Chapter 9 - Comparisons

1. Comparisons

2. What is an Adjective?
• An adjective is a word that tells us more about a noun or a
pronoun.
• An adjective describes or modifies a noun.

3. Comparison of adjectives
There are three forms of comparison:
1. Positive
2. Comparative
3. Superlative

4. Positive Form
• Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison
contains one of the following expressions:
• as … as
• Example: Jane is as tall as John.
• not as … as / not so … as
• Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.

5. Comparative Form and
Superlative Form (-er/-est)
one-syllable adjectives (clean, new, cheap)
two-syllable adjectives ending in -y or -er (easy, happy, pretty, dirty,
clever)
Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est
•silent ‘e’ is dropped
Example: late-later-latest
•final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i
Example: easy-easier-easiest
•final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled
Example: hot-hotter-hottest
positive form comparative form superlative form
clean cleaner (the) cleanest

6. A - Comparison with -er/-est
clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest
We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:
1) adjectives with one syllable
clean cleaner cleanest
new newer newest
cheap cheaper cheapest

7. A - Comparison with -er/-est
2) adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:
2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y
dirty dirtier dirtiest
easy easier easiest
happy happier happiest
pretty prettier prettiest

8. A - Comparison with -er/-est
2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er
clever cleverer cleverest
2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in –le
simple simpler simplest
2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in –ow
narrow narrower narrowest

9. Spelling of the adjectives
using the endings -er/-est
large larger largest leave out the silent -e
big bigger biggest
Double the consonant after short vowel
sad sadder saddest
dirty dirtier dirtiest Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)
Here -y is not changed to -i.
shy shyer shyest
(although consonant before -y)

10. Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more/most)
•adjectives of three or more syllables (and two-syllable
adjectives not ending in -y/-er)
positive form comparative form superlative form
difficult more difficult most difficult

11. C - Irregular adjectives
good better best
bad worse worst
much more most uncountable nouns
many more most countable nouns
little less least
little smaller smallest