Comparative and Superlative
Comparative
Explain
A is bigger than B.
B is smaller than A.
Subject + verb 'be' + comparative adjective + than + noun / noun phrase
When we compare two nouns we use the comparative form of an adjective. Above we are comparing the 'size' of the the two nouns. One is bigger and one is smaller.
Vocabulary - adjectives
Rule 1
When the adjective is one syllable or two syllables (ending in -y) you add 'er' or 'ier'.
If the adjective ends with a 'y' you drop the 'y' and add 'ier'.
Examples:
Adjective
big
tall
tasty
weak
strong
fresh
Comparative
bigger
taller
tastier
weaker
stronger
fresher
Rule 2
When the adjective has two syllables (and does not end in a 'y') or more than two syllables then we add 'more' at the front.
Adjective
delicious
popular
famous
peaceful
historic
convenient
Comparative
more delicious
more popular
more famous
more peaceful
more historic
more convenient
Rule 3
There are some exceptions.
Adjective
good
bad
Comparative
better
worse
Comparative Examples
Subject + verb 'be' + comparative adjective + than + noun / noun phrase
London + is + more convenient + than + Hawaii
London is more convenient than Hawaii.
Hawaii + is + more peaceful + than + London
Hawaii is more peaceful than London.
This bread + is + tastier + than + that bread
This bread + is + more delicious + than + that bread
This bread + is + better + than + that bread
He + is + stronger + than + him
He is stronger than him.
He + is + weaker + than + him
He is weaker than him.
Comparative Exercises
beer
Rome
The Eiffel Tower - 325m
This
whiskey
New York
The Tokyo Tower - 333m
That
Subject + verb 'be' + comparative adjective + than + noun / noun phrase
Beer is weaker than whiskey.
Answer - weak
Beer is weaker than whiskey.
Answer - strong
Rome is more historic than New York.
Answer - historic
Rome is older than New York.
Answer - old
New York is newer than Rome.
Answer - new
The Eiffel Tower is more famous than the Tokyo Tower.
Answer - famous
The Tokyo Tower is taller than the Eiffel Tower.
Answer - tall
This is fresher than that.
Answer - fresh
Superlative
Explain
A is the biggest letter.
B is the smallest letter.
Subject + verb 'be' + the comparative adjective + Noun (group)
When we talk about a group of nouns (A, B, C) we use the superlative form of an adjective. Above we are comparing the 'size' of the the letters. One is the biggest and one is the smallest.
Rule 1
When the adjective is one syllable or two syllables (ending in -y) you add 'est' or 'iest'.
If the adjective ends with a 'y' you drop the 'y' and add 'iest'.
Examples:
Adjective
big
tall
tasty
weak
strong
fresh
Superlative
biggest
tallest
tastiest
weakest
strongest
freshest
Rule 2
When the adjective is two syllables (and doesn't end in a 'y') or more then we add 'most' at the front.
Adjective
delicious
popular
famous
peaceful
historic
convenient
Superlative
most delicious
most popular
most famous
most peaceful
most historic
most convenient
Rule 3
There are some exceptions.
Adjective
good
bad
Superlative
best
worst
Superlative Examples
Subject + verb 'be' + the comparative adjective + Noun (group)
The Louvre + is + the biggest + museum.
The Louvre is the biggest museum.
The Louvre
museum
Burij Khalifa + is + the tallest + building.
Burji Khalifa is the tallest building.
Burj Khalifa
building
We can add a location to say that the noun is the ~est in a certain place.
The Louvre + is + the biggest + museum + in the world.
The Louvre is the biggest museum in the world.
The Louvre
museum
The British Museum
museum
The British Museum + is + the biggest + museum + in Britain.
The British Museum is the biggest museum in Britain.
The
The biggest = there is only one biggest so we use 'the'.
The world = We are referring to one world so use 'the'. We can't use 'a' because it could refer to any world.
Superlative Exercises
The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is the most famous painting.
Answer - famous
The Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the world.
Answer - famous / in the world
+ LOCATION CHUNK
painting
Bangkok is the most popular place
Answer - popular
Bangkok is the most popular place in the world.
Answer - popular / in the world
+ LOCATION CHUNK
Bangkok
place
Lionel Messi is the best footballer.
Answer - good
Lionel Messi
footballer
Comparative and Superlative - Negative
We make the verb 'be' negative.
Subject + is + not + comparative adjective + than + noun / noun phrase
I am not taller than my brother.
The cinema not is more exciting than the museum.
Subject + is + not + the superlative adjective + noun (group)
This is not the tastiest wine.
The cinema is not the most exciting place.
Comparative and Superlative - Questions
Closed
Is + subject + comparative adjective + than + noun / noun phrase
Is + subject + the superlative adjective + noun (group)
Open
Comparative
With 'open' questions you must match the question work to the answer you expect.
Question word + is + comparative adjective
Who is taller: me or my brother?
Where is more peaceful: Paris or London?
When is hotter: July or August?
If it is obvious from context you do not need the nouns.
A: Do you want to go to the shop this morning or this afternoon?
B: When's quieter?
A: This morning will be quieter.
Superlative
Question word + is + the superlative adjective + noun
Where is the hottest place?
Who is the most beautiful person?
When is the best time?
If it is obvious from context you do not need the nouns.
A: When should we go today?
B: When's best?
A: This morning will be quieter.
Which - asks for one specific noun out of a group
Comparative
Which + is + comparative adjective: + noun + or + noun
Which is tastier: sushi, pizza or hamburgers?
Which is better: London or Paris?
Be careful. You cannot replace 'who' and 'which'.
Which is more beautiful: me or her?
Who is more beautiful: me or her?
Superlative
Which + noun (group) + is + the superlative adjective
Which city is the best?
Which food is the most delicious?
Which actor is the most famous?
Which country is the most peaceful in Asia?
Which one...?
We can use 'one' to replace the noun. The listener needs the context of what the 'one' is.
Which one is the tastiest?
Which one is the tastiest?
Here, the listener does not know the group and so we can not ask about the 'one'.
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