Comparative

Comparative

The formation of the comparative depends on the number of syllables in the base adjective.

Use of Comparative Adjectives

• We use comparative adjectives when talking about two things (not three or more things)

• Often, the comparative adjective is followed by "than".

• Look at these examples:

  John is 1m80. He is tall. But Chris is 1m85. He is taller than John. America is big. But Russia is bigger. I want to have a more powerful computer. Is French more difficult than English?

Comparative form 1

• one syllable

  fast (or high, small, etc.)

• Rule: adjective + "-er" + than

• A cat is faster than a turtle

Comparative form 2

two syllables 

heavy (ou happy, busy, etc.)

Rule: delete the "y", then use adjective + "-ier" + than

A melon is heavier than a grape

Comparative form 3

• More than one syllable (but excluding Type 2 above)

  important (or intelligent, careful, etc.)

• Rule:more + adjective + than

• Good health is more important than money 

Comparative form 4

• one syllable - CVC - consonant + vowel + consonant

  hot, big, fat, wet

• Rule: hot + double consonant + er

• In Summer is hotter than in Winter.

Comparative - Irregular adjectives

• Good

  Tim is better than Steve at tennis

• Bad

  This winter is worse than last year's winter

Practice the rules

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Multiple Choice

Comparative adjectives are used when comparing _______ things, people or groups.

• two

• two or more

• three or more

Multiple Choice

Many adjectives are changed into the comparative form by adding

• -er

• -est

• -ies

Multiple Choice

Which is the comparative form? "I'm strong, but my brother is _______ ."

• strongest

• stronger

• as strong

Multiple Choice

A long adjective of 3 or more syllables is changed into a comparative adjective by

• adding -er to it

• adding -est to it

• putting "more" before it

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct comparative form? "My phone's expensive, but Joe's is _______ ."

• expensiver

• most expensive

• more expensive

Multiple Choice

Which is correct? "Do you think Maria is _______ than Selena?"

• prettier

• more pretty

• more prettier

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a comparative form of the adjective "clever"?

• cleverer

• cleverrer

• more clever

Multiple Choice

Which is correct? "English is _______ Japanese."

• easier

• more easy

• easier than

Multiple Choice

Which is correct? "This year the weather is ______ than last year."

• badder

• worse

• worser

Multiple Choice

Which is comparative? "Whose English is _______? Mine or his?"

• good

• better

• best

Practice

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Multiple Choice

Beth is ______than Eduardo.

• more short

• short

• shorter

Multiple Choice

The blue dress is ______ than the yellow dress.

• beautiful

• most beautiful

• more beautiful

Multiple Choice

My cat is ______ than your cat.

• big

• bigger

• more big

Multiple Choice

His kitchen is _______ than her kitchen.

• cleaner

• more clean

• clean

Multiple Choice

This test is ______ than the test we took yesterday.

• more difficult

• most difficult

• difficult

Multiple Choice

The brown bird is ______ than the yellow bird.

• more little

• small

• smaller

Multiple Choice

His headache was bad yesterday. Today it is ______.

• worse

• bad

• worst

Multiple Choice

Yesterday I was sick. Today I feel ______.

• more better

• better

• good

Multiple Choice

John is ______ than he was yesterday.

• more sick

• sickest

• sicker

Multiple Choice

The boys are ______ today than they were yesterday.

• happier

• more happy

• happy

Practice writing

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