Understanding Comparison How are modifiers used in comparisons? What are the degrees of comparison? Regular comparison Irregular comparison Solving common modifier problems Review A Review B

How are modifiers used in comparisons? If you’ve ever played the game Twenty questions, you’ve used modifiers to make comparisons. Is it smaller than an ambulance? Is it larger than a skate?

How are modifiers used in comparisons? A comparison shows how two or more things are alike or different. One way we compare is by changing the forms of modifiers. A scooter is smaller than an ambulance but bigger than a skate. A scooter is smaller than an ambulance.

What are the degrees of comparison? A modifier can have three different degrees, or forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. They’re prettier than the flowers we saw yesterday. Those flowers are pretty. They’re the prettiest flowers I’ve ever seen! Positive pretty Comparative prettier Superlative prettiest

What are the degrees of comparison? Positive The positive degree is the basic form of the modifier. Lisa is a young girl. The balloon climbed high into the air.

What are the degrees of comparison? Comparative The comparative degree compares one thing or action with another. Our balloon climbed higher than the other one. Lisa is younger than her brother.

What are the degrees of comparison? Superlative The superlative degree is used to compare more than two things or actions. That balloon climbed the highest of all. Lisa is the youngest person in her family.

Regular comparison Most one-syllable modifiers form the comparative by adding –er form the superlative by adding –est Positive bright slow cute Comparative brighter slower cuter Superlative brightest slowest cutest

Regular comparison Some two-syllable modifiers form the comparative by adding –er or by adding more form the superlative by adding –est or by adding most Positive fancy easy often cheerful Comparative fancier easier more often more cheerful Superlative fanciest easiest most often most cheerful

Regular comparison If a modifier has three or more syllables form the comparative by adding more form the superlative by adding most Positive powerful skillfully delicate creatively Comparative more powerful more skillfully more delicate more creatively Superlative most powerful most skillfully most delicate most creatively

Regular comparison Decreasing comparison More and –er and most and–est show increases. To show decreases in the quality a modifier expresses, use less and least. The red sweater is less expensive than the gray one. The pink sweater is the least expensive of all.

Regular comparison On Your Own Complete each sentence by supplying the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 1. The Moon is the Earth’s __________ neighbor in space. (near) 2. Seen from the Earth, the full Moon is __________ than the new moon. (bright) 3. We notice the Moon ____________ when it is full than when it is new. (frequently) 4. The moons of some other planets move __________ than our Moon. (slowly) [End of Section]

Irregular comparison The comparative and superlative degrees of some common modifiers are irregular in form. Positive Comparative Superlative bad worse worst good better best well much more most many

Irregular comparison On Your Own Complete each sentence by supplying the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 1. Of all the instruments she can play, Judy plays the flute __________. (well) 2. Gina’s cold is __________ today than it was yesterday. (bad). 3. The judges awarded a prize for the __________ essay. (good). 4. I have __________ baseball cards than she does. (many) [End of Section]

Solving common modifier problems Good and well The modifiers good and well have different uses. Use good to modify a noun or a pronoun. The weather was good for hiking. The weather was good for hiking. Noun If you want a pear, here is a good one. If you want a pear, here is a good one. Pronoun

Solving common modifier problems Good and well Use well to modify a verb. The jazz band plays well. The jazz band plays well. Verb Jen did well in most of her classes. Jen did well in most of her classes. Verb

Solving common modifier problems Double comparisons Avoid double comparisons. Using both –er and more is incorrect. Using both –est and most is also incorrect. Correct Incorrect Her hair is more redder than her brother’s. Her hair is redder than her brother’s. Incorrect Correct The chili was the most popular food at the fair. The chili was the most popularest food at the fair.

Solving common modifier problems Double comparisons To correct a double comparison, first decide whether the comparative and superlative forms of the modifier use –er and –est or more and most. Your bike is more faster than mine. more faster? or faster? That was the most interestingest show I ever saw. most interesting? or interestingest? Then, delete the unnecessary part.

Solving common modifier problems Good and well/Double comparisons On Your Own Proofread each sentence for the correct use of modifiers. If you find an error, correct it. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1. Jamal looked good after recovering from the flu. 2. The Moon looks more beautifuller tonight. 3. My sister writes poetry well. 4. As it rained, the river rose more rapidlier. 5. Our team played good at the tournament. [End of Section]

Review A Complete each sentence by providing the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 1. Yesterday was the __________ day of my entire life. (good) 2. Which runs __________ , the cheetah or the lion? (fast) 3. This piñata is decorated __________ than the other one. (beautifully) 4. This is the __________ stamp in Ray’s collection. (valuable) 5. We had __________ fun at the concert than we did at the game. (much)

Review B Correct the errors in the use of modifiers in the following sentences. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1. Tamika performed good at the gymnastics meet. 2. The butler is the most interestingest character in the film. 3. She hit the ball less harder last time. 4. Doug’s grades were good this semester. 5. Flora arrived more sooner than I did. 6. The colorful kite flew the most high in the sky. [End of Section]

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