110 Comparative and superlative forms 1 The comparison of adjectives femora fcgenaive an tis 203 ee “he cheaper bok Sou Tike ti 0, keys mart e moet We form the comparative and superlative of short adjectives (c.g. cheap) and long adjectives (c.g, expensive) in different ways. COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE Short word,eg. cheap: cheaper (the) cheapest Long word, e.g, expensive: more expensive (the) most expensive For less and least, see Unit 112.1. There are some less expensive ones here, look. 2 Short and long adjectives One-syllable adjectives (c.g. small, nice) usually have the -er, -est ending. Your hi-fi issmaller. Emma needs a bigger computer. This isthe nicest colour. This room is the warmest. But we use more, most before words ending in -ed. Everyone was pleased at the results, but Vicky was the most pleased. We also use more, most with three-syllable adjectives (e.g. exciting) and with longer ones. The film was more exciting than the book. This dress is more elegant. We did the most interesting project. This machine is the most reliable. Some two-syllable adjectives have -e1, -est, and some have wat. Look at this information. “TWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES 1 Words ending in a consonant + -y have -er, -est, e.g. happy -* happier, happiest. Examples are: busy, dirty, easy, funny, happy, heavy, lovely, lucky, pretty, silly, tidy 2 Some words have -er, -est OR more, most, e.g. narrow» narrower, narrowest Ok more narrow, ‘most narrow. Examples are: clever, common, cruel, gentle, narrow, pleasant, polite, quiet, simple, stupid, tired 3. The following words have more, most, e.g, useful —> more useful, most useful a Words ending in -ful or -less, e.g. careful, helpful, useful; hopeless b Words ending in -ing or -ed, e.g. boring, willing, annoyed, surprised © Many others, e.g. afraid, certain, correct, eager, exact, famous, foolish, frequent, modern, nervous, normal, recent PAGE 260. © ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS:3. Spelling ‘There are some special spelling rules for the -er and -est endings. 1 -€¥ er, -e54.¢, nice + nicer, nicest, large larger, largest. Also brave, fine, safe, etc. 2 -y + -ier,-iest ater a consonant, e.g. happy > happier, happiest. Also lovely, lucky, pretty, ete. 3 Words ending in a single vowel letter + single consonant letter ~* double the consonant eg. hot —» hotter, hottest, big —> bigger, biggest. Also fit, sad, thin, wet, etc. (but w does not change, e.g. new ~» newer) For more details, sce page 371. 4 The comparison of adverbs Some adverbs have the same form as an adjective, e.g early, fast, hard, high, late, long, near. ‘They form the comparative and superlative with -er, -est. Can't you run faster than that? Andrew works the hardest. Note also the spelling of earlier and eatliest. Many adverbs are an adjective + -ly, eg, carefully, easily, nicely, slowly. ‘They form the comparative and superlative with more, most. We could do this more easily with a computer. Ofall the players it was Matthew who planned his tactics the most carefully. In informal English we use cheaper, cheapest, louder, loudest, quicker, quickest and slower, slowest rather than mote cheaply, the most loudly, etc ‘Melanie reacted the quickest. You should drive slower in fog. Note the forms sooner, soonest and more often, most often. Try to get home sooner. I must exercise more often. 5. Irregular forms Good, well, bad, badly and far have irregular forms, ADIECTIVE/ADVERB- COMPARATIVE, ‘SUPERLATIVE g00d/well better best badlbadly worse worst far farther/further _farthest/furthest You've gor the best handwriting. How much further are we going? We can use elder, eldest + noun instead of older, oldest, but only for people in the same family. My elderiolder sister got married last year. 6 Comparing quantities ‘We use more, most and their opposites less and least to compare quantities. Thaven't got many books. You've got more than I have. The Hotel Bristol has the most rooms. Trevor spends less on clothes than Laura does. Emma made the least mistakes. > 111-112 Comparative and superlative patterns ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS» PAGE 261A The comparison of adjectives (1-2) Complete the sentences. Use these adjectives: beautiful, expensive, high, interesting, tall > The giraffe 1s, taller than the man. > The CD is more expensive. than the cassette. 1 Detective stories than algebra. 2 The top of the mountain than the clouds. 3. The acrobat than the clown, B The comparison of adjectives (1-2) ‘Tom is a United fan. He never stops talking about them. Put in the superlative form of the adjectives. > Everyone's heard of United. They're the sost. famous (famous) team in the world. > They've got a long history. They're the oldest (old) club in England. 1 They've got lots of money. They're the (ich) club in the country 2 Their stadium is new. It's the (modern) stadium in Europe. 3. United are wonderful. They're the (Great) club in the worl. 4 And what a team! It's the (exciting) team ever. 5 They've got lots of fans. They're the (popular) team in the country, 6 United have won everything. They're the (successful) team ever. 7 They're good to watch. They play the (attractive) football 8 United fans are happy. We're the (happy) people in the world C The comparison of adjectives (1-3) Complete the advertisements with the comparative form of the adjective. Use Get-It-Clean and you'll get your floors cleaner. Elegant Wallpapers simply look more elegant Watch a Happy Video and you'll fee! Wear a pair of Fast Shoes and you'll be a runner, Helpful Cookbooks are a guide to cooking. Wash your hair with Lovely Shampoo for hair, Try a Big-Big Burger and you'll have a meal Restful Beds give you a night. Wear Modern Fashions for a look. Nowsonsvy¥ PAGE 262 © ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBSD The comparison of adverbs (4) Put in the comparative form of these adverbs: carefully, early, easily, high, long, loud, often, smartly > Iwas too nervous to go higher than halfway up the tower. > We could have found the place sore. easily, with a map. 1 Do you have to wear those old jeans, Mike? Can't you dress 2 2 You needn't go yet. You can stay a bit : 3. There ara lots of break-ins. They happen nowadays. 4 Htyou doit again . you won't make so many mistakes. 5 The film starts at eight, but we should get to the cinema a few minutes © We can't hear. Could you speak a bit 2 E Irregular forms (5) Matthew and Emma are walking in the country. Put in further, furthest, better, best, worse and worst. Emma: I'mnot used to country walks. How much (») further is Matthew: Not far. And it gets better. We've done the (1) part. Look, the path gets easier. It goes downhill from here. | hope you're feeling @) now, Emma, Emma: | feel dreadful, actually, (3) than before. Matthew: Oh, dear. Do you want to have a rest? Emma: No, the (4) thing would be to get home as soon as we can. I'm not very fit, you know. This is the (6) I've walked for a long time F Comparing quantities (6) Put in more, most, less (x2) and Jeast. Laura: Our new car is smaller, so it uses (P) le. petrol. They tested some small cars, and this one costs the (1) to run of all the cars in the test. It's very economical, +30 Trevor likes it. He wants to spend (2) ‘on motoring Harriet: Can you get three people in the back? Laura: Not very easily. We had (3) room in our old car. (4) cars take five people, but not this one. G Comparative and superlative forms (1-6) Write the correct forms. > You're the kuekyest person | know. lckiest > The situation is getting difficulter. more difficult 1 Lwas heppyer in my oid job. 2. I've got tne most-emettotfice. 3. This photo is the goodest 4 Last week's meeting was more short 5 Money is the irnpertantest thing, 6 Is Rachel elder than Vicky? 7 This game is exeitinger than the last one. 8 Of all the students, Andrew does the more work. 9 This month has been weter than last month 10 The prices are mere-tow here. 1 Hee! more bactnar-| did yesterday. ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS + PAGE 263