Making Comparisons |
Comparisons of inequality |
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Adjectives and adverbs of one syllable - and of two syllables ending
in ow, y, - form their comparatives by adding er.
Y is changed to i before adding er.
The word than is used in the second part of the comparison.
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George is two years older than Kevin.
George is happier than Kevin.
Alice is a sweeter person than Marilyn.
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Note: The last example sentence above uses the construction indefinite
article (a, an) + comparative form of adjective + noun (singular) than.
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Adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables form their comparatives by adding more
before the word compared. The word than is used in the second part of the comparison.
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George is more impatient than Kevin.
Alice is a more patient person than Marilyn.
Kevin speaks more slowly than George.
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Comparisons of equality |
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When two things that are the same are compared
the pattern used is: as + adjective + as or as + adverb + as.
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George is built as straight as an arrow.
George isn't as patient as Kevin.
My mother drives as carefully as my father.
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Irregular forms of the comparative and superlative |
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | further / farther | furthest / farthest |
| little | less | least |
| much, many | more | most |
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Superlatives of Adjectives and Adverbs
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Adjectives and adverbs of one syllable - and of two syllables
ending in ow, y, and er - add est to form the superlative.
Y is changed to i before the ending is added. The word article the
or a possessive adjective or noun precedes the adjective or adverb.
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Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
The Sears Building in Chicago is the tallest building in the world.
Tom is my oldest brother.
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Most adjectives of two syllables and all adjectives and adverbs of three or more syllables
add the most in front of the adjective or adverb used to form the superlative.
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The president has the most difficult job in the United States.
He was the most intelligent student in the class.
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The expression one of the is used with the construction superlative + plural noun.
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Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Einstein was one of the most famous scientists in this century.
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Note that the articale the is not used before a superlative preceded by a possessive.
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Rhode Island is our smallest state.
Susan is her youngest daughter.
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| Word Forms |
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| Adjective | Noun |
| wealthy | wealth |
| poor | poverty |
| beautiful | beauty |
| ugly | ugliness |
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Note: All the nouns in this list are abstract nouns.
Abstract nouns are usually uncountable and in the singular form.
Is there much beauty / ugliness / wealth / poverty in New York?
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