. This,
perhaps, is the car of the year 2100, the car that your grandchildren will ________ drive.