This document discusses comparatives and superlatives in English. It provides rules for forming comparatives and superlatives for adjectives of different lengths. For comparatives of short adjectives, add -er and than. For long adjectives, use more/less and the adjective than. For superlatives of short adjectives, use the adjective with -est. For long adjectives, use the most/least and the adjective. It also covers irregular forms and using comparatives and superlatives with people and objects. Examples are provided throughout to illustrate the rules.

1. COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES Cristina Ávila López Curso: 2010/2011

3. COMPARATIVES I Adjectives Short1,2 syllables (tall, rich, poor) Adj.-ER + THAN Long 2 or more syllables (polite, interesting, horrible) MORE/LESS+ Adj. + THAN

4. COMPARATIVES II Sam is big. The ball is bigger than Sam. Colin is big. Rodin is bigger than Colin. SAM COLIN RODIN

5. COMPARATIVES III BE CAREFULL!! When there is only one vowel before the last letter, double up the last letter and add “-er”. Except if it finished “-w” Hotter than, bigger than, newer than... When the last letter is “-e”, add “-r” Larger than, nicer than When the last letter is “-y”, delete “-y” and add “-ier” Heavier than, funnier than...

6. COMPARATIVES Iv George is _____ (fat) ____ David. David is _____(thin) ____ George. I’m George I’m David

7. COMPARATIVES v The cat is ______(lazy) _____ the dog.

8. COMPARATIVES Vi -Big -Long -Young -Nice -Dangerous COCO TOBY

9. COMPARATIVES ViI ! IRREGULAR VERBS: -good better -bad  worse -far  farther /further

10. COMPARATIVES ViII My pen is _____ (good) ____ your book His computer is ____ (bad) _____ your computer. That poster is ____ (far) ____ this poster.

11. COMPARATIVES ix Beautiful, intelligent, blond, polite...

12. COMPARATIVES x Justin Bieber was born in 1994 Miley Cyrus was born in 1992

13. COMPARATIVES xi When we are talking about people, we can say: than + subject + to be ...than I am ...than you are ...than he/she is But in informal spoken English, we usually prefer: ...than me ...than you ...than him/her/it ...than us ...than you ...than them

14. COMPARATIVES xii They are richer than me. They are more powerful than you. They are less intelligent than him/her. This family is funnier than them.

15. COMPARATIVES xIii TO KNOW MORE! We can use a lot/a bit or much/a little before comparatives. Your book is a bit longer than mine. The class is a lot more interesting than sleep. You looks like a bit happier today.

17. Jo drives more dangerously than Sam

18. Bill lives nearer to school than Peter, so he gets up later.IRREGULARS: Well better Little less Badly worse A lot/ much more Far farther/ further

19. COMPARATIVES xv Ben talks to people more politely than Sam Liam works ____ ______ (carefully) ____ John. Simon goes to swimming ___ ____ (often) ____ Karen. My car runs ___ ____(quietly) ____ my sister’s car.

20. Now...it’s your turn! Compare you (or your things) with someone (or his/her things) in the class! Write 5 sentences to compare.

21. COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

22. Superlatives i Adjectives Short1,2 syllables (tall, rich, poor) THE + Adj.-EST Long 2 or more syllables (polite, interesting, horrible) THE+ MOST/LEAST+ Adj.

23. Superlatives ii The Nile is ___ ______(long) river in the world. The blue whale is ___ ______ (large) animal in the world. A cheetah is ___ ______ (fast) animal in the world.

24. Superlatives iiI BE CAREFULL!! When there is only one vowel before the last letter, double up the last letter and add “-est”. Except if it finished “-w” The hottest, the biggest, the newest... When the last letter is “-e”, add “-st” The largest, the nicest... When the last letter is “-y”, delete “-y” and add “-ier” The happiest, the heaviest...

25. Superlatives iv Mexico City is ___ _______ (big) city in the world. The gold is ___ _______ (heavy) metal. Africa is ___ ______(hot) place in the world. Antarctica is ___ _____ (cold) place in the world. Asia is ___ _______ (large) continent. Mount Everest is ___ _____ (high) mountain in the world.

26. Superlatives v ! IRREGULAR VERBS: -good the best -bad  the worst -far  the farthest /the furthest

27. Superlatives vI Who is the funniest character? Who is the most interesting? Who is the heaviest? Who has the biggest nose? Who is the most intelligent? Who is the best character?

28. Comparatives and superlatives

29. Now...it’s your turn! Write 5 sentences, whatever you want, using the superlative form.