Comparison of Adjectives

Comparison of Adjectives

Degrees of Comparison

• There are three degrees of comparison:
    - Positive: The basic form of the adjective.
    - Comparative: Used to compare two entities.
    - Superlative: Used to compare three or more entities.

Comparative Adjectives

• Definition: The comparative form is typically used to compare two things, people, etc.

• Formation Rule for Short Adjectives:
    - For adjectives with one syllable or some two syllables, the comparative form is formed by adding -er + than.
      - Examples:
        - He is taller than me.
        - My car is cheaper than your car.
        - Tsing Ma Bridge is longer than Ting Kau Bridge.
        - Ocean Park is larger than Disneyland.

Rules for Forming Comparatives of Short Adjectives

1. One Vowel + Consonant:
      - If an adjective ends in one vowel followed by a consonant, we double the consonant and add -er.
        - Examples:
          - big → bigger
          - hot → hotter
          - thin → thinner
          - fat → fatter

2. Ending with -y:
      - If an adjective ends with -y, change to -i and add -er.
        - Examples:
          - happy → happier
          - funny → funnier
          - easy → easier
          - ugly → uglier

3. Adjectives of One Syllable:
      - For adjectives of one syllable, simply add -er.
        - Examples:
          - dark → darker
          - clean → cleaner

4. Adjectives Ending in -e:
      - For adjectives that end in -e, add -r only.
        - Examples:
          - nice → nicer
          - close → closer

5. Adjectives Ending in a Consonant + y:
      - Delete -y and add -ier.
        - Examples:
          - busy → busier
          - happy → happier
          - heavy → heavier

6. Adjectives Ending in Vowel + Consonant:
      - For adjectives ending in a vowel followed by a consonant, double the consonant before adding -er.
        - Examples:
          - thin → thinner
          - big → bigger

Long Adjectives

• Definition: Long adjectives, generally defined as adjectives with three or more syllables.

• Formation Rule: The comparative form is formed by adding more + adjective + than.
    - Examples:
       - Maria is more beautiful than Jennifer.
       - This book is more interesting than that book.

Comparative Exercises

• Fill in the blanks with the correct comparative forms:
    1. John is __________ than Mark because he eats a lot every day. (fat) → fatter
    2. My new watch is __________ than my old watch. (accurate) → more accurate
    3. George is ______________ than Kitty, so he gets ______________ marks in the test. (hard-working, high) → more hard-working, higher
    4. Mathematics is ______________________ than English. (difficult) → more difficult
    5. This storybook is ______________ than that one. (interesting) → more interesting

Superlative Adjectives

• Definition: The superlative form of an adjective is used when comparing the differences between three or more unequal things or people.

• Formation Rule for Short Adjectives: The superlative form is formed by adding the + -est.
    - Examples:
       - ICC is the tallest building in Hong Kong.
       - Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok is the longest tunnel in Hong Kong.
       - The tram is the earliest form of transportation in Hong Kong.

Long Adjectives in Superlative Form

• For adjectives with three or more syllables (and some two-syllable adjectives), the superlative is formed by adding the most + adjective.
    - Examples:
       - Egg tart is the most delicious food in Hong Kong.
       - She is the most beautiful girl in the world.

Irregular Adjective Forms

• Table of Irregular Adjectives:
    | Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
    |-----------|-------------|--------------|
    | good | better | best |
    | bad | worse | worst |
    | little | less | least |
    | much/many | more | most |
    | far | further/farther | furthest/farthest |

Additional Examples of Adjectives

• Table of Regular Adjectives:
    | Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
    |-----------|-------------|--------------|
    | long | longer | longest |
    | smart | smarter | smartest |
    | slim | slimmer | slimmest |
    | greedy | greedier | greediest |
    | naughty | naughtier | naughtiest |
    | important | more important | most important |

Superlative Exercises

• Fill in the blanks with the correct superlative forms:
    1. The elephant is __________ (large) land mammal. → the largest
    2. Daniel got _________(good) results among the three boys. → the best
    3. The doll is ________________ (expensive) than any other dolls in the shop. → more expensive
    4. February is ___________ (short) month of the year. → the shortest
    5. The strawberry milkshake is ____________ (delicious) than the chocolate milkshake. → more delicious
    6. This was ___________ (cheap) watch they had in the shop. → the cheapest

Equality in Comparison

• The structure as + adjective + as shows that two people or things have a quality in the same degree.
    - Examples:
      - Cindy is as pretty as Betty.
      - Tom is as fat as Gordon.