Mdulo IV.

Unidad 2

Faster. Higher. Stronger.

Adjetivos comparativos y superlativos.

Cuando hablamos, necesitamos tener referencias para hacernos entender

mejor o para poder comunicarnos de una manera ms eficaz. Para eso
necesitamos los adjetivos y dentro de esta categora su grado comparativo.
Aqu vamos a ver cmo se forman y cmo se utilizan de una manera bastante
sencilla.
En el apartado dedicado a la pronunciacin, nos encontramos otra vez las
palabras homfonas (recordamos: aqullas que suenan igual pero se escriben
y significan distinto).

ndice
1. GRADOS DE LA COMPARACIN .......................................................................................... 3
1.1. Grado positivo de los adjetivos .......................................................................................... 3
1.2. Grado comparativo de los adjetivos .................................................................................. 4
1.3. Grado superlativo de los adjetivos ..................................................................................... 8
2. ADJETIVOS IRREGULARES ................................................................................................. 12
3. PRONUNCIACIN .................................................................................................................. 15
3.1 Homfonos (2 parte) ........................................................................................................ 15
EJERCICIOS DE AUTOCOMPROBACIN ............................................................................... 16
SOLUCIN A LOS EJERCICIOS DE AUTOCOMPROBACIN ............................................... 17
SITIOS WEB DE REFERENCIA ................................................................................................. 17

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1. Grados de la comparacin
Antes de empezar, fjate en las siguientes frases:

John is tall.
John is as tall as Paul.
John is taller than Lucy.
John is less tall than Phil.
John is the tallest in his class.

John es alto.
John es tan alto como Paul.
John es ms alto que Lucy.
John es menos alto que Phil.
John es el ms alto de su clase.

Como ves el adjetivo tiene tres grados:

1. Positivo.
2. Comparativo.
3. Superlativo.
Primero, aprenderemos a formar los adjetivos regulares (los que se rigen por unas reglas
comunes) y despus aprenderemos a construir oraciones comparativas. Finalmente,
presentaremos los adjetivos irregulares (pocos, pero muy importantes).
1.1. Grado positivo de los adjetivos
Son los adjetivos tal y como los conocemos. Recordar que en ingls, a diferencia del espaol,
los adjetivos se colocan delante de los nombres:
Ejemplos:
-happy birthday

-cumpleaos feliz

-good job

-bien hecho

-a beautiful house

-una casa bonita

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Activity 1. Translate these common adjectives into your language.

ENGLISH
happy
big
cheap
fast
old
intelligent
rich
strong
slow
ugly
lucky

SPANISH
- feliz
-

1.2. Grado comparativo de los adjetivos

Se subdivide en:
a. Comparativo de superioridad.
b. Comparativo de inferioridad.
c. Comparativo de igualdad.

a. El comparativo de superioridad se forma realizando determinados cambios en los

adjetivos, atendiendo al nmero de slabas que estos tengan. Para comparar siempre
necesitamos un segundo trmino, es decir, la comparacin siempre es entre dos o ms cosas.
- Los adjetivos cortos de una slaba (monoslabos) forman su comparativo de
superioridad aadiendo er:
slow

slower

tall

taller

Si el adjetivo monoslabo termina en consonante + vocal + consonante, ste

dobla la ltima consonante:
big

bigger

hot

hotter

- Los adjetivos cortos de dos slabas que terminen en y pasan a tener la

terminacin ier:
happy

happier

heavy

heavier

Si el adjetivo de dos slabas no termina en y, se considera que es largo y

forma su comparativo aadiendo more:
modern

more modern
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crowded

more crowded

- Los adjetivos largos de tres o ms slabas, tambin forman el comparativo

aadiendo more.
expensive

more expensive

interesting

more interesting

b. El comparativo de inferioridad se forma siempre poniendo less (menos) delante del

adjetivo:
shy

less shy

menos tmido

happy

less happy

menos feliz

comfortable less confortable

menos cmodo

APRENDE
Para comparar dos elementos siempre tenemos que utilizar la partcula than (que) detrs
del adjetivo.
adjetivo + -er _______than (ms ___ que)
more + adjetivo______than (ms ___ que)
less + adjetivo_______than (menos __que)
Ejemplos:
-T eres ms delgada que yo.
You are thinner than me.
-El rugby es ms peligroso que el ftbol.
Rugby is more dangerous than football.
-frica es menos fra que Europa.
Africa is less cold than Europe.

Actividad 2. Write the comparative form of these adjectives.

ADJECTIVE

Strong
Beautiful
Old
Young
Hard

COMPARATIVE
OF
SUPERIORITY

older

ADJECTIVE

Cheap
Dangerous
Easy
Cold
Polite

COMPARATIVE
OF
INFERIORITY

less cold

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RESUMEN
Tipo de adjetivo

Adjetivos cortos

1 slaba: fast

1 slaba acabada en e:
nice
1 slaba acabada en
consoante + vocal +
consoante: big

2 slabas acabadas en y:
healthy

Adjetivos largos

Tipo de adjetivo

aade er (+ than)

aade r (+ than)

dobla a ltima
consoante y
aade er (+
than)
cambia y a i
y aade -er
(+ than)

Regla

2 slabas, no acabadas en
y: famous

more... (+ than)

3 slabas o ms: expensive

more... (+ than)

Tipo de adjetivo
Adj. Irregulares

Regla

Good

Bad

Regla
better (+ than)

worse (+ than)

Ejemplo
Airplanes are faster than cars.
Los aviones son ms
rpidos que los coches.
Mike is nicer than Tommy.
Mike es ms agradable que
Tommy.
Paris is bigger than
Soria. Pars es ms
grande que Soria.
Walking is healthier than
taking the bus. Caminar es
ms saludable que coger el
bus.
Ejemplo
T h e Statue of Liberty is
more famous than the Eiffel
Tower.
La Estatua de la Libertad es
ms famosa que la Torre
Eiffel.
Fish is more expensive
than fruit. El pescado es
ms caro que la fruta.

Ejemplo
This CD is better than
that one. Este CD es
mejor que aqul.
T h i s restaurant is worse
than that one. Este
restaurante es peor que
aqul.

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c. El comparativo de igualdad se emplea para comparar dos personas o cosas que tienen
una cualidad en grado semejante. Para construir frases con comparativo de igualdad
escribiremos:
COMPARARTIVO DE
IGUALDAD
(not) as + adjetive + as

(no) tan + adjetivo + como

Ejemplos:
My car is as fast as your car

-Mi coche es tan rpido como el tuyo

His house isnt as big as mine

-Su casa no es tan grande como la ma

Actividad 3. Match the two parts of the sentences:

1. John is as old.

a. than Ireland.

2. Britain is bigger

b. in Europe.

3. Britain is the largest island

c. as Paul

Actividad 4. Match the sentences in Spanish and English.

1. Londres es ms grande que Madrid.
2. El Ben Nevis es el pico ms alto de
Gran Bretaa.

a. The Severn is as long as the

Thames.
b. The biggest city in USA is New
York.

3. El Severn es tan largo como el

Tmesis.

c. London is larger than Madrid.

4. La ciudad ms grande de Estados

Unidos es Nueva York.

d. Cervantes is as famous as
Shakespeare.

5. Cervantes es tan famoso como

Shakespeare.

e. Ben Nevis is the highest peak in

Britain.

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Actividad 5.

Re-write the sentences using comparatives and meaning the

same.
Example:
Mike is stronger than Jim

-Mike es ms fuerte que Jim

Jim isnt as strong as Mike

-Jim no es tan fuerte como Mike

1. Lauren is shorter than Mae

Lauren isnt .
2. Your suitcase is heavier than mine
My suitcase isnt .
3. New York is bigger than Madrid
Madrid isnt .
4. Football is more popular than rugby
Rugby isnt .
5. Sue works harder than her sister
Her sister doesnt .
6. Spain played better than Italy
Italy didnt .

1.3. Grado superlativo de los adjetivos

El superlativo se forma realizando determinados cambios en los adjetivos, atendiendo al
nmero de slabas que stos tengan. Todos llevan siempre el artculo the delante del adjetivo.
El superlativo es el grado absoluto del adjetivo.
Los adjetivos de una slaba o monoslabo (cortos) forman su superlativo aadiendo
est.
slow the slowest
tall the tallest
Si el adjetivo monoslabo termina en consonante + vocal + consonate, se dobla la
ltima consonante.
big the biggest
hot the hottest
Los adjetivos de dos slabas que terminen en y (tambin denominados adjetivos
cortos) pasan a tener la terminacin iest.
happy the happiest
heavy the heaviest
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Si el adjetivo de dos slabas no termina en y, se le considera largo y forma su

superlativo aadiendo the most.
modern the most modern
crowded the most crowded (lleno de gente)
Los adjetivos de tres o ms slabas, son largos y forman el superlativo aadiendo the
most.
expensive the most expensive
interesting the most interesting

APRENDE
-Se utiliza la preposicin in para referirnos a un elemento superlativo de un grupo. Ejemplo:
- Rusia es el pas ms extenso del mundo.
Russia is the largest country in the world.
- Betty es la chica ms guapa de la clase
Betty is the most beautiful girl in the classroom.

Actividad 6. Use the adjective given to form the superlative.

1

They have the ......... garden in the neighbourhood.

Tom is the ......... boy I know.

He is the ......... man in the world.

(rich)

He is the ......... boy in the school.

(naughty)

Mount Everest is the ......... mountain in the world.

Jupiter is the ......... planet in the solar system.

He is the ......... in the class.

(pretty)

(happy)

(high)
(large)

(tall)

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Actividad 7. Complete these sentences using the superlative of the

following adjectives.
1. Who is . (important) person in your life?
2. This is (old) building in my city.
3. He is .. (fat) boy in the classroom.
4. Whats (long) river in the world?
5.

... (small) present is for you.

6. I bought ... (expensive) trousers in the shop.

7. Torre Cerredo is .. (high) mountain in Castilla y
Len.
8. It was (cold) day of the year.
9. Shes . (pretty) actress in Spain.
10. His house is very big, but my house is .. (big).

Actividad 8. Write superlative sentences using the prompts given.

1. / John / intelligent/ boy/ class /
2. / The Atacama Desert / dry / place /world /
3. / June 21st / long / day / year /
4. / Chinese / difficult / language / world /

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READING

Actividad 9.

Read the dialogue between Anne and Lauren first. Then

underline in red all comparatives and in blue all superlatives in the text.
Anne: Lauren, you lived in Salamanca for a year, what can
you tell me about

Salamanca?

Lauren: Its a great city. I had a lot of fun there and there are
lots of interesting
A:

places to visit.

I dont agree with you because I think that London is a

beautiful city.
L:

Yes, but I was happier in Salamanca because its

funnier, cleaner,

cheaper and more interesting than

London.
A:

Are you sure? I think London is busier, more exciting

and more

expensive than Salamanca. And what do you

think about the weather?

L:

The weather in Salamanca is better because it is a little

warmer and in

London it rains a lot and it is always

cloudy.
A:

Yes, I agree with you. In London there are more parks

than in

Salamanca. You can also find there the most

important museums in the

world. What do you think is the

best place to live?

L:

Spain. They have the cleanest sky in Europe and

people live happier

than in the rest of Europe.

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Actividad 10. Answer the following questions about the dialogue.

1. What does Lauren think about Salamanca?
2. What does Anne think about London?
3. What is Laurens opinion about the weather in Salamanca?
4. Does Anne agree with Lauren about the weather in London?
5. According to Anne, where are the most important museums in
the world?
6. Why does Carol think Spain is the best place to live in the
world?

2. Adjetivos irregulares
Son adjetivos irregulares aquellos que no siguen las reglas explicadas anteriormente. Los
ms comunes son:

POSITIVE
Good
Bad
Far

COMPARATIVE
better than
worse than
farther than

SUPERLATIVE
the best
the worst
the farthest

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Actividad 11. Complete these sentences with superiority comparative or

superlative forms of the adjectives according to the meaning of the
sentences.
1. Playing chess is (interesting) collecting stamps.
2. It was . (bad) day in my life.
3. My grandfather is .. (old) my grandmother.
4. Lauren is . (nice) Jenny.
5. (good) friend you can make, you met in
kindergarten.
6. Your exercise is (bad) Pauls exercise.
7. Football is . (popular) sport in Spain.
8. Greece is (far) place I have visited in my life.
9. Travelling by bus is . (cheap) means of
transport.
10. Ronaldo is (good) football player in Real Madrid
FC.

APRENDE
Para mostrar acuerdo o desacuerdo utilizamos el verbo agree o disagree.
Ejemplos:
This book is more interesting than Peters book.
-I agree with you. (Estoy de acuerdo contigo).
My T-shirt is cheaper than yours.
-I dont agree with you. (No estoy de acuerdo contigo).
Tambin se puede usar el verbo disagree.
-I disagree with you. (No estoy de acuerdo contigo).

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WRITING

Actividad 12. Do you agree with these statements or not? Justify your
answer.

Len is larger than Segovia.

I agree / dont agree because
..

Iniesta is the best football player in Spain.

The most boring hobby is taking pictures.

Segovia is more beautiful than Valladolid.

Reading is more interesting than collecting stamps.

Liverpool FC is the best football team in the UK.

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Actividad 13. Write a short dialogue with a friend comparing you football
teams or comparing your favourite holiday places.
-You:______________________________________________
-A friend:______________

_____________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
_

3. Pronunciacin
3.1 Homfonos (2 parte)
Las palabras homfonas son aquellas que suenan igual o parecido pero tienen significados
distintos:
to a, hacia, menos*

two dos

too demasiado, tambin

to

I'm going to London.

to

It's ten to* three.

two

I can count: one, two, three.

too

Sarah likes cats. I like them too.

too
here

The music is too loud.

hear

Don't look there, your book is here.

Speak louder, I can't hear you.

hair

She's got long hair.

her

It's her book.

witch

That old lady looks like a witch.

which

Which of these books is yours?

with

I'm going to the cinema with my friends.

white

I'm wearing a white T-shirt.

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now

I don't want to wait, I want it now.

no

Is your answer: yes or no?

know

I don't know the answer.

Actividad 14. Choose from these words to complete the sentences: her, hair
(x2), here, hear
1. I am staying right _________________
2. She's got blond _______________

3. She is looking for ______________

keys.

4. The old man cannot ________________

well.

5. He's bald. He's got no _______________________

Actividad 15. Complete the sentences with know / now.

1.

I _____________

the answer!

2.

Do it _____________

3.

I _________________

4.

I'm studying spelling right __________________ .

5.

Do you _________________ that guy?

. Dont do it later!
what you did last summer!

Ejercicios de autocomprobacin
Ejercicio 1. Write the superlative of these adjectives.
ADJECTIVE
Strong
Beautiful
Old
Young

SUPERLATIVE

ADJECTIVE

SUPERLATIVE

Cheap
Dangerous
Easy
Cold
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Ejercicio 2. Translate these sentences.

This house is smaller than my house.

Your daughter is older than my sister.

A laptop computer is more expensive than a mobile telephone.

This English dictionary is better than that one.

These paintings are more beautiful than the photographs.

Solucin a los ejercicios de autocomprobacin

Ejercicio 1. Solucin:
ADJECT
IVE
Strong
Beautiful
Old
Young

SUPERLATIVE
The strongest
The most beautiful
The oldest
The youngest

ADJECTIV
E
Cheap
Dangerous
Easy
Cold

SUPERLATIVE
The cheapest
The most dangerous
The easiest
The coldest

Ejercicio 2. Solucin:

This house is smaller than my house.

Esta casa es ms pequea que mi casa
Your daughter is older than my sister.
Tu hija es ms mayor que mi hermana
A laptop computer is more expensive than a mobile telephone.
Un ordenador porttil es ms caro que un telfono mvil
This English dictionary is better than that other.
Este diccionario de ingls es mejor que aqul
These paintings are more beautiful than the photographs.
Estos cuadros son ms bonitos que las fotos

Sitios web de referencia

Para repasar o ampliar lo que has aprendido a lo largo de esta unidad te recomendamos una
serie de sitios web que te podrn ayudar:

www.saywhatesl.com
www.saywhatesl.com/quizes/Superlatives_mx.htm
www.learnenglish.de

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www.dotolearn.com/games www.primaryresources.co.uk
Pronunciacin:
www.learn-english-online.org/pronunciation
www.pronunciandoeningles.com

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