A Pizza

It’s a pizza!BIG

adjective

BIG

BIGGER

BIG – an adjective

BIGGER – a comparative

English Lesson

Comparatives and SuperlativesVersion 2.2-04

Mr. LO Chung-kwong TPGSS

Part I

The Comparatives

When we compare two persons or things , we use a

comparative adjective + than .

Examples:

The red ball is bigger than the blue ball.

red ball blue ball

big

small

The blue ball is smaller than the red ball.

adjective

comparative + than

The tree is taller than John.John is shorter than the tree.

How do we

form

Comparatives ?

(i) For short adjectives of 1 or 2 syllables,

+ ‘ er ’

old older

cool cooler

warm warmer

cleverer

narrow

clever

near nearer

narrower

(ii) For adjectives of 1 or 2 syllables ending in ‘e’,

+ ‘ r ’

larger, wider, simpler

large, wide, simple.

(iii) For adjectives of 2 syllables ending in ‘y’,

change ‘y’ into ‘ier’.

pretty, heavy, lucky.

prettier, heavier, luckier

(iv) For adjectives of more than 2 syllables ( e.g. beautiful ) or

adjectives of 2 syllables

ending in ‘ful’, ‘less’, ‘ic’, ‘ous’, ‘ive’,

+ ‘ more ’

more useful more expensivemore comfortable more fantastic more careless more delicious more talkative…

(v) Some adjectives with special comparatives

Dick has got 90 marks in the Maths test.Dick has got a good result.

Sue has got 95 marks in the same test.Sue has got a better result.

Good BadFar

Better WorseFarther

tall - taller

large – larger

happy – happier

careful – more careful

bad – worse

Put the following comparatives into five groups:

closer longer worse more useful prettier richer more careless larger happier older more talkative better luckier farther later

Answers:

(a) richer, longer, older.(b) later, larger, closer. (c) more careless, more useful, more talkative.

(e) better, worse, farther.

(d) Prettier, luckier, happier.

Come and try!

Give the comparatives of the following adjectives:

1. thick 2. large3. colourful4. expensive

5. hot6. wet

thickerlargermore colourfulmore expensive

hotterwetter

Using the Comparatives

The English book is

the Chinese book.

thick

thicker than

This sitting-room is

that sitting-room.

tidy

tidier than

old

The woman is older than the girl.

comfortable

Sofas are

than chairs.

more comfortable

bedroomtoilet

kitchenLiving room

Flat Abedroom

toilet

Living room

kitchen

B

Flat A flat B.

large

is larger than

Flat B

Let’s make some sentences!

Make 4 sentences using comparative adjectives to compare Peter and Mary.

Peter Mary

Examples:

Mary is taller than Peter.

Suggested answers

Peter is shorter than Mary.

Mary is thinner than Peter.

Peter is fatter than Mary.

Mary is lighter than Peter.

Peter is heavier than Mary.

The Superlatives

Part II

Using the superlatives

When we are comparing When we are comparing three things or more,three things or more,

we use the + a superlative

The elephant is bigger than the lion.

The lion is bigger than the rabbit.

The elephant is the biggest.

Forms of Superlatives

A. Adjectives of one and two syllables

+ ‘ est ’

• big

• bigger

• biggest

cheapcheap cheapercheaper cheapestcheapest

fatfat fatterfatter fattestfattest

• pretty

• prettier

• prettiest

• expensive

• more expensive than

• the most expensive importantimportant more important thanmore important than the most importantthe most important

B. Adjectives of 3 or more syllables, or adjectives ending in ful, less, ic, ous or ive.

C. Some special superlativesGood

Better than

The best

•Far

•Farther / further than

•The farthest / furthest

Bad

Worse than

The worst

Classwork

Try the Online Exercise.

Homework 2

• Do GE 2 a ( short answers )• and 2 b ( sentences )• Hand in on Thursday.

• Find this PowerPoint on the CEC http://resources.tpgs.edu.hk Eng Resources and Information

Bye Bye