|
When we talk about two people or two things, we can
"compare" them. We can see if they are the same or
different. We can use comparative adjectives to describe the
differences between them. We can't use the comparative
adjectives to compare three or more people or things. In the example below, "bigger" is the comparative form of the adjective "big": |
|
|---|---|
C
C The first C
is bigger than the second
C.
|
|
| Formation of Comparative Adjectives | |
| To put it simply, there are two ways to make a comparative adjective: | |
| short adjectives: add "-er" | |
| long adjectives: use "more" | |
| Use –er to compare one syllable adjectives as well as two-syllable adjectives ending in –y, We use -er to compare two subject | |
| The elephant is big. | An elephant is bigger than a horse. |
| Adnan is tall. | He is taller than his friend. |
| I was hungry yesterday. | I’m hungrier today than I was yesterday. |
| Use more or less to compare most other adjectives and adverbs. We use more or less to compare two subjects | |
| She is beautiful. | She is more beautiful than her sister. |
| Sami is interesting. | He is more interesting than his brother. |
| Ahmad is interesting. | Saeed is less interesting than his sister. |
| Use better and worse for comparisons with good or bad. | |
| That’s a good picture, but this one is better. | |
| I think that the second one is worse than the first. | |
| Use as +adjective + as to show similarity | |
| He’s as fast as his friend. | |
| Superlative Adjectives | |
| A superlative adjective expresses the highest degree of a quality. We use a superlative adjective to describe the degree of a quality of one thing in a group of things. | |
|---|---|
| In the following example, "biggest" is the superlative form of the adjective "big": | |
| We can use superlative adjectives when talking about three or more people or things (not two things). | |
A B C
|
C is big.
|
C is bigger than B.
|
A is the biggest.
|
| Use the + -est to indicate the superlative of one-syllable adjectives as well as two-syllable adjectives ending in –y. We use the superlative to compare 3 or more people or things. | |
|---|---|
| He’s the smartest man . | He is the craziest man in the neighborhood. |
| Use the best or the worst as the superlative of good or bad. | |
| This is the best book I have ever read. | That was the best night I have ever spent at home. |
| It was the worst dinner I’ve ever eaten. | |
| Use the most + adjective to indicate the superlative of longer adjectives. | |
| Mr. Sal man is the most> wonderful teacher I’ve known. | This is the most difficult question I’ve ever answered. |
| Below, you will find more examples on the comparative and superlative adjectives. | ||
|---|---|---|
| One syllable adjectives are compared with -er, -est. | ||
| Adjective | Comparative Adj. | Superlative Adj. |
| strong | stronger |
strongest |
|
small |
smaller |
smallest |
|
late |
later |
latest |
|
nice |
nicer |
nicest |
|
big |
bigger |
biggest |
|
thin |
thinner |
thinnest |
|
fat |
fatter |
fattest |
| Dammam is bigger than Khobar. | ||
| Adjectives ending with y, er, ow, le are compared with -er, -est | ||
|
Adjectives |
Comparative Adj. |
Superlative Adj. |
|
easy |
easier |
easiest |
|
happy |
happier |
happiest |
|
clever |
cleverer |
cleverest |
|
narrow |
narrower |
narrowest |
| What is the easiest job? | ||
| All the other adjectives are compared with more, most | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adjectives | comperative | superlative |
|
careful |
more careful |
most careful |
|
expensive |
more expensive |
most expensive |
|
difficult |
more difficult |
most difficult |
|
tired |
more tired |
most tired |
|
terrible |
more terrible |
most terrible |
|
Which car is more expensive? |
Which car is the most expensive? |
|
| Irregular forms | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Adjectives |
Comparative Adj. |
Superlative Adj |
|
good |
better |
best |
|
bad |
worse |
worst |
|
much |
more |
most |
|
many |
more |
most |
|
little |
less |
least |
| as + adjective + as - | (not) as + adjective + as - |
|---|---|
| Nadia is as pretty as Shahd. | Nabeela isn't as pretty as Nadia |
| I think tomorrow will be as cold as today. | This math test wasn't as difficult as the English one. |