comparatives and superlatives FORM adjective comparative superlative comments old cheap older cheaper the oldest the cheapest one-syllable adjectives add –er in comparative and –est in superlative big hot wet bigger hotter wetter the biggest the hottest the wettest short adjectives ending in consonant + vowel + consonant → double the last consonant healthy happy pretty healthier happier prettier the healthiest the happiest the prettiest one- or two-syllable adj. ending with consonant + y → -ier or -iest famous expensive more famous more expensive the most famous the most expensive two- or more syllable adjectives → more / the most + adjective good bad far better worse further/farther the best the worst the furthest/farthest irregular USE 1 As ... as (= tak jako) shows that something is the same or equal. Jim is as tall as Peter/him. I’m as worried as you are. 2 Not as/so ... as shows that something isn’t the same or equal. Rome is not as old as Athens. That hotel isn’t so expensive as yours. I don’t play golf as often as you. 3 Than (= než) is often used after a COMPARATIVE adjective. My sister is taller than me. These cameras are more expensive than those ones. I can run faster than him. 4 Much can come before the comparative to give emphasis. She’s much nicer than her sister. Is Tokyo much more modern than London? 5 The is used before SUPERLATIVE adjectives. He’s the funniest boy in the class. Which is the tallest building in the world? PRACTICE 1 Write comparative sentences. 1. My sister / thin / me ______________________________________________ 2. I’m / busy / this week / last week ______________________________________________ 3. It took me / long / I expected ______________________________________________ 4. Health and happiness are / important /money______________________________________________ 5. My toothache is / painful / it was yesterday ______________________________________________ 6. Camping is / cheap / staying in a hotel ______________________________________________ 7. Living in a village is / healthy/ living in a town ______________________________________________ 8. My new job is / boring / my old one ______________________________________________ 2 Read the following sentences and then write a new sentence with the same meaning. Example: I’ve never seen such a boring film. It is the most boring film I’ve ever seen. 1. I have never heard such a funny story. That’s the ______________________________________________heard. 2. He’s never made such a bad mistake. It’s ______________________________________________ 3. I’ve never slept in such an uncomfortable bed. This is ______________________________________________ 4. I’ve never had such a big meal. It’s ______________________________________________ 5. I’ve never met such a generous person as Ann. Ann is ______________________________________________ 3 Fill in the COMPARATIVE or SUPERLATIVE form of each adjective. 1. This jacket is too small. I need a ___________ size. (large) 2. She is ___________in her family. (tall) 3. He thinks that Rwanda is ___________country in the world. (dangerous) 4. Our accommodation was surprisingly cheap. I expected it to be much ___________.(expensive) 5. She looks about 20, but in fact she is much ___________she looks. (old) 6. We complained about the food in our hotel. But instead of improving, it got even ___________.(bad) 7. You’re standing too near the camera. Can you move a bit ___________away? (far) 8. St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral is ___________religious building in Brno. (famous) 9. Chinese is one of ___________languages to learn. (difficult) 10. I know he doesn’t have much money but still he is much ___________me. (rich) 11. Yesterday was ___________day of the year. (hot) 12. This is ___________time to drive through the city centre. (bad) 13. I suppose that my work is much ___________hers. (easy) 14. The ___________I’ve ever flown is to Australia. (far) 15. Liverpool is ___________ city in the UK. (polluted) 4 Fill in AS or THAN. 1. I feel better ________ I felt yesterday. 2. I don’t watch TV as much ________ you. 3. Belgium is smaller ________ Switzerland. 4. Jim isn’t as clever ________ he thinks. 5. Jane didn’t play as good ________ my brother. 6. Jack didn’t play better ________ my brother.