COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this pattern:

Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).

The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).

EXAMPLES

• My house is larger than hers.
• This box is smaller than the one I lost.
• Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
• The rock flew higher than the roof.
• Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better. ("than Jim" is understood)

SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.

Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).

The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).

EXAMPLES

• My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.
• This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
• Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.
• We all threw our rocks at the same time. My rock flew the highest. ("of all the rocks" is understood)

FORMING REGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

Forming comparatives and superlatives is easy. The form depends on the number of syllables in the original adjective.

ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
tall	taller	tallest
fat	fatter	fattest
big	bigger	biggest
sad	sadder	saddest

TWO SYLLABLES

Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceeding the adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceeding the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are used, although one usage will be more common than the other. If you are not sure whether a two-syllable adjective can take a comparative or superlative ending, play it safe and use moreand most instead. For adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i before adding the ending.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
happy	happier	happiest
simple	simpler	simplest
busy	busier	busiest
tilted	more tilted	most tilted
tangled	more tangled	most tangled

THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES

Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front of the adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
important	more important	most important
expensive	more expensive	most expensive

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
little	less	least
much	more	most
far	further / farther	furthest / farthest

EXAMPLES

• Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.
• You play tennis better than I do.
• This is the least expensive sweater in the store.
• This sweater is less expensive than that one.
• I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.

EXERCISES

TEST - http://anthonyhalderman.com/english/compsup.htm

EL COMPARATIVO Y EL SUPERLATIVO

LOS ADJETIVOS EN GRADO COMPARATIVO

El comparativo se usa en inglés para comparar diferencias entre los dos objetos a los que modifica (larger, smaller, faster, higher). Se emplea en oraciones donde comparamos dos nombres, de la manera siguiente:

Nombre (sujeto) + verbo + adjetivo en grado comparativo + than + nombre (objeto).

El segundo término de la comparación puede omitirse si se entiende a partir del contexto. (ver el último ejemplo).

EJEMPLOS

• My house is larger than hers.
• This box is smaller than the one I lost.
• Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
• The rock flew higher than the roof.
• Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better. ("than Jim" se sobreentiende)

LOS ADJETIVOS EN GRADO SUPERLATIVO

El superlativo se emplea para describir un objeto que se encuentra en el extremo superior o inferior de una cualidad (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). Se utiliza en oraciones en las que comparamos un sujeto con un grupo de objetos, como aquí:

Nombre (sujeto) + verbo + the + adjetivo en grado superlativo + nombre (objeto).

El grupo con el que se efectúa la comparación puede omitirse si se entiende a partir del contexto (ver el último ejemplo).

EJEMPLOS

• My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.
• This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
• Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.
• We all threw our rocks at the same time. My rock flew the highest. ("of all the rocks" está sobreentendido)

FORMACIÓN DE COMPARATIVOS Y SUPERLATIVOS REGULARES

En inglés, es simple formar el comparativo y el superlativo de la mayoría de los adjetivos. La forma dependerá del número de sílabas del adjetivo.

ADJETIVOS DE UNA SÍLABA

Añadir -er para el comparativo y -est para el superlativo. Si el adjetivo termina en consonante + vocal + consonante, la última consonante debe repetirse antes de añadir la terminación.

Adjetivo	Comparativo	Superlativo
tall	taller	tallest
fat	fatter	fattest
big	bigger	biggest
sad	sadder	saddest

ADJETIVOS DE DOS SÍLABAS

Los adjetivos de dos sílabas pueden formar el comparativo añadiendo -er, como los adjetivos de una sílaba, o bien colocando more delante del adjetivo, como ocurre con los de tres sílabas. Igualmente, estos adjetivos pueden formar el superlativo añadiendo la terminación -est o bien poniendo most delante el adjetivo. En muchos casos se utilizan las dos formas, aunque uno de los usos será más habitual que el otro. Si no estamos seguros de que un adjetivo pueda tomar las terminaciones de comparativo o superlativo, es mejor utilizar more y most. Cuando un adjetivo de dos sílabas termina en y, hay que cambiarla por i antes de añadir la terminación.

Adjetivo	Comparativo	Superlativo
happy	happier	happiest
simple	simpler	simplest
busy	busier	busiest
tilted	more tilted	most tilted
tangled	more tangled	most tangled

ADJETIVOS DE TRES SÍLABAS O MÁS

Los adjetivos de tres sílabas o más forman el comparativo colocando more antes del adjetivo y el superlativo colocando most.

Adjetivo	Comparativo	Superlativo
important	more important	most important
expensive	more expensive	most expensive

COMPARATIVOS Y SUPERLATIVOS IRREGULARES

Algunos adjetivos muy corrientes tienen formas irregulares en los grados comparativo y superlativo.

Adjetivos	Comparativos	Superlativos
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
little	less	least
much	more	most
far	further / farther	furthest / farthest

EJEMPLOS:

• Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.
• You play tennis better than I do.
• This is the least expensive sweater in the store.
• This sweater is less expensive than that one.
• I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.

comparatives video

english video

 EXERCISES: 

1 - http://www.curso-ingles.com/practicar/ejercicios/comparatives-and-superlatives

2 - http://www.inglesmundial.com/Intermedio/Leccion13/Gramatica.html

3 GAME: http://www.eslgamesplus.com/comparatives-superlatives-wild-zoo-animals-vocabulary-grammar-interactive-monkey-fun-activity/

4 - Game: http://eslkidsworld.com/Interactive%20games/Grammar%20Games/Comparative%20&%20Superlatives/comparatives%20and%20superlatives%20animals%20football%20quiz.html
                      
                      

ACTIVITY 1:

WRITE 3 COMPARATIVES AND 2 SUPERLATIVES ABOUT COLOMBIAN CITIES, PEOPLE OR TOURISTIC PLACES.

ACTIVITY 2:

WRITE 3 COMPARATIVES AND 2 SUPERLATIVES ABOUT  URBAN TRIBES