Comparative Forms in English Grammar

Comparative Forms

• Comparative forms are used to compare two things or people.
• There are three types of comparative forms:
  1. Regular comparatives: formed using -er or more
  2. Irregular comparatives: have unique forms
  3. Superlative comparatives: formed using -est or most

Forming Comparative Forms

• Regular comparatives:
  • Add -er to the end of the adjective (e.g. big → bigger)
  • Use more before the adjective (e.g. beautiful → more beautiful)
• Irregular comparatives: must be memorized (e.g. good → better, far → farther)
• Superlative comparatives:
  • Add -est to the end of the adjective (e.g. big → biggest)
  • Use most before the adjective (e.g. beautiful → most beautiful)

Using Comparative Forms

• Comparative forms are used to compare two things or people:
  • She is taller than her sister.
  • This cake is more delicious than the one we had yesterday.
• Can be used in sentences with than or as:
  • He is as strong as his brother.
  • This book is more interesting than the one I read last month.

Common Comparative Forms

• Equality: as + adjective + as (e.g. She is as tall as her mother.)
• Inequality: more/less + adjective + than (e.g. He is more intelligent than his brother.)
• Superlative: the + adjective + est (e.g. He is the tallest in the class.)

Common Mistakes

• Using two comparatives together (e.g. more better)
• Using a comparative form with a singular noun (e.g. this book is more interesting than the ones)
• Forgetting to use than or as in comparative sentences

Comparative Forms

• Used to compare two things or people
• Three types: regular, irregular, and superlative

Forming Comparative Forms

• Regular comparatives:
  • Add -er to the adjective (e.g. big → bigger)
  • Use more before the adjective (e.g. beautiful → more beautiful)
• Irregular comparatives:
  • Have unique forms (e.g. good → better, far → farther)
• Superlative comparatives:
  • Add -est to the adjective (e.g. big → biggest)
  • Use most before the adjective (e.g. beautiful → most beautiful)

Using Comparative Forms

• Compare two things or people
  • Use than or as in sentences
  • Example: She is taller than her sister
  • Example: He is as strong as his brother

Common Comparative Forms

• Equality:
  • Use as + adjective + as (e.g. She is as tall as her mother)
• Inequality:
  • Use more/less + adjective + than (e.g. He is more intelligent than his brother)
• Superlative:
  • Use the + adjective + est (e.g. He is the tallest in the class)

Common Mistakes

• Avoid using two comparatives together (e.g. more better)
• Avoid using a comparative form with a singular noun (e.g. this book is more interesting than the ones)
• Remember to use than or as in comparative sentences

Comparative Adjectives

• We use smaller to compare two things, showing that one is not as big as the other.
• The biggest is used to describe the largest of all things in a group.
• Fewer is used to compare a smaller number of things that can be counted.
• The fewest is used to describe the smallest number of things in a group.

More Comparative Adjectives

• The tallest is used to describe the highest building or structure.
• The shortest is used to describe the lowest building or structure.
• Heavier is used to compare two things, showing that one is heavier in weight.
• Lighter is used to compare two things, showing that one is lighter in weight.

Comparative Adjectives for Age

• Younger is used to compare two people, showing that one is not as old as the other.
• Older is used to compare two people, showing that one is more aged than the other.

Comparative Adjectives for Other Traits

• The biggest is used to describe the largest of a particular type of thing (e.g. cat in the jungle).
• The strongest is used to describe the most powerful or capable of a particular type of thing.