Dr. Grammar says:

“What’s wrong with this sentence? John is best than me at tennis, but Susan beats him, and she is badder than me!”

The lesson should be completed as follows:

1. Read the explanation section.

2. Complete the exercises below and check your answer using the answer key.

3. Apply the grammatical rules for writing and speaking, starting from sentence level.

EXPLANATION

Remember…

A comparative is used to describe the differences between two or more things.

A superlative is used to describe which is the most or least (+ adjective).

Often we have to choose between using a comparative or a superlative.

If we want to describe the size of Vietnam (331,690 km2), Thailand (514,000 km2) and China (9,640,821 km2), how can we say this?

We can say…

Vietnam is smaller (comparative) than Thailand, and Thailand is smaller (comparative) than China. China is the biggest (superlative) country in Asia.

Why?

If you are not sure about how to use comparatives and superlatives, go back and read the two lessons before… (comparatives and superlatives) It is useful to know the three forms of common adjectives. Below are some examples:

Regular –

big > bigger > the biggest               cold > colder > the coldest

small > smaller > the smallest      funny > funnier > the funniest

hot > hotter > the hottest                  beautiful > more beautiful > the most beautiful

Irregular –

Good > better > the best                  bad > worse > the worst

Fun > more fun > the most fun       far > further > the furthest

So…

John is best than me at tennis, but Susan beats him, and she is badder than me! X

John is the best at tennis, but Susan beats him, and she is worse than me! √EXERCISE

Use the adjectives from the box to complete the sentences, and decide whether a comparative or a superlative is needed.

1. The football match was ……………………. than last week because we scored more goals, but it was……………………. game we have played for a long time. I had to go straight to bed when I got home!

2. Today was ……………………. day for a long time. It rained for 6 hours! 3. In the winter it is ……………………. than the summer, but some people think the weather is ……………………. in the summer because it is too hot.

4. When I was at school, I thought that Biology was ……………………. than History, but Art was ……………………. subject. I loved drawing and painting.

5. ……………………. animal on land is the cheetah (it can run at 113 kmph), but birds are ……………………. animals alive. Cheetahs are ……………………. than some birds.

Answers: 1. more fun, the most tiring 2. the wettest, 3. colder, worse, 4. more interesting, the most interesting, 5. the fastest, the fastest, slower. (There are also other correct answers [e.g. 4. More fun, the most fun], can you find those other correct answers?)

FURTHER PRACTICE

Writing or Speaking:

Use the following adjectives to write some sentences using the comparative form and the superlative form:

long     expensive     beautiful

short    cheap            boring

big        loud               famous

small   quite              delicious

This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).