Prep 1/Prep 2: Hello/Upstream A2 & B1 (Comparatives and Superlatives)
1. Page 1 of 3
Prep Two Hello Book Unit 17 (Grammar)
Comparative adj: adj to compare between
2 things/ persons
This tree is taller than that.
I am shorter than you.
Superlative adj: adj to compare one person / thing
to a group
super = the most:
she’s the cleverest student.
she’s the cleverest of the students.
super x the least: she’s the least careful student in
the class
The General Rule:
One-Syllable Adjectives
Comparative adj: adj + er than
Superlative adj: adj + est in+ place → He is the best in this class.
of +persons/ things → He is the best one of the students.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
soft softer tan the softest
cheap cheaper tan the cheapest
sweet sweeter tan the sweetest
thin thinner tan the thinnest
Examples:
adj + er+ than
Ahmed is taller than Ali
He is 20 cm taller than Ali
Sohais 10 kg lighter than me.
the + adj + est
Mona is the shortest girl in the school (in + place)
Mona is the shortest of the girls. (of + persons or things)
SPELLING RULES
• One-syllable adj ending in –e: (e) is removed when adding -er/-est
r + adj+ than the +adj.+ st
large larger than the largest
wide wider than the widest
nice nicer than the nicest
• One-syllable adj ending in a vowel + a consonant letter: the consonant letter is doubled
thin → thinner, big → biggest.
no. of vowel sounds = no. of
syllables
one or two syllables
add (er)
add (est)
more than two
syllables
use more/ less
use the most/ the least
2. Page 2 of 3
One-syllable adj or two-syllable adj ending in –y:
change -y to i + er
i +est
One-syllable adj ex: dry: drier than the driest
REGUALR TWO-SYLLABLE
ADJ EXAMPLES:
CONFUSING BUT REGULAR ADJ. :
Two-syllable adj. ending in ow/ le / er
Narrow: narrower than the narrowest
Gentle: gentler than the gentlest
Tender: tenderer than the tenderest
Clever: cleverer than the cleverest
Bitter bitterer than the bitterest
Slender slenderer than the slenderest
Slender: tall and thin in an attractive way
IRREGULAR TWO-SYLLABLE ADJ.
• Two-syllable adjectives ending in -ed, -ing, -ful, –less
- Comparative adj: more/less + adj + than - Superlative adj: the most/ the least +adj
Adjective Comparative adj. Superlative adj
worried more worried than
less worried than
the most worried
the least worried
boring more boring than
less boring than
the most worried
the least worried
careful more careful than
less careful than
the most careful
the least careful
useless more useless than
less useless than
the most useless
the least useless
THREE-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES OR MORE TAN THREE:
- Comparative: more/less + adj+ than - Superlative: the most/ the least+ adj
Adjective
dangerous
Comparative adj
more dangerous than
less dangerous than
Superlative adj
the most dangerous
the least dangerous
Adjective Comparative adj. Superlative adj.
lucky luckier than the luckiest
pretty prettier than the prettiest
tidy tidier the tidiest
3. Page 3 of 3
Farther: for distance
Further = more
as adj as = so adj as
I am as happy as you.
I am so happy as you.
My dress is as expensive as hers.
My dress is so expensive as hers.
not as adj as = not so adj as
I am not as happy as you.
I am not so happy as you.
My dress is not as expensive as hers.
My dress is not so expensive as hers.
Much + (comparative adj.)
This student is much (smarter than) the other.
This student is much (smarter than) the other.
Much + ( comparative adj.)
The lion is much (more dangerous than) the cat.
The lion is much (more dangerous than) the cat.
Notes:
Long (adj): for: -Distance: long road/ way
- Horizontal things: long lake/ nile
- Body parts + clothes: long hair/ arm/ leg/ long dress/ garment
-Time: long hours/ How long have you stayed there?
- Words and sentences: It's a long word/ sentence
Tall (adj): for: - People: a tall girl/ boy - Animals: a tall giraffe - Plants: a tall tree
- Vertical things: the drinks were served in tall glasses/ tall bottles/ tall cans
High (adj): for: - Buildings/ towers