Comparison Which do you think is bigger : a lion or a tiger? I don’t think a tiger is quite as big as a lion!

Compare Mark is 6 years old young. Mark is young. Heidi is 4 years oldRick is 10 months old younger than Mark. Heidi is younger than Mark. youngest. Rick is the youngest.

Compare This sack of potatoes weighs 6 kg. heavy. The suitcase is heavy. This suitcase weighs 4 kg. These two bags weigh 8 kg. heavier than the suitcase. The sack is heavier than the suitcase. heaviest These two bags are the heaviest of all.

There are three degrees of adjectives: Positive Comparative Comparative Superlative Superlative

one The positive degree is used for one person or thing.

short Paul is short. thin Ann is thin.

two The comparative degree is used when comparing two persons or things

shorter than Rick Paul is shorter than Rick. thinner than Ann Rebecca is thinner than Ann.

more than three The superlative degree is used when we compare more than three persons or things.

Mary is the shortest girl in class class. Rebecca is the thinnest woman in Malta.

‘-er’ ‘-est’ for the superlative of some adjectives. You add ‘-er’ for the comparative and ‘-est’ for the superlative of some adjectives. cheap-cheaper-cheapest hard-harder-hardest weak-weaker-weakest old-older-oldest

‘-e’ ‘-r’‘-st’ If they end in ‘-e’, you add ‘-r’ and ‘-st’ safe-safer-safest nice-nicer-nicest close-closer-closest

double Some double the last letter. big-bigger-biggest fat-fatter-fattest sad-sadder-saddest

‘y’ ‘i’ Some change ‘y’ to ‘i’ heavy-heavier-heaviest funny-funnier-funniest busy-busier-busiest

two or more syllables To compare adjectives with two or more syllables use MORE in the Comparative MOST in the Superlative LESS in the Comparative LEAST in the Superlative

EXAMPLES beautiful - more more beautiful - most most beautiful careful - more careful - most careful intelligent - more intelligent - most intelligent generous - more generous - most generous dirty- less less dirty- least least dirty

The following are irregular good-better-best many-more-most bad-worse-worst ill-worse-worst

big biggest bigger Tokyo is _______ _______ than New York. bigger

old oldest older My sister is _______ _______ than me. older

good best better Louise is the _____ singer in Malta. best

friendly friendliest friendlier Ruth is the ________ girl in class. friendliest

pure purest purer Only the ________ ingredients are used in our cakes. purest

expensivest most expensive Joan chose the _____________ dress in the shop. most expensive more expensive

coarser most coarse The monk’s habit was made of the ________ material I have ever seen. coarsest coarsest

You certainly look much ________ than you did yesterday. happier happy

He is the ________ person I know. fattest fat

Jane chose the ________ slice of cake on the dish. thinnest thin

Andrea has even even _______. less little Mark has little common sense.

Today he is even even ______. worse ill Yesterday Andrew was ill.