This document discusses how to form comparatives and superlatives in English. It outlines two main groups for forming comparatives of adjectives: group 1 takes the "-er" suffix and group 2 uses "more". Group 1 includes adjectives with one syllable and group 2 includes adjectives with two or more syllables. Irregular adjectives like "good" and "bad" are also noted. Forming comparatives of adverbs and superlatives is also covered. Superlatives take the suffixes "-est" or use "most" and "least" to compare elements within their entire group.

1. Comparing in English
B1

2. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
When you compare 2 things, people, places, etc. you use an adjective in
the COMPARATIVE:
Adjectives in “group 1”:
You add “-er” to the adjective + (“than” + 2nd
element)
There are two ways of forming the comparative, depending on the
adjective:
Adjectives in “group 2”:
You use “more” + adjective (no change) + (“than” + 2nd element)

3. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
-1.1 adjectives with 1 syllable – e.g. “tall”, “big”, “large”
○ She is taller than her sister
○ The African elephant is bigger than the Asian elephant
○ Her house is larger than mine. When the last letters are:
consonant+vowel+consonant,
the last consonant is doubled-e = -er (you only add -r)
Group 1: You add “-er” to the adjective + (“than” + 2nd
element):

4. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
Group 1 : You add “-er” to the adjective + (“than” + 2nd element):
-1.2 adjectives with 2 syllables ending in “-y” or “-er” – e.g. “happy”, “clever”
○ She is a lot happier now
○ His younger brother is cleverer than him.
y = -ier

5. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
Group 2 : You use “more” + adjective (no change) + (“than” + 2nd element):
- 2.1 adjectives with 2 or more syllables (*except 1.2) – e.g. “modern”, “difficult”
○ St. Paul’s cathedral is more modern than Notre Dame.
○ Medicine is more difficult than law.

6. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
Group 2 : You use “more” + adjective (no change) + (“than” + 2nd element):
- 2.2 adjectives with 1 syllable ending in “-ed” – e.g. “tired”, “stressed”
○ I am more tired today than yesterday.
○ I am more stressed when I have nothing to do.
Count the
syllables in the
pronunciation!!

7. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
There are also “irregular” adjectives in the comparative:
good – better bad – worse far – further
– She's a much better player than him.
– The situation now is worse than in the past.
– They live further from the office than we do.

8. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
REMEMBER!!!!
Each adjective belongs to ONE of the two groups:
“adjective+-er” or “more + adjective”
You cannot use both ways of forming the comparative!
She is more taller - Her house is more bigger

9. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
● The previous examples were all
COMPARATIVES OF SUPERIORITY
You can also express EQUALITY or INFERIORITY

10. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
COMPARATIVE of EQUALITY:
You use “as” + adjective + “as”:
○ She is as tall as her sister
○ You are not as busy as me
○ This book is not as interesting as the one we had last year
IMPORTANT
In all these cases,
we do not change the adjective
The second element is
introduced by “as”, not “than”

11. Comparing 2 elements - ADJECTIVES
COMPARATIVE of INFERIORITY:
● You use “less” + adjective+ “than”+2nd element:
○ She is less tall than her sister
○ You are less busy than me
○ This book is less interesting than the one we had last year
IMPORTANT
FORGET about the number
of syllables in this case -
the adjective doesn't change!
*You can express the same idea
with not as...as
With another adjective and the
comparative of superiority:
she's shorter than her sister
OR

12. Comparing 2 actions - ADVERBS
When you compare 2 actions you use ADVERBS
in the COMPARATIVE:
● Adverbs ending in “-ly”: You add “more” + adverb +“than” + 2nd element:
○ My mum drives more slowly than my dad.
○ When she saw that we understood her,
she began to speak more quickly (than before).
IMPORTANT
The adverb doesn't change

13. Comparing 2 actions - ADVERBS
When you compare 2 actions you use ADVERBS
in the COMPARATIVE:
● Other adverbs: You use them just like the adjectives:
○ I work better under pressure. (well)
○ We have to work harder than in the past for the same salary. (hard)
○ Go faster, or we will never catch them! (fast)
○ I don't know why, but they are playing worse today. (badly)

14. Comparing elements with all of their group
When you compare elements with all of their group, you use the
SUPERLATIVE:
The rules are the same as with the comparative but....
○ The cheetah is the fastest animal in the world
○ Norway is the most expensive country I have ever been to.
○ For me, her story was the least interesting.
● You add “the*” + “-est” instead of “-er”...than
● You add “the* most” instead of “more”...than
● You add “the* least” instead of “less”...than
*or a possessive:
My best friend...
Their most famous song...