Angie Parra Leal
Unit 1 1
Comparing other people
Content
1. Comparatives
2. superlatives
2
Topic 1
Comparatives and superlatives
Comparatives and superlatives can be used to express likes and dislikes by
comparing preferences, experiences, or qualities. Every time that we are
creating a comparison, we want to emphasize a characteristic over
something/someone else.
In the meantime, when we use a superlative is to highlight a characteristic
over a group
3
Comparatives
Comparatives are used to compare JUST two things, showing the difference
in degree.
RULES:
1. Short Adjectives and Adverbs:
For one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, and some two-syllable ones, you
generally add "-er" to form the comparative.
Examples:
Bitter→ Bitterer
Broad → Broader
Bolder → Bolderer
Fast → Faster
Tall → Taller
Strong → Stronger
2. Short Adjectives and Adverbs:
For one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, that have one consonant sound (ch,
sh, th, l, p, m,b), one short vowel, and another consonant, we need to
reduplicate the last consonant and then add "-er" to form the comparative.
4
Examples:
Big→ Bigger
Hot → Hotter
Fat → Fatter
Thin → Thinner
3. Short Adjectives and Adverbs:
For one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, and some two-syllable ones that
finish in “e” you just have to add “r” at the end of it.
Examples:
Brave → Braver
Blue → Bluer
Large → Larger
Wise → Wiser
4. Short Adjectives and Adverbs:
For one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, and some two-syllable ones that
finish in “y” you just must change the “y” for “ier” at the end of it.
Examples:
Happy → Happier
Dry → Drier
Lucky →Luckier
5
Pretty → Prettier
Crazy → Crazier
5. Long Adjectives and Adverbs:
For longer adjectives (usually with two or more syllables) and most adverbs,
you use "more" or “less” before the adjective or adverb to form the
comparative.
Adjective Examples:
Beautiful → More/Less beautiful
Interesting → More/Less interesting
Expensive → More/Less expensive
Intelligent → More/Less intelligent
Difficult → More/Less difficult
Dangerous → More/Less dangerous
Splendid → More/Less splendid
Adverb Examples:
Carefully → More/Less carefully
Comfortably → More/Less comfortably
Intelligently → More/Less intelligently
6
6. Irregular Forms:
Some adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative forms that don't
follow the typical pattern. It’s necessary to memorize them.
Irregular Adjective Examples:
Good → Better
Bad → Worse
Far → Farther/Further
Little → Less
Irregular Adverb Examples:
Well → Better
Badly → Worse
Far → Farther/Further
THAN:
Is commonly used in comparatives to indicate the second element of a
comparison. Here's how to use "than" in comparatives:
Comparatives with "Than" for Adjectives:
Structure:
Adjective + "than" + the compared element.
Examples:
She is bigger than me.
Gospel is better than Vallenato.
They are less intelligent than their partners
7
Comparatives with "Than" for Adverbs:
Structure:
Adverb + "than" + the compared element.
Examples:
He runs faster than the other guy.
She sings more beautifully than the girl that is next to her in the choir.
The car drives more smoothly than the one that I had before.
Comparatives for Nouns:
Structure:
Noun + "than" + the compared element.
Examples:
There are more students in A1 than in B1.
She has watched more series than her brother
Bogotá has more traffic jams than New York
British Vs. American
Some of this adjective have a British version or an North American Version,
let’s look at them:
8
Loud:
He is louder than his brother. (This one is more common)
He is more loud than his brother.
Quiet:
The library is quieter than the cafeteria.
The library is more quiet than the cafeteria. (This one is more common)
Simple:
This puzzle is simpler than the one we did yesterday.
This puzzle is more simple than the one we did yesterday. (This one is more
common)
Complex:
The new software is complexer than the old version.
The new software is more complex than the old version. (This one is more
common)
Narrow:
The alley is narrower than the main street. (This one is more common)
The alley is more narrow than the main street.
Curious:
She is more curious than her classmates. (This one is more common)
She is curiouser than her classmates.
Gentle:
The puppy is gentler than the older dog.
The puppy is more gentle than the older dog. (This one is more common)
9
Handsome:
He is more handsome than his brother. (This one is more common)
He is handsomer than his brother.
Kind:
She is kinder than her friend.
She is more kind than her friend. (This one is more common)
Stylish:
The new outfit is more stylish than the old one.
The new outfit is stylisher than the old one.
Busy:
The city is busier than the village. (This one is more common)
The city is more busy than the village.
Happy:
She is happier than her sister. (This one is more common)
She is more happy than her sister.
Pleasant:
The weather is more pleasant than yesterday. (This one is more common)
The weather is pleasanter than yesterday.
Friendly:
He is more friendly than the other guy (This one is more common)
He is friendlier than the other guy.
10
Superlatives
Superlatives are used to compare three or more things, showing the highest
degree.
It can be taken also as a generalization.
Short Adjectives and Adverbs:
For one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, and some two-syllable ones, you
generally add "-est" to form the superlative at the end. Alsop you MUST use
“the” before the adjective.
Adjective Examples:
Tall → Tallest
Fast → Fastest
Strong → Strongest
Example He is the tallest guy there
Example: He is the strongest gut in our house
Adverb Examples:
Early → Earliest
Late → Latest
11
Longer adjectives
(Usually with two or more syllables) and most adverbs, you use "the most"
before the adjective or adverb to form the superlative.
Adjective Examples:
Beautiful → The most beautiful
Interesting → The most interesting
Expensive → The most expensive
Adverb Examples:
Carefully → The most carefully
Comfortably → The most comfortably
Intelligently → The most intelligently
Irregular Forms:
Like comparatives, some adjectives and adverbs have irregular superlative
forms that don't follow the typical pattern. It’s necessary to memorize them.
Irregular Adjective Examples:
Good → Best
Bad → Worst
Far → Farthest/Furthest
Little → Least
Irregular Adverb Examples:
12
Well → Best
Badly → Worst
Far → Farthest/Furthest
13
