Unit 4 Lesson 2: Comparing with adjectives Page 186

All adjectives have forms, called degrees. Adjectives that simply describe are in the positive degree. Adjectives that compare two or more things are in the comparative degree. Adjectives that compare three or more things are in the superlative degree.

Regular adjectives When an adjective is regular, you can follow some simple rules to write its comparative and superlative forms. 1. For all one-syllable and a few two-syllable adjectives, add –er to form the comparative degree and –est to form the superlative degree. Tall  taller  tallest Long  longer  longest Clear  clearer  clearest

2. If an adjective ends with a single vowel and a consonant, double the consonant before adding the ending. Big  bigger  biggest Sad  sadder  saddest Slim  slimmer  slimmest Fit  fitter  fittest

3. If an adjective ends with a consonant and y, change the y to i before adding the ending. Noisy  noisier  noisiest Silly  sillier  silliest

4. For most adjectives with two syllables and for all adjectives with three syllables or more, use more to form the comparative and most for the superlative. Intelligent  more intelligent  most intelligent

5. Never combine –er with the word more 5. Never combine –er with the word more. Never combine –est with the word most. Don’t say “more prettier”. It’s just “prettier”

6. When you compare things that are less rather than more, use less for the comparative and least for the superlative. Strong  less strong  least strong

Try it out 1-8 in your notes, please.

Irregular adjectives Some adjectives are irregular. You’ll need to memorize them. Good  better  best Well  better  best Bad  worse  worst Little  less  least Much, many  more  most

Be careful with less and fewer You will hear people mess these up all the time. Less does not refer to quantity (numbers) Less well, less legible, less true, less honest Fewer refers to quantity Fewer days, fewer people, fewer books, fewer ideas, fewer than 15 items (yes, the signs always say “less than 15 items” at the supermarket. That’s wrong.)

Try it out – 9-13 on page 188 in your notes, please

Fantastic. Now, please do 14-24 in your notes on page 189. Remember, these are due before our next Grammar period. It is your responsibility to have completed them before then.