Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives and Superlatives

English Tutoring

​How do you compare things?

​Is there a difference between comparisons on the next slide?

​1. The tree on the left is taller.

2. The tree on the right is smallest.

Open Ended

What is the difference between the comparisons on the previous slide?

HINT: THINK ABOUT PREFIXES

COMPARATIVES​

Pronounced com-para-tiv-s​

​What are comparatives?

​They compare things to each other by saying that something is MORE than something else.

​

​For example,

​It is bigger.

​​It is weirder.

​​It is healthier.

Multiple Choice

Rewrite the word in the brackets to make it a comparative.

Clara is [smart] than Charles.

• smart

• more smart

• smartest

• smarter

• smarte

​'MORE' COMPARATIVES

​We have comparatives like 'faster' or 'uglier' or 'slower'.

​

​But can we have comparatives like 'confuseder' or 'famouser'.

Multiple Choice

Can we have comparatives like 'famouser'?

• Yes

• No

​'MORE' COMPARATIVES

​We can't have 'famouser' because it isn't a word.

​

​But we can have 'more famous'. Despite popular opinion, this is still a comparative.

​

Ideally, a word should end with '-er' at the end. Only if it can't, it should have 'more' as a prefix..

​'more pretty' is wrong - 'prettier' is correct.

​'interestinger' is wrong - 'more interesting' is correct.

Multiple Choice

Which of these ISN'T a comparative?

• funnier

• more funny

• closer

• more famous

Multiple Choice

Which of these ISN'T a correct comparative?

(remember, if it can have the prefix -er, it should)

• weirder

• more interesting

• more young

• more amazing

​Superlatives

​Pronounced soup-er-lat-ivs

​What are superlatives

​STEP 1 - check you can pronounce their name.

​soup - er - lat - ivs

​

​STEP 2 - if comparatives say if something is MORE than something else, what do you think superlatives say?

Poll

What do you think superlatives describe?

• MORE than something else

• The MOST of something

• The LONGEST of something

• T

​CORRECT ANSWER?

​

​THE MOST OF SOMETHING

​Examples of superlatives

​Here are some examples:

​

• ​funniest

• ​coolest

• ​largest

• ​shortest

• ​weirdest

• ​most interesting

• ​most generous

• ​most amazing

​Prefix or Suffix

​Applies to both comparatives and superlatives

​How to tell

​Up until now, I've relied on you just KNOWING.

​But you won't always know, so here is the rule:

​

​

​If the word is three or more syllables, then you use the prefix 'more' or 'most'.

​

​If it is 2 syllables, it can be either the prefix OR the suffix.

​e.g. [popular] is 3 syllables.

​

​Therefore, 'popular' --> 'most popular'

​

​e.g. [hot] is 1 syllable.

​

​Therefore 'hot' --> 'hottest'

​

​If it has 2 syllables, it can be either.

Multiple Choice

I want to turn 'generous' into a comparative.

Should it have the prefix 'more' or the suffix '-er'

• more generous

• generouser

Multiple Choice

I want to turn 'slow' into a comparative.

Should it have the prefix 'more' or the suffix '-er'

• more slow

• slower

Multiple Choice

I want to turn 'extreme' into a comparative.

Should it have the prefix 'more' or the suffix '-er'

• more extreme

• extremer

Multiple Choice

Comparative or superlative?

comfier

• Comparative

• Superlative

Multiple Choice

Comparative or superlative?

tidiest

• Comparative

• Superlative

Multiple Choice

Comparative or superlative?

most gorgeous

• Comparative

• Superlative

Multiple Choice

Comparative or superlative?

cutest

• Comparative

• Superlative

Multiple Choice

Comparative or superlative?

more expensive

• Comparative

• Superlative

Multiple Choice

Comparative or superlative?

cheaper

• Comparative

• Superlative