ADJECTIVES - COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE We use the

ADJECTIVES - COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE
We use the comparative and superlative forms to compare different things.
We use the comparative form to show the difference between two objects.
In the example below we use 'than' to compare the two objects:
New York is more exciting than Seattle.
We use the superlative form when speaking about three or more objects to show which object is 'the
most' of something. Example:
New York is the most exciting city in the USA.
Here is how to construct the COMPARATIVE form in English:
Short adjectives
Add '-er' to end of the adjective
Note:
normally double the final consonant if it is preceded by a vowel
if the adjective ends -e, add -r only
if the adjective ends -y, remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'ier'.
Examples: cheap - cheaper / hot - hotter / wise - wiser / happy - happier
This book is cheaper than that book.
Yesterday was hotter than today.
She is wiser than me.
I am happier than you.
Long adjectives
Place 'more' before the adjective
Examples: interesting - more interesting / difficult - more difficult
Madrid is more interesting than London.
This test is more difficult than the last test.
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Here is how to construct the SUPERLATIVE form in English:
Short adjectives
Place 'the' before the adjective and add '-est' to end of the adjective
Note:
normally double the final consonant if it is preceded by a vowel
if the adjective ends -e, add -st only
if the adjective ends -y, remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'iest'
Examples: cheap - the cheapest / hot - the hottest / wise - the wisest / noisy - the noisiest
This book is the cheapest I can find.
Today is the hottest day of the summer.
She is the wisest person in France.
New York is the noisiest city in the USA.
Long adjectives
Place 'the most' before the adjective
Examples: interesting - the most interesting / beautiful - the most beautiful
London is the most interesting city in England.
That is the most beautiful painting here.
IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS
Here are two of the most important exceptions:
good
•
•
•
good - simple adjective
better - comparative
the best - superlative
Example Sentences:
This book is better than that book
This is the best school in the city.
bad
•
•
•
bad - simple adjective
worse - comparative
the worst - superlative
Example Sentences:
His French is worse than mine.
This is the worst day of my life.
far (loin) - further - furthest
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Exercice 1
lumineux,
clair
sympathique,
agréable
joli
triste
grand, gros
heureux,
fortuné
approprié,
pertinent
bon
mauvais
bright
nice
pretty
sad
big
fortunate
relevant
good
bad
┌Traduire:┐
une lumière (light) plus
claire
a brighter light
la lumière la plus claire
the brightest light
une soirée (evening) plus
agréable
a nicer evening
la soirée la plus agréable
the nicest evening
une plus jolie fille
a prettier girl
la fille la plus jolie
the prettiest girl
une histoire (story) plus
triste
a sadder story
une histoire la plus triste
the saddest story
un saucisson (sausage)
plus grand
a bigger sausage
le saucisson le plus grand
the biggest sausage
un enfant plus heureux
a more fortunate
child
l'enfant le plus heureux
the most fortunate
child
un chiffre (figure) plus
pertinent
a more relevant
figure
le chiffre le plus pertinent
the most relevant
figure
un meilleur paysage
(landscape)
a better landscape
le paysage le meilleur
the best landscape
une pomme plus mauvaise
a worse apple
la pomme la plus mauvaise
the worst apple
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Exercice 2
...moins...que... = less...than...
...aussi...que... = ...as...as...
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She is prettier than her sister
Elle est plus jolie que sa sœur
She is less pretty than her sister
Elle est moins jolie que sa sœur
She is as pretty as her sister
Elle est aussi jolie que sa sœur
He is taller than Jim
Il est plus grand que Jim
He is less tall than Jim
Il est moins grand que Jim
He is as tall as Jim
Il est aussi grand que Jim
Your dictionary is more useful than
my dictionary
Votre dictionnaire est plus utile
que mon dictionnaire
Your dictionary is less useful than
my dictionary
Votre dictionnaire est moins utile
que mon dictionnaire
Your dictionary is as useful as my
dictionary
Votre dictionnaire est aussi utile
que mon dictionnaire
Spain is sunnier than Britain
L'Espagne est plus ensoleillée
que Grande Bretagne
Spain is less sunny than Britain
L'Espagne est moins ensoleillée
que Grande Bretagne
Spain is as sunny as Britain
L'Espagne est aussi ensoleillée
que Grande Bretagne
Old movies are sadder than modern
movies
Les vieux films sont plus tristes
que les films modernes
Old movies are less sad than
modern movies
Les vieux films sont moins tristes
que les films modernes
Old movies are as sad as modern
movies
Les vieux films sont aussi tristes
que les films modernes
Her friends are more interesting
than our friends
Ses amis sont plus intéressants
que nos amis
Her friends are less interesting than
our friends
Ses amis sont moins intéressants
que nos amis
Her friends are as interesting as our
friends
Ses amis sont aussi intéressants
que nos amis
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