UNIT 3 .COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES.

1. TYPES OF COMPARISON
There are three types of comparison

1. to a higher dregree (comparative form + than )

The Andes mountains are higher than the Alps.

2. To the same degree ( as .as)

I dont enjoy swimming as much as I used to

3. To a lower degree ( less + adjective+ than / the least)

I am less keen on taking risks than I used to be.

Antartica is the least densely populated continent.

2. COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES.

1. With one-syllable adjectives

Add er and est to form the comparative and superlative of one-syllable adjectives.

Which is the highest mountain in the world?

For one-syllable adjectives ending in a vowel + a consonant, double the consonant:

hot hotterthe hottest

For one-syllable adjectives ending in -e, add -r and -est:

finefiner the finest

2. With two- syllable adjectives ending in -y and -ow

For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y after a consonant, drop the -y and add -ier and -iest.

Childhood is the happiest time of your life.

For two-syllable adjectives ending in -ow, add -er and -est

The road became narrower as we went along.

3. MORE AND MOST + ADJECTIVE
Use MORE and MOST with :

Two-syllable adjectives (except those ending in -y and ow)

It was the most boring magazine Id ever read.

Adjectives with three or more syllables

This exam was more more difficult than the last one.

4. IRREGULAR COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

GOOD BETTER THE BEST
BAD WORSE THE WORST
LITTLE LESS THE LEAST
MUCHMORE THE MOST
FARFURTHER/FARTHERTHE FURTHEST/FARTHEST
OLD OLDER/ELDER THE OLDEST/ THE ELDEST

5. COMPARING ADVERBS
1. Adverbs that have TWO or MORE SYLLABLES form the comparative and superlative with
MORE and MOST.

If you speak more clearly, everyone will be able to hear you.

She works the most quickly in the class.

2. Adverbs with the same form as adjectives form the comparative and superlative with _ er
and -est.

I can run fast, but Ali can run even faster.

Hell need to work harder if hes going to pass the First Certificate exam.
We were the earlist people to get to the party.

6. IRREGULAR COMPARATIVE ADVERBS

1. BADLY and WELL use the same comparative and superlative forms as BAD and GOOD.

I did WORSE in Maths than Id expected,but BETTER in English.

The weathers mgetting BETTER,but Im worried it will turn WORSE at the weekend.
2.Other irregular forms include:

LATE LATER THE LATEST

MUCH MORE THE MOST
LITTLE LESS THE LEAST

Tom arrived LATER than me,but Mary arrived LAST.

I dont go to the cinema MUCH, but I go MORE than I used to.
She likes Tom LESS THAN Dean, but she likes Alice LEAST of all.

7. INTENSIFYING AND MODIFYING COMPARISONS

We can use several words to intensify and modify adjectives and adverbs.

A. TO EXPRESS A BIG DIFFERENCE

much / far / a lot + comparative
This is much / far more expensive than the others
That book is a lot cheaper than this new one

by far / easily + superlative

It is by far the most / the least expensive book.
The festival is by far / easily the most popular in the country.

Not nearly as .. as

This book is not nearly as expensive as the other.

This is not nearly as good a party as last years .

B. TO EXPRESS A SMALL DIFFERENCE

SLIGHTLY / A BIT / A LITTLE + comparative

This car is slightly faster than I expected
The concert was a bit/ a little better than the previous one

Just about + superlative

It was just about the longest test ever

Nearly / not quite as as

The first show was nearly as good as the second one
The weather isnt quite as hot as it was last time.
8. SENTENCE PATTERNS

Comparative + than

Hes better at cooking than me / than I am / than I .

The + superlative in/ of

Its the prettiest dress of her collection
Its the biggest celebration in Latin America

( the is not always used with the superlative form)

Try your hardest!

The + superlative + clause

Its the best celebration (that) Ive ever seen!

Less / (the) least

Hes less intelligent than his sister = Hes not as intelligent as his sister.
Hes the least intelligent person (that) I know

Use more / less and the most / the least to compare quantities
She spends more / less than her brother
She earns the most/ the least

In formal style FEWER/ FEWEST is used before plural nouns.

There are more / fewer ( of us) here each year

I spend more/ less time practicing the piano

Comparative structures

In the next years the Internet will get QUICKER and QUICKER. (to show an increase)
THE BETTER the weather (is), THE MORE CROWDED the roads
THE SOONER, THE BETTER