COMPARISON GRAMMAR GUIDE

Regular forms
Adjectives Adjective Comparative Superlative
1. Of one syllable, add-(e)r/-(e)st to form their small smaller (than) the smallest (of/in)
comparative & superlative forms. hot hotter (than) the hottest (of/in)
safe safer (than) the safest (of/in)
2. Of two syllables ending in friendly friendlier (than) the friendliest (of/in)
-ly, -y, -w, also add -er/-est. busy busier (than) the busiest (of/in)
shallow shallower (than) the shallowest (of/in)
3. Of two or more syllables, take more/most. serious more serious (than) the most serious (of/in)
amazing more amazing (than) the most amazing (of/in)
Usage
1. We use the comparative to compare one person/ thing with another.
e.g. Mary is prettier than Ann.
This car is more expensive than the others.
2. We use the superlative to compare one person/ thing with more than one of the same group.
e.g. He is the fastest runner of all.
She is the most intelligent child in the family.
3. We often use than after a comparative. We normally use the before a superlative. We often
use of or in after a superlative. We use in with places.
e.g. She is shorter than you.
This problem is more complicated than that one.
I am the smartest of all.
This room is the most comfortable one in the hotel.
4. Certain adjectives form their comparative and superlative in both ways, either by adding -er/-est to the adjectives or by taking
more/most. Some of these are: clever, common, cruel, friendly, gentle, narrow, pleasant, polite, shallow, simple, stupid, quiet.
e.g. simple - simpler - the simplest ALSO
simple - more simple - the most simple
Regular forms
Adverbs Adverb Comparative Superlative
1. Adverbs having the same forms as their long longer (than) (the) longest
adjectives add -er/-est. fast faster (than) (the) fastest
early earlier (than) (the) earliest
2. Two syllables or compound adverbs often more often (than) (the) most often
(adjectives+-ly, e.g. careful-carefully) take slowly more slowly (than) (the) most slowly
more/most. quickly more quickly (than) (the) most quickly
Irregular forms
Adjectives/Adverbs Comparative Superlative
good/ well better best
bad/badly worse worst
much/ many/ a lot of more most
little less least
few fewer fewest
far farther/further farther/furthest
Usage
1. Well is the adverb of good. e.g. He is a good cook. He cooks well.
2. further (adj) = more
e.g. For further information contact Mr White.
further/farther (adv) = longer (in distance)
e.g. He walked further/farther than I did.
3. very + adjective e.g. It is very hot weather.
4. most + adj/adv = very e.g. He was most obliging. = He was very obliging.
5. even/much/far/a bit + comparative
e.g. My sister behaved even worse than before.
Susan is much more patient with children than Lily is.
6. any + comparative (used in negatives & questions) e.g. This article was not any better than the previous one.
Types of Comparison Examples
1. as … (adj/adv) … as She speaks as calmly as usual.
not so/as as … (adj/adv) … as It is not so/as hot as it was yesterday.
such a(n)/so … as This is not such an exciting film as the last one.
2. twice/three times /half/ etc as … Their house is three times as big as ours.
(adj/adv) … as His watch cost half as much as mine.
3. the same as Your violin is the same as the one I’ve bought.
4. less … (adj/adv) … than The red sofa is less expensive than the blue one,
the least … (adj/adv) … of/in but the black one is the least expensive of all.
5. the + comparative … , the + comparative The earlier you start, the sooner you’ll finish.
6. comparative + and + comparative Their life is getting better and better.

Sentence transformation
1a. I’ve never seen such a boring movie. c. No other runner is as quick as she is/her.
b. It is the most boring movie I’ve ever seen. 5a. He is a terrible driver.
2a. He is taller than his sister. b. He drives terribly.
b. His sister is not as tall as he is/him. 6a. Jack has got the same number of books as Peter.
3a. If you work more, you will earn more. b. Peter has got as many books as Jack.
b. The more you work, the more you will earn. 7a. She hasn’t made as many mistakes as last time.
4a. She is the quickest runner of all. b. She has made fewer mistakes than last time.
b. She is quicker than any other runner.
 COMPARISON WORKSHEET
Exercise A
Complete the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives/ adverbs.
Adjective/ Adverb Comparative Superlative
e.g. high higher highest
1. loud
2. large
3. thin
4. heavy
5. quietly
6. intelligently
7. good/well
Exercise B
Choose the correct option for each of the following sentences.
e.g. He worked more efficiently than I did. (efficiently, more efficiently, most efficiently)
1. Her promotion was the __________ moment of her life. (proud, prouder, proudest)
2. Hawaii is _________ from Hong Kong than Japan. (far, farther, farthest)
3. This ring is too _________ for me. (small, smaller, smallest)
4. It is _________ to ask for help than solve the problem by yourself. (easy, easier, easiest)
5. Grace’s work is __________, but Joan’s is __________. (good, better, best)
Exercise C
Fill in each blank with the correct form – adjective/ adverb, comparative or superlative.
e.g. The manager is the most powerful man here. (powerful)
1. Iron is _______________ than other metals. (useful)
2. My English teacher is as _______________ as Andy Lau. (handsome)
3. His Chinese is getting _____________ and _______________. (bad)
4. The _______________ he gets, the _______________ he becomes. (old, wise)
5. Ann does not swim so _______________ as her coach claims. (quickly)
6. Which is _______________, grammar or vocabulary? (important)
7. Staying at home is _______________ than going on holiday abroad. (comfortable)
8. The _______________ money you spend, the _______________ you can save. (little, much)
Exercise D
Rewrite the following sentences using the words given, without changing the meaning.
e.g. No one else in the team plays better than he does. (best)
He plays the best in the team.
1. No other dancer is as graceful as she is in the play. (most graceful)___________________________________________________
2. Susan dresses more smartly than Emily. (less smartly) ____________________________________________________________
3. Tom is noisier than his brothers. (as noisy as) ___________________________________________________________________
4. If you try harder, you will do better. (the harder) _________________________________________________________________
5. Wealth is not as good as health. (better) ________________________________________________________________________