CAHSEE Daily Practice

Lesson 3: Comparisons

Opening • Examine the illustrations below and read the captions.

Based on the details in the illustrations, which caption is correct?

1. The mushroom pizza has the fewest slices.2. The large pizza has the most toppings.3. The cheese pizza is bigger than the mushroom pizza, but

the variety pizza is the biggest of all.

• Comparative Form: modifiers when comparing two things

• Count noun: Word for a thing that can be counted

• Modifier: descriptive word• Non-count noun: Word for an object or

idea that cannot be counted• Positive form: modifiers that do not

make a comparison• Superlative form: modifiers when

comparing three or more things

Lesson 3 Notes Vocabulary

Modifiers provide information about the nouns and verbs they modify. They can take positive, comparative, or superlative form.

Lesson 3 Notes Introduction

Lesson 3 NotesComparisons

Types of Modifiers

Rephrase caption 3 from the Introduction to make it a true statement.

Positive Comparative Superlatives

few fewer fewest

green greener greenest

nice nicer nicest

nicely more nicely most nicely

tall taller tallest

ready readier readiest

complete more complete most complete

completely more completely most completely

Lesson 3 Notes Comparisons

Error CorrectionThe most heaviest

box is on the bottom of the stack.

The less curlier ribbon needs to be fixed.

A common error with comparisons is to use –er or –est together with more or most (or less or least). This error is called a double comparison.

•Another common error is to use less or least instead of fewer or fewest with count nouns. Count nouns are words for things that can be counted. They differ from non-count nouns, which are words for objects or ideas that can’t be counted.

Lesson 3 NotesComparisons

Count Nouns Non-Count Nouns

Fewer, fewest SchoolsSheepPeopleOpinions

Less, least WaterWeatherHopeSpaceHappiness

Practice 1• Determine the correct modifier in each sentence. Write

down the correct answer.

1. I make less/ fewer mistakes on tests when I study.2. Colin is the shortest/ most shortest player on the team.3. Your joke was the ridiculouser/ more ridiculous of the

two.4. Gretta is the friendlier/ friendliest of the three girls.5. The rose is fragranter/ more fragrant than the tulip.

Practice 2• On the following slide is a rough draft of an essay about

bananas. Read the essay and determine the correct modifier in each sentence. Copy down the correct answer in your notes.

Practice 3• On the following slide is a rough draft of an essay about

the use of paper versus plastic grocery bags. Read the essay and determine the correct modifier in each sentence. Copy down the correct answer in your notes.