luni, 9 aprilie 2018

Comparatives and Superlatives Adjectives and Adverbs

Comparatives and Superlatives

Adjectives and Adverbs


Comparatives and superlatives are types of adjectives and adverbs that are used to compare two or more things or people.

Comparative means to compare one thing to another.

Comparative adjectives and adverbs compare two things or people.

            

Comparative Adjectives: Jan is taller than Sally.
Sally's blue uniform is more colorful than Jan's pink uniform.

Comparative Adverbs: Sally jumps higher than Jan.
Jan is cheering more quietly than Sally.


Superlative means to the highest degree or the most.

Superlative adjectives and adverbs compare three or more things or people.



Superlative Adjectives:
Mrs. Smith is the shortest person in the group.
Kate is wearing the most colorful outfit.

Superlative Adverbs: 
Mrs. Smith talks most quietly.
Bob and Sam laugh loudest at Mary's joke.


In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Word FormExamplesComparative RuleExamplesSuperlative
Rule
Examples
One syllableadjectives ending in "e"finewiselargeAdd "r"finer

wiser

larger
Add "st"finest

wisest

largest
One syllable adjectives ending with one vowel and one consonantbigfathotDouble the final consonant and add the suffix "er"bigger

fatter

hotter
Double the final consonant and add the suffix "est"biggest

fattest

hottest
One syllable adjectives with two vowels or ending with two consonantstallsmartneat

loud
Add the suffix "er"taller

smarter

neater

louder
Add the suffix "est"tallest

smartest

neatest

loudest
Two syllable adjectives ending in "y"prettyangryhappyChange the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "er"prettier

angrier

happier
Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "est"prettiest

angriest

happiest
Adjectives with two or more syllables not ending in "y"beautiful

important

dangerous
Do not change the word

Add the word "more" before the adjective
more beautiful

more important

more dangerous
Do not change the word

Add the word "most" before the adjective
most beautiful

most important

most dangerous
Adjectives with two syllables ending in "er", "le", "ow"

gentlehollowyellow

Add the suffix "er"

(If the word ends in "e", just ad "r")
gentlerhollower

yellower
Add the suffix "est"

(If the words ends in "e", just add "st")
gentlest

hollowest

yellowest


Of course there are exceptions to the rules. (Exception means that they do not follow the rules.) 

Here are just a few of the most common adjective exceptions.

WordComparative formSuperlative form
goodbetterbest
badworseworst
farfartherfarthest
farfurtherfurthest
manymoremost
littlelessleast
oldeldereldest



Some two syllable adjectives can follow two rules. Both forms of these words are grammatically correct.

For example:
WordComparative formsSuperlative forms
friendlyfriendlier
more friendly
friendliest
most friendly
quietquieter
more quiet
quietest
most quiet
simplesimpler
more simple
simplest
most simple


The elephants are the loudest animals on the boat.
The giraffes are taller than the penguins.
The most gentle animal is the dove.
The elephant is bigger than the monkey. 


Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

Some adverbs can have comparative and superlative forms. 

They follow most of the same rules as adjectives.

Word FormExamplesComparative RuleExamplesSuperlative RuleExamples
One syllableadverbslate

soon

hard

fast
Add "r" or "er"later

sooner

harder

faster
Add "st" or "est"latest

soonest

hardest

fastest
Adverbs with two or more syllablesoften

seldom
Do not change the word

Add the word "more" before the adverb
more often

more seldom
Do not change the word

Add the word "most" before the adverb
most often

most seldom
Some two syllable adverbs ending in "y"early
Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "er"earlierChange the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "est"earliest
Adverbs that end in "ly"

wisely
quietlysweetly

Do not change the word

Add the word "more" before the adverb
more wisely

more
   quietly

more sweetly      
Do not change the word

Add the word "most" before the adverb
most wisely

most quietly

most sweetly

Most comparative and superlative adverbs use "more" and "most" because they end in "ly". Most adverbs end in "ly". 

Here are some more "ly" adverbs that would use "more" and "most":


  • easily
  • boldly
  • bravely
  • fearlessly
  • kindly
  • lightly
  • openly
  • politely
  • properly
  • rudely
  • safely
  • softly
  • silently
  • tenderly
  • weakly
The bird sings more tenderly than the penguin.
The lion roars most boldly of all the animals.
 


Of course there are exceptions to the rules. Here are just a few of the most common adverb exceptions.

WordComparative formSuperlative form
badlyworseworst
littlelessleast
muchmoremost
wellbetterbest
farfartherfarthest
farfurtherfurthest

Farther vs Further: What is the Difference? 


The first bear feels better than the second bear.
The third bear feels the best of all three bears!
The bear in the middle feels the worst.


These were the rules of forming Comparatives and Superlatives. Now that you know them, it is time to practice! 

https://www.liveworksheets.com/worksheets/en/English_as_a_Second_Language_(ESL)/Comparatives_and_superlatives/Comparative_and_superlative_do923hl

https://www.liveworksheets.com/worksheets/en/English_as_a_Second_Language_(ESL)/Comparatives_and_superlatives/Comparative_and_superlative_zy1326sp