COMPARISONS

COMPARATIVES Comparatives are used to show the difference between two objects. And use “than” between the comparison. The ant is smaller than the hippo. The elephant is fatter than the giraffe. The girl is happier than the duck. The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.

COMPARATIVES Examples: small + er = smaller than hard + er = harder than Rule 1. If an adjective has 1 syllable we add the ending –er to the adjective. The ant is smaller than the hippo.

COMPARATIVES Examples: big + er = bigger than fat + er = fatter than Rule 2. If a one syllable adjective ends with a consonant + a vowel + a consonant you must double the last consonant and then ad –er. The elephant is fatter than the giraffe.

COMPARATIVES Examples: happy –y + ier = happier than funny –y + ier = funnier than Rule 3. If an adjective ends with a “y”, remove the “y” and add –ier. The girl is happier than the duck.

COMPARATIVES Examples: beautiful + more = more beautiful than expensive + more = more expensive than Rule 4. If an adjective has two syllables or more without a “y” then add the word “more” before the word. If the adjective ends with a “y”, you will only add the word “more” if it has three syllables or more. The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.

SUPERLATIVES Superlatives are used to show the difference between more than two objects. The ant is the smallest. The hippo is the fattest. The elephant is the heaviest. The airplane is the most expensive.

SUPERLATIVES Examples: small + est = the smallest hard + est = the hardest Rule 1. If an adjective has 1 syllable we add the ending –est to the adjective. The ant is the smallest.

SUPERLATIVES Examples: big + est = the biggest fat + est = the fattest Rule 2. If a one syllable adjective ends with a consonant + a vowel + a consonant you must double the last consonant and ad –est. The hippo is the fattest.

SUPERLATIVES Examples: happy –y + iest = the happiest funny –y + iest = the funniest Rule 3. If an adjective ends with a “y”, remove the “y” and add –iest. The elephant is the heaviest.

SUPERLATIVES Examples: beautiful + most = the most beautiful expensive + most = the most expensive Rule 4. If an adjective has two syllables or more without a “y” then add the word “most” before the word. If the adjective ends with a “y”, you will only add the word “most” if it has three syllables or more. The airplane is the most expensive.

EXCEPTIONS There are a few exceptions.

Other Forms of Comparison as + adjective + as My car is as fast as yours. not as + adjective + as He’s not as smart as you are. less + adjective + than Ted is less active than Harry. the least + adjective + of/in I am the least active of all my friends. as + adjective + as My car is as fast as yours. not as + adjective + as He’s not as smart as you are. less + adjective + than Ted is less active than Harry. the least + adjective + of/in I am the least active of all my friends.