Degrees of Comparison Quiz

Degrees of Comparison

• Comparatives: Used to compare two things. Form varies based on the adjective/adverb.

  • Short adjectives: Add '-er' (e.g., slower, heavier).
  • Short adjectives ending in -y: Add '-ier' (e.g., happier, bussier).
  • Longer adjectives: Use 'more' (e.g., more serious, more glamorous, more important).
  • Adverbs ending in -y: Add '-ier' (e.g., more precisely, more stylish).
  • Other adverbs: Use 'more' (e.g., more precisely, more clearly, more cleverly).
  • Exceptions: 'good' becomes 'better,' 'bad' becomes 'worse,' 'far' becomes 'further' (or 'farthest').
  • Additional Exceptions: ‘well’ becomes ‘better’ in comparative form, ‘badly’ becomes ‘worse’.
    • Types of Comparisons: + (greater), - (lesser), = (equal)

• Superlatives: Used to compare one thing to many others. Form varies.

  • Short adjectives: Add '-est' (e.g., slowest, heaviest).
  • Short adjectives ending in -y: Add '-iest' (e.g., happiest, busiest).
  • Longer adjectives: Use 'most' (e.g., most suitable, most important, most serious).
  • Adverbs ending in -y: Add '-iest' (e.g., most precisely, most stylish).
  • Other adverbs: Use 'most' (e.g., most precisely, most stylish, most importantly).
  • Exceptions: 'good' becomes 'best,' 'bad' becomes 'worst,' 'far' becomes 'farthest' (or 'furthest').
    • Additional Exceptions: ‘well’ becomes ‘best’ in superlative form, ‘badly’ becomes ‘worst’.

Comparative + "Than" / As...As":

• Use "than" when comparing differences. Example: "The airport in Dubai is larger than the one in Singapore."
• Use "as...as" for equal comparisons. Example: "The new carpooling system is as economical as using individual vehicles."

Less + Adjective/Adverb:

• Used to show a lesser degree. Example: "The new reception area is less modern than the old one."

More + Adverb/Adjective:

• Used to show a greater degree (e.g., more glamorous, more precisely).

Specific Comparative/Superlative Examples:

• Compact: "Jack's new phone is more compact than his old one."
• Modern/Stylish: "The new reception area is more modern than the old one. It's the most stylish reception area I've seen."
• Functional: "The new office is more functional than the old one."
• Big: "They made the break room bigger."
• Attractive: "These are the most attractive uniforms we've had."
• Cheap/Economical: "Our new carpooling system is cheaper/more economical than using individual vehicles."
• User-Friendly: "The new computer system is the most user-friendly I've tried."
• Well-Designed: "This new model is the most well-designed our company has produced yet."

More Precise Comparison Details

• Comparisons are always relative to another thing specified with the word "than."
• Equal comparisons use "as...as."
• Use "less" to express a lesser degree.
• "More" indicates a greater degree.

General Comparison Strategies

• Choose the correct degree of comparison (comparative or superlative) for the intended meaning (comparing two or more items or one relative to all others).
• Remember special cases for certain adjectives (good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, far/further/farthest/furthest).
• Always specify the item being compared with the word "than" for a complete comparison.
• Note the use of "least" and "less" for negative comparisons, "not as...as" for non-equal comparisons.

Drill Exercises for Students

1️⃣ Comparatives: Short Adjectives (-er)

• My new chair is longer than the old one.
• This road is bigger than the previous one.
• My backpack is larger than yours.

2️⃣ Comparatives: Short Adjectives ending in -y (-ier)

• This suitcase is heavier than my old one.
• His handwriting is messier than before.

3️⃣ Comparatives: Longer Adjectives (more + adj)

• This project is more serious than the last one.
• Her outfit is more glamorous than mine.

4️⃣ Comparatives: Adverbs (-ly) (more + adv)

• He completed the test more precisely than his classmates.
• She answered the questions more clearly than before.

5️⃣ Irregular Comparatives

6️⃣ Comparisons using "as…as"

• This hotel is not as expensive as the one we stayed at last time.
• My English is as good as my French.

7️⃣ Superlatives: The most / -est

• This is the largest city in the country.
• That was the most challenging task I've ever done.
• This is the most user-friendly software I’ve used so far.

8️⃣ Less + adj/adv

• This test is less difficult than the last one.
• His explanation was less clear than I expected.

9️⃣ The Least (Superlative - Negative Form)

• This was the least challenging task on my to-do list.
• That is the least precisely written essay in the group.

10️⃣ New Comparison Drill Exercises

1. Jack’s new cell phone is more compact than his previous phone.
2. The new reception area looks more modern than it used to. It's the most stylish reception I've seen.
3. The new office is more functional than what we had before.
4. The break room is now bigger.
5. These are the most attractive uniforms we've ever had.
6. Our new carpooling system is cheaper and more economical.
7. The new computer system is the most user-friendly I've tried.
8. This new model is the most well-designed our company has produced.

11️⃣ Additional Drill Exercises (Based on QuizGecko Prompt)

1. My new chair is longer than the old one.
2. This road is bigger than the previous one.
3. My backpack is larger than yours.
4. This suitcase is heavier than my old one.
5. His handwriting is messier than before.
6. This project is more serious than the last one.
7. Her outfit is more glamorous than mine.
8. He completed the test more precisely than his classmates.
9. She answered the questions more clearly than before. (Fill in the blanks with the correct comparative form.)

12️⃣ New Comparative/Superlative Exercises (Based on Provided Text)

1. Jack’s new cell phone is ________ (compact) than his previous phone.
2. The new reception area looks ________ (modern) than it used to. In fact, I think it’s ________ (stylish) reception I have ever seen.
3. The new office is much ________ (functional) than what we had before.
4. I’m happy they made the break room ________ (big), it used to be too small.
5. I really like our new uniforms, they are ________ (attractive) uniforms we’ve ever had.
6. Our new carpooling system is ________ (cheap) for the staff, it’s ________ (economical) than using individual vehicles.
7. I’m happy we switched to a new computer system. It is really easy to use, I think it’s ________ (user-friendly) I have used so far.
8. This new model is ________ (well-designed) our company has produced yet.