I. INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVES
2. Comparatives for Showing Similarities and Differences
2.2 Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
2.2.1 One-Syllable Adjectives
For one-syllable adjectives, we use the comparative suffix '-er' and the superlative suffix the + '-est'. Note that the article 'the' is used with the superlative form because the possible selection is limited to only one thing, person, or animal.
Examples
fast – faster – the fastest
high – higher – the highest
low – lower – the lowest
soon – sooner – the soonest
hard – harder – the hardest
late – later – the latest
deep – deeper – the deepest
wide – wider – the widest
young – younger – the youngest
Examples in context:
The Empire State Building was once the tallest building in the world at 443 meters, but that record would eventually fall to the much taller Jeddah Tower, which stands at 1-kilometer high.
The lowest point in the United States is Death Valley at 86 meters below sea level, but the Dead Sea is much lower, and, at 414 meters below sea level, it is the lowest point in the world.
At around 8,850 meters (29,000 feet), most people think that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world; however, the world is not completely round. It bulges at the equator, so the earth is wider at the equator. So, if you are standing at the highest point on Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, you are actually 2,070 meters farther from the center of the earth than you would be if you stood at the top of Mount Everest.
For a brief time, the newly constructed Port Mann Bridge in Metro Vancouver, Canada, at 65 meters, was the widest of its kind in the world.
2.2.2 Two-Syllable Adjectives
Most two-syllable adjectives use the comparative 'more' or 'less' and the superlative 'most' or 'least' before the adjective.
Examples
common – more common – most common
famous – more famous – most famous
* Be careful not to use the suffixes '-er' or '-est' together with 'more' and 'most'. Example: She is more happier happy.
However, some two-syllable adjectives can use either '-er/-est' or 'more/most'. These include:
- simple – simpler – simplest OR simple – more simple – most simple
- happy – happier – happiest OR happy – more happy – most happy
- clever – clever – cleverest OR clever – less clever – least clever
- able – abler – ablest OR able – more able – most able
- quiet – quieter – quietest OR quiet – more quiet – most quiet
- gentle – gentler – gentlest OR gentle – less gentle – least gentle
There seem to be regional or national differences in the way these are used.
Some participles with two syllables can be used in the comparative and superlative forms. They are formed in the same way as adjectives; however, for the comparative, sometimes we use an adjective clause.
- Passive Participle: eaten – more eaten – most eaten. (The most eaten food is rice.) OR The food that is eaten more is rice. (adjective clause)
- Active Participle: alluring – more alluring – most alluring
2.2.2.1 Spelling of Two-Syllable Adjectives that End in '-y'
Change the '-y' to '-i' and add '-er' or '-est'.
Examples
busy – busier – busiest
noisy – noisier – noisiest
petty – pettier – pettiest
lousy – lousier – lousiest
Examples in Context:
The most intelligent person in the world was Albert Einstein, but the most clever might have been the escape artist Harry Houdini.
The busiest airport in the world used to be Chicago's O'Hare airport.
One of the most common mistakes that people make when learning English is with subject-verb agreement; however, it is not actually a mistake in choosing the wrong verb. The more common reason is that they make a mistake with the fact that a noun is 'non-count' and is therefore singular.
Can the quietest person in the room be more annoying than the loudest person?
2.2.3 Adjectives with Three Syllables or More
All adjectives with three syllables or more use more and less for the comparative and most/least for the superlative. More/less and most/least are followed by the adjective. Again, be sure not to combine these words with '-er' and '-est'. For example, don't use 'more intelligenter' or 'most intelligentest'.
Examples
important – more important – most important
intelligent – more intelligent – most intelligent
visible – more visible – most visible
Some participles with three syllables can be used in the comparative and superlative forms. They are formed in the same way as adjectives.
Examples
interesting – more interesting – most interesting
fascinating – more fascinating – most fascinating
Study Tip: Visual Processing Power
What you see actually takes up a large part of your brain processing power. So, if you are learning something, try closing your eyes. People often do this subconsciously when they are focusing on something. Make it a conscious practice when you are learning. If you are reading, and of course you need your eyes to read, take away any other visual distractions. Clean up your desk and remove clutter from your learning area. Have you ever found that a clean room is more relaxing? It is because it takes up less of our focus, and it helps us to relax.
In the same way that you declutter your desk of distractions, also declutter the information that you are learning. Take out anything that is unnecessary at the moment. You can always connect it later.
Exercise 1: Write the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives.
Remember that some may use 'more/less' or 'the most/the least' or may have irregular forms. Practice using 'less' and 'least' for some of your answers. Nhập câu trả lời vào ô trống.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks using either the comparative or superlative form of the adjective that is given.
Nhập câu trả lời vào ô trống.
1. Although Min was two years _____ (young) than her brother, when Min was twelve years old, she was _____ (tall) than her brother.
Trả lời:
2. Do you know who the _____ (rich) man in the world is?
Trả lời:
3. In mathematics, 5a > 3b means '5a' is _____ (great) than '3b'.
Trả lời:
4. The _____ (tall) animal is the giraffe.
Trả lời:
5. Feng is the _____ (generous) person that I know. He is always paying for others when they eat out together. On the other hand, maybe he is also _____ (wealthy).
Trả lời:
6. When I was a child, the _____ (constructive) person in giving feedback on my math assignments was my mother. What she said was never helpful because she actually knew _____ (little) about math than I did.
Trả lời:
7. Although my younger brother was _____ (small) than my older brother, he was _____ (noisy) and _____ (loud).
Trả lời:
8. Although the durian fruit is probably the _____ (smell) fruit in the world, many people consider it to be the _____ (tasty).
Trả lời:
9. In comparison to Italian, learning Japanese is considered to be much _____ (difficult) for Europeans to learn.
Trả lời:
10. Do you think that shrimp tastes _____ (good) than fish?
Trả lời:
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