The comparison of adjectives

6.5A Common comparative and superlative forms: 'cold - colder – the coldest' [> LEG 6.5, 6.22-29]

1 We add – er and - est to form the comparative and superlative of most one-syllable adjectives: clean - cleaner - the cleanest, cold - colder - the coldest.

2 Adjectives like hot (big, fat, sad, wet) double the consonant: hot - hotter - the hottest.

3 Adjectives like nice (fine, large, late, safe) add -r, -st: nice - nicer - the nicest.

4 With adjectives like busy we use -i in place of –y: busy - busier - the busiest.

5 We use the comparative when comparing one person or thing with another.

6 We use the superlative when comparing one person or thing with more than one or others.

Write: 1 My room's big. (in the house)… 2 My room's cold, (in the house) …3 My garden's nice, (in the street)…4 My desk is tidy, (in the office)

6.5B Adjectives with two or more syllables: 'clever > cleverer', but 'expensive' > “more expensive” [> LEG 6.22-29]

1 Some two-syllable adjectives like happy (clever, common, narrow, pleasant, quiet, simple, stupid) have two comparative or superlative forms: - either with –er or -est: She's cleverer than you. She's the cleverest person I know. - or with more/the most: She's more clever than you. She's the most clever person I know.

2 We use only more/the most with most two-syllable adjectives: careless, correct, famous.

3 We use more/the most with three-syllable adjectives: more beautiful, the most beautiful.

 

Write: Give both forms where possible.

1 She's happier/more happy than I am. …the happiest/most happy person I have ever met … 2 His work was careless than mine..., in the class... 3 This problem is …simple. than that one..., in the book... 4 This watch is expensive. than that one... in the shop... 5 This engine is quiet… than mine..., ever built...

6.5C. Comparative and superlative forms often confused: 'older/elder' [> LEG 6.24-26, 7.4-5, App 12]

1 Further and farther refer to distance: London is five miles further/farther. Further (Not ‘farther’) can mean 'in addition': There's no further information.

2 We use elder/eldest before a noun only with reference to people in a family: my elder brother/son, the eldest child, he's the eldest (but not ‘He is elder than me.’) We use older/oldest for people and things: He is older than I am. This book is older.

3 Irregular comparisons: good/well – better - the best; bad – worse - the worst; much/many – more - the most; little – less - the least.

Good is an adjective; well is adjective or adverb [> 6.4A].

4 Lesser is formed from less but is not a true comparative. We cannot use than after it. Lesser means ' not so great' and we use it in fixed phrases like “the lesser of two evils ”.

5 Latest/last I bought the latest (i.e. most recent) edition of today's paper. But, I bought the last (i.e. final) edition of today's paper.

6 The comparative and superlative of little is smaller/smallest: a small/ little boy, a smaller/the smallest boy. Very young children often use littler and littlest.

Write: Circle the right forms in these sentences. In some cases both forms are right.

1 Is your house much (farther/further) 2 Who is the (oldest/eldest) in this class? …3 Your driving is (worse/worst) than mine.4 It's the (less/lesser) of two evils … 5 Have you heard the (last/latest) news?... 6 We have no (further/farther) information … 7 Jane Somers writes (good/well) … 8 His (latest/last) words were: ‘The end’… 9 This is the town's (oldest/eldest) house … 10 My flat is (littler/ smaller) than yours … 11 I've got (less/lesser) than you …12 Jane is (older/elder) than I am…13 This is the (more/most) expensive …14 His English is (best/better) than mine …15 It's the (better/best) in the shop …16 It's the (furthest/farthest) point west. 17 It's the (oldest/eldest) tree in the country. 18 She's my (elder/older) sister. 19 I've got the (least/less)! 20 You've got the (more/most)!

6.5D Write: Put in the right forms. Alternatives are possible. THE CHAMP.

The two men were sitting at the bar. The one (near) 1 nearer to me was the (big)2... and (strong)3... man I have ever seen. The one (far)4... from me was the (small/little)5... and (weak)6... They were having the (violent)7... argument I had ever heard. Suddenly the little man said, 'It's a case of the (small)8... brain in the world fitted into the (big)9... head!' They were his (last/latest)10... words. The little man didn't know what hit him as he fell to the floor. 'When Shortie wakes up, tell him that was my (better/ best) "11... Karate chop, the big man told the barman as he left. The next evening, King Karate was at the bar as usual when Shortie crept in quietly, swung his arm and the champ fell to the floor. 'When Karate wakes up,' Shortie said, 'tell him it was my (oldest/eldest)12... Land Rover starting handle.'