Understanding Comparison of Modifiers How are modifiers used in comparisons? Comparison of modifiers Regular comparison Irregular comparison Special problems with comparisons Review A Review B

Comparisons can come in handy when you want to describe or explain something. How are modifiers used in comparisons? Today is the coldest day we ’ ve had this year! Yes, but it ’ s sunnier than yesterday.

One way to compare is to change the forms of modifiers. modifiers How are modifiers used in comparisons? The snail is the slowest of all. Turkeys are slower than rabbits. But turkeys are faster than squirrels. Wild turkeys do not run very fast.

Adjective How are modifiers used in comparisons? A modifier makes the meaning of another word or word group more specific. NounVerb Adverb A good scientist conducts experiments carefully. Good tells “ what kind ” of scientist. A good scientist conducts experiments carefully. Carefully tells “ how ” the experiments are conducted.

Positivecalm Comparison of modifiers The ocean looks calm today. Comparativecalmer Superlativecalmest A modifier can have three different forms— positive, comparative, and superlative. These forms are called degrees of comparison. It ’ s calmer than it was yesterday. I think that ’ s the calmest surf I ’ ve ever seen.

Comparison of modifiers Positive The positive degree is the basic form of the modifier. She dives deep into the ocean. The candle is bright.

Comparison of modifiers Comparative The comparative degree of a modifier compares a quality of one thing or action with a quality of another. Which person will dive deeper? The fire is brighter than the candles.

Comparison of modifiers Superlative The superlative degree of a modifier is used when comparing more than two things or actions. The green candle is the brightest of the three. These two have dived the deepest of all.

Comparison of modifiers 1.The hotel is closer to the airport than the restaurant is. 2.Susan is the friendliest person I know. 3.Marta volunteers frequently at the food bank. Identify the degree of comparison of each boldfaced modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared. 4.Tuesday was the worst day of this week.

Comparison of modifiers Closer is the comparative degree of close. The hotel is being compared with the restaurant. Identify the degree of comparison of each boldfaced modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared. 1.The hotel is closer to the airport than the restaurant is. comparative

Comparison of modifiers Identify the degree of comparison of each boldfaced modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared. Friendliest is the superlative form of friendly. Susan is being compared with all the people the speaker knows. 2.Susan is the friendliest person I know. superlative

Comparison of modifiers Identify the degree of comparison of each boldfaced modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared. Frequently is the positive form. There is no comparison. This sentence simply tells how often Marta volunteers. 3.Marta volunteers frequently at the food bank. positive

Comparison of modifiers Worst is the superlative form of bad. Tuesday is being compared with every other day of the week. Identify the degree of comparison of each boldfaced modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared. 4.Tuesday was the worst day of this week. superlative

Comparison of modifiers [End of Section] Choose the correct modifier in each of the following sentences. 1. Summer is the (hotter, hottest) time of year. 2.Both twins, Holly and Tina, have brown eyes, but Holly ’ s are (darker, darkest). 3.Riding a motorcycle can be (dangerous, most dangerous). 4.Both shirts are nice, but I like the red one (better, best). 5.Who is the (funnier, funniest) person in the class? On Your Own

Comparison of modifiers Answers Choose the correct modifier in each of the following sentences. 1. Summer is the (hotter, hottest) time of year. 2.Both twins, Holly and Tina, have brown eyes, but Holly ’ s are (darker, darkest). 3.Riding a motorcycle can be (dangerous, most dangerous). 4.Both shirts are nice, but I like the red one (better, best). 5.Who is the (funnier, funniest) person in the class?

Comparative wilder larger stronger later Superlative wildest largest strongest latest Most one-syllable modifiers form the comparative degree by adding –er and the superlative degree by adding –est. Regular comparison Positive wild large strong late

Superlative gentlest liveliest most clearly most cautious Comparative gentler livelier more clearly more cautious Some two-syllable modifiers form the comparative degree by adding –er and the superlative by adding –est. Others use more and most. Regular comparison Positive gentle lively clearly cautious

Many two-syllable modifiers can form their comparatives and superlatives either way. Regular comparison silly silliersilliest more sillymost silly If adding –er or –est makes a word sound awkward, use more and most. jealous, jealouser, jealousest Awkward jealous, more jealous, most jealous Better

Adverbs that end in –ly form their comparatives and superlatives by using more and most. Regular comparison Adverbs bravelymore bravelymost bravely rapidly more rapidlymost rapidly politelymore politelymost politely

Comparative more glorious more efficient more skillfully more reasonably Superlative most glorious most efficient most skillfully most reasonably If a modifier has three or more syllables, use more and most to form the comparative and superlative degrees. Regular comparison Positive glorious efficient skillfully reasonably

More and –er and most and–est show increases. To show decreases in the quality a modifier expresses, use less and least. Regular comparison Decreasing comparison The jigsaw puzzle was less challenging than the maze. The word game was the least challenging of all.

The comparative and superlative degrees of some common modifiers are irregular in form. Irregular comparison PositiveComparativeSuperlative bad worseworst ill good betterbest well much moremost many farfarther/furtherfarthest/furthest littlelessleast

The word little has both irregular and regular comparative and superlative forms. Regular forms are used to describe physical size. Irregular forms are used to describe an amount. Irregular comparison Sizethe littlest piglet Amountless lemonade

Regular and irregular comparison For each sentence, supply the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 1.She chose the __________ slice of pie she could find. (small) 2.I watch __________ science fiction movies than most of my friends do. (many) 3.Ted can skate __________ than I can. (well) 4.Cameron is the __________ person I know. (excitable, decreasing comparison)

Regular and irregular comparison The superlative degree of small is smallest. For each sentence, supply the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 1.She chose the __________ slice of pie she could find. (small) smallest

Regular and irregular comparison The comparative degree of many is more. For each sentence, supply the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 2.I watch __________ science fiction movies than most of my friends do. (many) more

Regular and irregular comparison The comparative degree of well is better. For each sentence, supply the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 3.Ted can skate __________ than I can. (well) better

Regular and irregular comparison The decreasing superlative of excitable is least excitable. For each sentence, supply the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 4.Cameron is the _____________ person I know. (excitable, decreasing comparison) least excitable

Regular and irregular comparison [End of Section] If the comparative or superlative form of a modifier is incorrect or awkward, give the correct form. If a sentence is correct, label it C. 1. This chair is comfortabler than the couch. 2.That was the most bad football game I ’ ve ever seen. 3.Mother cooks less than Dad does. 4.The church steeple is more tall than the clock tower. 5. Fernando is a more good pitcher than Keith is. On Your Own

Regular and irregular comparison Answers If the comparative or superlative form of a modifier is incorrect or awkward, give the correct form. If a sentence is correct, label it C. 1. This chair is more comfortable than the couch. 2.That was the worst football game I ’ ve ever seen. 3.Mother cooks less than Dad does. C 4.The church steeple is taller than the clock tower. 5.Fernando is a better pitcher than Keith is.

Incorrect Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons Avoid double comparisons. Using both –er and more is incorrect. Using both –est and most is also incorrect. The cherries look more fresher than the blueberries. This painting is the most colorfulest of all. Incorrect

most colorful?colorfulest? fresher?more fresh? Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons To correct a double comparison, first decide whether the comparative and superlative forms use –er and –est or more and most. The cherries look more fresher than the blueberries. This painting is the most colorfulest of all. Then, delete the unnecessary part. OR

When you are comparing one member of a group with the rest of the group, be sure to include the word other or else. Special problems with comparisons Comparing within a group Joel has hit more home runs than any member of his team. Illogical Joel is a member of the team. Logically, Joel could not have hit more home runs than he himself did. Joel has hit more home runs than any other member of his team. Logical Ben is smarter than anyone I know. Illogical Ben is someone I know, and Ben cannot be smarter than himself. Ben is smarter than anyone else I know. Logical

Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons / Comparing within a group 1.My brother is better at golf than any member of my family. 2.The brown and white puppy is the most cutest one in the litter. 3.Hannah has scored more goals than anyone on her team. In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers.

1.My brother is better at golf than any member of my family. In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers. other The brother is a member of the family. He cannot be better than himself at golf. Adding other makes the sentence logical. Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons / Comparing within a group

2.The brown and white puppy is the most cutest one in the litter. In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers. Most cutest is a double comparison. Use the –est ending only. Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons / Comparing within a group

In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers. 3.Hannah has scored more goals than anyone on her team. Hannah is a person on her team. Logically, she could not score more goals than she herself scored. Adding else makes the sentence logical. else Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons / Comparing within a group

[End of Section] On Your Own Correct each error in the use of modifiers in the following sentences. 1. Heather is more likelier to be on time than Jared is. 2.Beth sold more cookies than anyone in the troop. 3.Of all the family members, Uncle Tomas had traveled the most farthest to get to the reunion. 4.The Eagles have a better record than any team in the league. 5.I think Shawn is more funnier than anyone in her class. Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons / Comparing within a group

Answers Correct each error in the use of modifiers in the following sentences. 1. Heather is more likelier to be on time than Jared is. 2.Beth sold more cookies than anyone in the troop. 3.Of all the family members, Uncle Tomas had traveled the most farthest to get to the reunion. 4.The Eagles have a better record than any team in the league. 5.I think Shawn is more funnier than anyone in her class. Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons / Comparing within a group else likely other else

Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons When making a comparison, make sure to clearly show what you are comparing. Katie ’ s arguments in the debate were more persuasive than her opponent. Illogical This sentence makes an illogical comparison between arguments and an opponent. Katie ’ s arguments in the debate were more persuasive than her opponent ’ s [arguments]. Logical The ears of the African elephant are larger than the Asian elephant. Illogical This sentence makes an illogical comparison between ears and the Asian elephant. The ears of the African elephant are larger than those of the Asian elephant. Logical

Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons Use a complete comparison if there is any chance an incomplete one could be misunderstood. I baby-sit them more often than anyone else. Unclear Than anyone else can be completed in more than one way, so the sentence is not clear. I baby-sit them more often than anyone else does. Clear I baby-sit them more often than I baby-sit anyone else. Clear ?

A compound comparison uses both the positive and comparative degree of a modifier. Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons Avoid the common error of omitting the second as in the positive degree. I think the temperature tomorrow will be as low as, if not lower than, it was today. positive as low as, comparative lower than, This year ’ s soccer team is playing as well, if not better than, last year ’ s team. Nonstandard This year ’ s soccer team is playing as well as, if not better than, last year ’ s team. Standard

Special problems with comparisons Absolute adjectives An absolute adjective is an adjective that does not have a comparative or superlative form. Common Absolute Adjectives completeemptyeternalperfect correctendlessfullround deadequalinfiniteunique Take the word perfect, for example. Something is either perfect or it ’ s not. Something cannot be more or less perfect than something else.

In formal speaking and writing, avoid using absolute adjectives in comparisons. Special problems with comparisons Absolute adjectives Of all the designs, Lena ’ s was the most unique. Informal Of all the designs, Lena ’ s was the most unusual. Formal Lena ’ s design was unique among them all. Formal

It ’ s okay to use an absolute adjective in a comparison if the adjective is accompanied by more nearly or most nearly. Special problems with comparisons Absolute adjectives Jen ’ s answer was more complete than mine. Jen ’ s answer was more nearly complete than mine. Incorrect Correct

Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives 1.Sarah ’ s test scores arrived by mail two weeks earlier than Jesse. 2.Heidi ’ s circle was more round than mine. 3.Theo talks to his sister more often than Mia. In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers. 4.This essay is as good, if not better than, any you have written before.

1.Sarah ’ s test scores arrived by mail two weeks earlier than Jesse ’ s. In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers. The original sentence made an illogical comparison between scores and Jesse. The revised version compares one set of test scores with another. Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives

In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers. Round is an absolute adjective and should not be used in a comparison. Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives 2.Heidi ’ s circle was more nearly round than mine.

In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers. The incomplete comparison than Mia can be understood in two possible ways, so it is important to use a complete comparison. Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives 3.Theo talks to his sister more often than he talks to Mia. Theo talks to his sister more often than Mia talks to her. or

In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers. Use all the words necessary to complete a compound comparison, including the second as in the positive degree. Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives 4.This essay is as good as, if not better than, any you have written before.

[End of Section] On Your Own Most of the following sentences contain an error in the use of modifiers. Correct each error. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1. The walls of this old fort are much thicker than a house. 2.Henry is as talented, if not more talented than, anyone else in the band. 3.I have known Mimi longer than Margaret. 4.Dad gave me a longer speech than he gave you. 5.Ben ’ s answer was more correct than Kim ’ s. Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives

Most of the following sentences contain an error in the use of modifiers. Correct each error. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1. The walls of this old fort are much thicker than those of a house. 2.Henry is as talented as, if not more talented than, anyone else in the band. 3.I have known Mimi longer than I have known Margaret. 4.Dad gave me a longer speech than he gave you. C 5.Ben ’ s answer was more nearly correct than Kim ’ s. Possible Answers Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives

Review A Complete each sentence by providing the correct form of the modifier in parentheses. 1.A piece of fruit would be a __________ choice than a cookie. (healthful) 2.The white kitten seems __________ than the others. (playful, decreasing comparison) 3.Of the three brothers, Julio sings ___________. (well) 4.Which of the two flavors do you like __________? (much) 5.That is the __________ lemon drop I ’ ve ever tasted! (sour)

3.Of the three brothers, Julio sings ___________. (well) 2.The white kitten seems __________ than the others. (playful, decreasing comparison) 1.A piece of fruit would be a _____________ choice than a cookie. (healthful) Review A more healthful less playful best better sourest 4.Which of the two flavors do you like __________? (much) Complete each sentence by providing the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.

Review B [End of Section] 1.Lucinda has the most uncommonest hobby I ’ ve ever heard of—collecting insects. 2.Luisa sees movies much more often than her friend Sarah. 3.Is the sting of a wasp worse than a bumblebee? 4.This year ’ s football team is playing as well, if not better than, last year ’ s. 5.My brother Nick is taller than anyone in his class. In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers.

Review B 1.Lucinda has the most uncommon hobby I ’ ve ever heard of—collecting insects. 2.Luisa sees movies much more often than her friend Sarah does. 3.Is the sting of a wasp worse than that of a bumblebee? 4. This year ’ s football team is playing as well as, if not better than, last year ’ s. 5.My brother Nick is taller than anyone else in his class. In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers.

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