Making Comparisonsin English
SUMMARY
We often use comparisons because we want to talk about the differences between people,
places, and things. Here is an example:
1. Janet’s house is bigger than Tom’s.
2. Tom’s house is a lot smaller than Janet’s.
3. Janet’s house is fancier and more elaborate than Tom’s house.
The comparative forms from the previous example are:-bigger than-smaller than-fancier than-more elaborate than
So . . . When do we use “–er” and when do we use “more?”
How many syllables are the words: “big” and
“small?” 1For 1-syllable adjectives, JUST add “er” to the end.
Example: Tom is smarter than Joe.
*If the 1-syllable adjective ends with the letter “e,” JUST add “r” to the end.
Examples: nicer wiser
**If the 1-syllable adjective has a C-V-C pattern, Double the consonant and add “er.”
Examples: San Francisco is wetter than San Diego.
San Diego is bigger than San Francisco.
For adjectives that end with the letter “y,” DROP the “y” and add “ier.”
Examples:Adjective = fancy Janet’s house is fancier than Tom’s.
Adjective = pretty Janet’s house is prettier than Tom’s.
Adjective = friendly Alison is friendlier than Susan.
How many syllables is the word: elaborate? 4 (more than 1)
For adjectives that are 2 or more syllables, use “more” + the adjective to make the comparative form.
Examples:Adjective = elaborate Janet’s house is more elaborate than Tom’s.
Adjective = comfortableThis chair is more comfortable than that chair.
Irregular comparatives:
You MUST memorize these!
Examples:good = better than far = farther (further) thanbad = worse than
Adjective = good Sara’s grades are better than Michael’s.
Grammar Rule:Never use both MORE and “ER!”
Incorrect:Lisa’s job is more better than mine.
Correct:Lisa’s job is better than mine.
Using “less than”Sometimes we compare two things by using “less than.”
To do this, use LESS + adjective + THAN
When using “less than,” the adjective DOES NOT CHANGE
Examples:He is LESS energetic than my other teacher.
This class is LESS crowded than the other one.
New York City is LESS polluted than Los Angeles.
Rule . . . ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE
1. Adjectives with one syllable:
add “er”
oldbig cheap
older thanbigger thancheaper than
2. Adjectives that endin “Y”: drop “Y”, add “ier”
friendlybusy easy
friendlier thanbusier thaneasier than
3. Adjectives with two or more syllables: use “more”
politebeautifulimportant
more polite thanmore beautiful thanmore important than
4. Irregular forms: (memorize)
goodbadfar
better thanworse thanfarther/further than
5. Less Than quietcrowded
less quiet thanless crowded than
There are a few exceptions with comparative grammar . . .These are adjectives that don’t follow the basic rules or that have more than one acceptable form. To learn these, you must memorize them.
1.“fun” We say: more fun funner
2. “simple” We say: more simple ORsimpler
3. “narrow” We say: more narrow OR narrower
4. “quiet” We say: more quiet ORquieter
Try these examples. Use the comparative form.
1.I think Social Studies is _________________ (interesting) than Math.
2. San Diego is a _____________ (pretty) city than L.A.
3. A dog is usually _______________ (friendly) than a cat.
4. It is _____________ (hot) today than it was yesterday.
5. My cousin is ______________ (rich) than I am.
6. USE LESS: Some people think that Spanish is __________________ (difficult) than English.
Who has the widest mouth in the world?
His name is Francisco Domingo,. He is from
Angola.
Where was the largest bikini parade held?
Hundreds of Women stood at
Where is the smallest man in the world from?
He is from Nepal
His name is Chandra Dangi and he is 67 cm tall.
Who is the tallest man in the world?
His name is Sultan Kosen
He is from «Alpachaca»
Which man has the longest fingernails in the world?
His name is Melvin Boothe
Who has the smallest waist in the world?
Her name is Cathie Jung
Who has the biggest natural breasts in the world?
Her name is Annie Turner
Under breasts: 109.22 cmChest-over-nipple: 177.8
cm
How big is the largest Mining Truck ?
Volume: 470.4 cubic metres
Density of : 0.86 tons/ m3
Who is the hairiest teenager in the world?
Her name is Supatra Nat
She is from
Ibarra and
studies at UTN.
The true fact: She is from Thailand
Who has the largest rifle in the world?
James DeCaine. U.S.A.
Measurement: 10.18 m
Could you do this?
It is simple, I can do
it.
He is as strong as the Teacher.
Thanks!
You are the best!
Javier Burgos E.L.T.