Comparisons Grammar Guide PDF

11/19/24, 1:23 PM Comparisons - Grammar - Academic Guides at Walden University Comparisons Adjective and Adverb Comparative Structures Adjectives and adverbs can be used to make comparisons. The comparative form is used to compare two people, i...

11/19/24, 1:23 PM Comparisons - Grammar - Academic Guides at Walden University Comparisons Adjective and Adverb Comparative Structures Adjectives and adverbs can be used to make comparisons. The comparative form is used to compare two people, ideas, or things. The superlative form with the word "the" is used to compare three or more. Comparatives and superlatives are often used in writing to hedge or boost language. Here are some rules and examples of how to form the comparatives and superlatives: General Rules for Comparatives and Superlatives Adjective or Comparative Superlative Adverb small smaller (the) smallest fast faster (the) fastest One-syllable large larger (the) largest adjectives bigger (Note the spelling big (the) biggest here) Most two- (the) most/least thoughtful more/less thoughtful syllable thoughtful adjectives useful more/less useful (the) most/least useful https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/comparisons 1/6 11/19/24, 1:23 PM Comparisons - Grammar - Academic Guides at Walden University (the) most/least Adverbs carefully more/less carefully careful ending in -ly slowly more/less slowly (the) most/least slowly Two-syllable sleepy sleepier (the) sleepiest adjectives ending in -y happy happier (the) happiest Two-syllable little littler (the) littlest adjectives ending with – narrow narrower (the) narrowest er, -le, -or, or –ow gentle gentler (the) gentlest (the) most/least Three or intelligent more/less intelligent intelligent more syllable (the) most/least adjectives important more/less important important Two-Syllable Adjectives That Follow Two Rules (either form is correct) Adjective Comparative Superlative more/less clever (the) most/least clever clever cleverer (the) cleverest more/less simple (the) most/least simple simple simpler (the) simplest more/less friendly(the) most/least friendly friendly friendlier (the) friendliest https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/comparisons 2/6 11/19/24, 1:23 PM Comparisons - Grammar - Academic Guides at Walden University Irregular Adjectives Adjective ComparativeSuperlative good better (the) best bad worse (the) worst far farther (the) farthest little less (the) least few fewer (the) fewest To find other comparative structures, look up the word in an online dictionary such as Merriam Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/). If you are a multilingual writer, you may find Merriam Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary (http://learnersdictionary.com/) helpful for level-appropriate definitions and examples. To form comparative sentences, use the comparative with the word "than." Here are some examples: Fewer participants volunteered for the study than I had anticipated. Business school was less expensive than law school. His application was processed more quickly than he thought. It is also possible to use "(not) as…as" to express similarity or differences. Here are some examples: Reading is as enjoyable as writing. The results were as conclusive as in previous studies. Finding participants for the study was not as easy as I thought. Her level of expertise was not as extensive as her employer had hoped. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/comparisons 3/6 11/19/24, 1:23 PM Comparisons - Grammar - Academic Guides at Walden University Transitions such as "and," "but," "in addition," "in contrast," "furthermore," and "on the other hand" can also be used to show comparison. See our website page on transitions (https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/paragraphs/transitions) and sentence structures and types of sentences (https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/sentencestructure) for more information and examples. Some Common Errors With Comparisons Common Error 1: Using the comparative instead of the superlative INCORRECT: He is the happier person I know. REVISION: He is the happiest person I know. INCORRECT: She is the more thoughtful person I know. REVISION: She is the most thoughtful person I know. Common Error 2: Doubling up comparisons or superlatives INCORRECT: His car is more faster than mine. REVISION: His car is faster than mine. INCORRECT: His car is the most fastest. REVISION: His car is the fastest. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/comparisons 4/6 11/19/24, 1:23 PM Comparisons - Grammar - Academic Guides at Walden University Common Error 3: Using empty comparisons (part of the comparison is missing) INCORRECT: The participants were more experienced. REVISION: The participants were more experienced than the previous participant pool. INCORRECT: The line moved more slowly. REVISION: The line moved more slowly than the line next to it. Common Error 4: Using ambiguous comparisons (the comparison has more than one possible meaning) INCORRECT: She likes pizza better than her husband. (Does this mean that pizza is better than her husband?) REVISION: She likes pizza better than her husband does. (Now it is clear that the comparison is who likes pizza more.) INCORRECT: Her suitcase is bigger than John. (Does this mean that the size of the suitcase is larger than another person?) REVISION: Her suitcase is bigger than John’s. (Now it is clear that the comparison is about two suitcases, not about John.) https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/comparisons 5/6 11/19/24, 1:23 PM Comparisons - Grammar - Academic Guides at Walden University Common Error 5: Missing the article (https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/articles) “the” in the superlative INCORRECT: Finishing quickly was least important task. REVISION: Finishing quickly was the least important task. INCORRECT: The youngest girl was also littlest. REVISION: The youngest girl was also the littlest. Knowledge Check: Comparisons Knowledge Check Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected]. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/comparisons 6/6