Comparative Adjectives and Adverbs

1
Comparative Adjectives and Adverbs

• Use the comparative form when comparing two
  items, people, places, or ideas. Use the
  superlative form when comparing more than two.

Superlative
Comparative
2

• For short adjectives (with one syllable or two
  syllables ending in -y or -le) and most
  one-syllable adverbs, add
• the ending -er for the comparative
• the ending -est for the superlative.
• Generally the is used before the superlative
  form.

3

• Positive Comparative Superlative
• short shorter shortest
• pretty prettier prettiest
• simple simpler simplest
• fast faster fastest
• late
• easy
• early
• crazy

4

• With longer adjectives (three syllables and more)
  and with most adverbs ending in -ly, add
• more in the comparative form
• most in the superlative form.  
• Note  less and least are used with adjectives of
  any length (such as bright, less bright, least
  bright).

5

• Positive Comparative Superlative
• intelligent more intelligent most intelligent
• carefully more carefully most carefully
• dangerous less dangerous least dangerous
• Beautiful
• Frequently
• quietly

6

• If you cannot decide whether to use an -er/-est
  form or more/most, consult a dictionary. If there
  is an -er/-est form, the dictionary will say so.
• Note  Do not use the -er form with more or the
  -est form with most.
• Incorrect   The first poem was more better than
  the second.
• Revised   The first poem was better than the
  second.

7
The following are irregular comparative and
superlative forms. Positive Comparative Superl
ative Good better best bad worse wor
st much/many more most well better bes
t badly worse worst
8
Using than with Comparative Forms

• To compare two people, places, objects, or ideas,
  use the comparative form with the word than. If
  you use a comparative form in your sentence, you
  need than to let your reader know what you are
  comparing with what.
• Incorrect   This course of action is more
  efficient.
• Revised   This course of action is more
  efficient than the previous one.

9
Write a sentence using comparative adjectives or
adverbs for each picture.