lesson 26. Comparisons

Comparisons

Adjectives have got three forms: positive, comparative and superlative.

 

This house is big. It is also expensive. 

 

 This house is bigger than the first. It is also more expensive.

 

This house is the biggest and the most expensive of all.

• We use the comparative  form + than  to compare two people or things.

 

Ann is taller than Richard. 

 

Russia is larger than Australia. 

• We use the + superlative form + of / in to compare three or more people or things.

Chris is the tallest of all. 

We use in when we talk about places.

 

Russia is the largest country in the world.

Formation of the comparative and superlative of adjectives
Adjectives of one or two syllables form the comparative by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est 
fast     -     faster     -     fastest
Adjectives of more than two syllables form the comparative with more  and the superlative with most.
beautiful     -     more beautiful      -     the most beautiful

Some adjectives such  clever, stupid, narrow, gentle, friendly, form the comparative and superlative either with -er / -est or with more / most

clever     -     cleverer     -     cleverest
clever     -     more clever      -     most clever

Spelling rules:

•  one syllable adjectives ending in -e take -r in the comparative and -st in the superlative form

large     -     larger     -     largest

• two syllable adjectives ending in -y turn the -y into -i and then take -er / -est

happy      -     happier     -     happiest  

• adjectives ending in a stressed vowel between two consonants double the final consonant and then take -er / -est 

big     -     bigger     -     biggest 

Video lesson :Comparisons