Comparative and superlative review
We use comparative and superlative adjectives to talk about the differences between two or more things .
Comparative adjectives: to make comparison between two things or situations
Form Adjective Comparative Superlative
One syllable adj fast add -er add the + -est
Faster the fastest
One syllable adj wide add –r add the + -st
ending with e wider the widest
Two syllables happy change -y to –ier change –y to iest
ending with -y happier happiest
Adj with two or more
syllables efficient more/less+adj the+most/least+adj
more/less efficient the most/least efficient
Irregular good better best
adj bad worse the worst
far farther/further the farthest/furthest
Comparative adjective review
• To make a comparison stronger, there are several adverbs that can use before
the comparative.
The one that emphasis the large differences include: much, far, considerably,
substantially, a lot, a good/great deal.
The ones that emphasize small differences include: slightly, a little, rather,
somewhat, and more informally, a bit.
Examples:
1. Royal trains move passengers at a much lower cost compared to buses.
2. Passengers are somewhat less concerned with train décor than speed.
Note: we can use really or absolutely to make an adjective stronger, but we can not
use them before a comparative.
The royal trains move passengers at a really lower cost…..
Exercises
Complete the sentences with comparative or the superlative form from the adjective in the box.
Affordable slow long environmentally friendly empty fast popular
quite short convenient fuel efficient big
Ex: Engineers dream of an aircraft that will be faster and more environmentally friendly.
1. Ships with new combined gas and steam turbine electric engines are _________than those with
conventional engines.
2. At 59.39m, the Airbus A340-200 is ______________plane in the Airbus range.
3. Prices have fallen, so for most people, air travel has become________and they can enjoy holidays
abroad.
4. For many people in the city, buses are __________form of transport.
5. Gas powered buses have become ___________in recent years because of their low emissions.
6. On American roads, car sharing lanes for cars with two or more people are __________than other lanes.
So people have ____________journey times.
7. Most people believe that of all forms of transport, roads have ____________impact on the environment.
8. Moving goods on canal boats is _____________than road or rail, but people and wildlife benefit because