COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

Comparatives and Superlatives by Karla K. Cuevas Falfรกn is licensed under a Creative Commons ReconocimientoNoComercial-SinObraDerivada 3.0 Unported License.

ACTIVITIES 1.-Watch the videos and complete the dialogue.

First video, minutes (1:54-2:11) [… ] Rachel- Phoebe, you have to calm down.

Phoebe- Ok. Rachel, 1)_______________________________ in the tri-state area are in this room right now. I overheard a judge say that not one of them holds a candle to Emma.

Rachel- Really?

Phoebe- Yeah.// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxCJVo1HRAc

Second video, minutes (0:01-0:17) […]

Monica- You touch that, and you will be sorry!

Chandler- Guys, I’d listen to her. 2)______________________I’ve

ever seen it!

Rachel- Oh, my God, it’s Brussels sprouts!

Ross- That’s 3)____________________no food.

Chandler- All you got was Monica’s stinky Brussels sprouts…

Monica- Stinky?// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUQAeGkhsoY&feature=related

We use the comparative to compare one person or thing with another

We use the superlative to compare one person or thing with more than one person or thing of the same group

We use than after a comparative We use the before a superlative He is older than me

He’s the oldest person in the room

Formation of comparatives and superlatives from adjectives and adverbs With one-syllable adjectives, add -(e)r to form the comparative and -(e)st to form the superlative.

Close-Closer-Closest Note: For one-syllable adjectives ending in a vowel + a consonant, we double the consonant.

Big-Bigger-Biggest

With two-syllable adjectives ending in –ly, -y, -w, we also ad (e)r/-(e)st.

Narrow-Narrower-Narrowest Note: For adjectives ending in a consonant + -y, we replace the -y with an –i.

Tiny-Tinier-Tiniest With other two-syllable adjectives or adjectives with more than two syllables, comparatives and superlatives are formed with more/most.

Intelligent-more intelligent-most intelligent With adverbs that have the same form as their adjectives we add -(e)r /-(e)st.

Hard-Harder-Hardest Two-syllable or compound adverbs take more/most Slowly-more slowly-most slowly Note: Clever, Common, Cruel, Friendly, Gentle, Pleasant, Polite, Shallow, Simple, Stupid, Quiet can form their comparatives and superlatives either with -(e)r /-(e)st or with more/most

     

Irregular forms: Good-Better-Best Bad-Worse-worst Much-More-Most Little-Less-Least Far-Farther/Further-Farthest/Furthest Many/lots-More-Most Evans, V and Obee, B. (2009) Upstream Upper Intermediate EU: Express Publishing

3.-Read the types of comparison and choose from the box the example for each case

1.-as + adjective + as: To show that two people or things are similar in some way. In negative sentences we use not as/so‌as.

2.-less + adjective +than: Express the difference between two people or things.

3.-the least + adjective +of/in: Compares one person or thing to two or more people or things in the same group.

4.-much/ a lot/ far/ a little/ a bit/ slightly + comparative: Express the degree of difference between two people or things.

5.-comparative and comparative: To show that something is increasing or decreasing.

6.-the + comparative‌, the + comparative: Shows that two things change together or that one thing depends on another thing.

7.-by far + the +superlative: Emphasizes the difference between one person or thing and two or more people or things in the same group.

a)She is the least ambitious person in the company b)The longer the day went on, the more tired she became c)The blue skirt is as expensive as the red one d)Last year was by far the best the company has ever had e)The traffic gets worse and worse every day f )Brian is slightly older than Claire g)Paul is less successful than his brother

4.-Write an example for each type of comparison 1.-as + adjective + as: _________________________________________________ 2.-less + adjective +than: _________________________________________________ 3.-the least + adjective +of/in: _________________________________________________ 4.-much/a lot/far/a little/a bit/slightly + comparative: _________________________________________________ 5.-comparative and comparative: _________________________________________________ 6.-the + comparative‌, the + comparative: _________________________________________________ 7.-by far + the +superlative: _________________________________________________

5.-Look at the pictures and write true (T)or false (F) John

1.-John is taller than Lisa, but shorter than Julie. [ ] 2.-Julie is the shortest. [ ]

Lisa

Julie

3.-Lisa is the tallest. [ ]

4.-Michael is fatter than he used to be. [ ]

5.-The horse number five is faster than horse number four. [ ]

KEY ACTIVITY 1 1)The hottest 2)[…] is bigger than 3)[…] worse than no ACTIVITY 2 1)C 2)G 3)A 4)F 5)E 6)B 7)D ACTIVITY 3 Ss’ own answers ACTIVITY 4 1.-F 2.-T 3.-T 4.-F 5.-F