COMPARISONS USING MODIFIERS

DEGREES OF COMPARISON Adjectives and adverbs have three different forms (called degrees) which depend on how many items are being described or compared. POSITIVE DEGREE = one thing being described (This is what we have been discussing.) COMPARATIVE DEGREE = two things being compared SUPERLATIVE DEGREE = three or more things being compared

EXAMPLES POSITIVE DEGREE: The players think Coach Smith is a good player. COMPARATIVE DEGREE: The players think Coach Smith is a better player than his daughter. SUPERLATIVE DEGREE: The players think that Coach Smith is the best coach in the league.

RULES FOR MOST COMPARISONS COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE Add –er or –est to one-syllable words to many two-syllable words tougher happier toughest happiest Use more or most with some two-syllable words to avoid awkward sounds with words of more than two syllables with adverbs ending in -ly more helpless (not helplesser) more important more quickly most helpless (not helplessest) most important most quickly

WATCH OUT! Never use the superlative degree when only two things are being compared. (You must use the comparative degree.) WRONG: Of the two sandwiches, which did you like best? RIGHT: Of the two sandwiches, which did you like better? ex. On a test question with only two choices, you must choose the BETTER answer, not the BEST.

IRREGULAR COMPARISONS ADVERB OR ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE DEGREE SUPERLATIVE DEGREE GOOD (adj.) better best WELL (adv.) FAR (adv.) farther, further farthest, furthest BAD (adj.) worse worst MUCH (adj.) more most MANY (adj.) LITTLE (adj.) less, lesser least Lesser: He is a lesser man than I. Least: He gave the least amount of money. (adj.) Least: He is the least skilled member of the team. (adv.) Much: He ate much cake. (adj.) Much: He is much heaver than I.

PROBLEMS WITH COMPARISONS Double Comparisons: Do not use –er and more to form the comparative degree. Do not use –est and most to form the superlative degree. WRONG: His eyes were more bluer than yours. WRONG: That was the most hardest test I’ve ever taken!

ILLOGICAL COMPARISONS When you are comparing something that is part of a larger group to the group itself, use the word other or the word else to avoid an illogical comparison. WRONG: I think a werewolf is more mysterious than any monster. RIGHT: I think a werewolf is more mysterious than any other monster. RIGHT: You are more annoying than anyone else I know.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH EACH SENTENCE? He ran the course quicker than I did. Do you like Alias or Lost best? When speaking of coyotes and bears, coyotes are smartest.