COMPARISONS Degrees of Comparison Incomplete Comparisons Compound Comparisons Illogical Comparisons

Degrees of Comparison We have three degrees of comparison that we use with modifiers: the positive, the superlative, and the comparative. The positive degree is used for words that describe only one thing. The comparative degree is used for words that describe only two things. * It requires the use of er or more with the word. The superlative degree is used for words that describe three things or more. * It requires the use of est or most with the word. PositiveComparativeSuperlative bigbiggerbiggest talltallertallest cutecutercutest

Degrees of Comparison If you have a one-syllable word, you add er or est. If you have a two-syllable word, you generally add er or est, unless it sounds weird. In that case, you will add the word more or most. More is used for the comparative and most is used for the superlative. Positive ComparativeSuperlative pretty (2 syllables) prettierprettiest funny funnierfunniest careful (2 syllables) more carefulmost careful dreadful more dreadfulmost dreadful

Degrees of Comparison When you have words with three or more syllables, you add the words more or most. *There are some oddities: PositiveComparative Superlative goodbetter best manymore most muchmore most littleless least badworse worst illworse worst

Practice 1.Reba is the (finer, finest) artist in our class. 1.I thought the (smaller, smallest) of the two kittens was the (cuter, cutest). 1.I didn’t expect you to buy the (more expensive, most expensive) car of the two. 1.That boy is the (best, better) player of the two.

Incomplete Comparisons Often in our language we take short cuts and leave out words we think are unnecessary. Example: Michael is stronger than anyone on the team. Correct Examples: Michael is stronger than anyone else on the team. OR: Michael is stronger than any other person on the team.

Practice Correct each sentence by inserting the words else or other in the appropriate places. 1.James can hit a ball farther than anyone on the field. 1.That musician plays worse than any musician on stage. 1.That horse can run faster than any animal. 1.Jerry is taller than anyone else on the team.

Compound Comparisons Identify the correctness of the compound comparison that use the words as and than. Correct examples: 1.That pine is as tall as the oak, if not taller. That pine is as tall as, if not taller than, the oak. 2. We worked as hard as they did, if not harder. We worked as hard as, if not harder than, they did. Incorrect example: Maria speaks Spanish as well, if not better than, Margaret. * When you see a comparison using as, be sure that there are two of them.

Practice 1.He is as old, if not older than, Ray. 1.Those pears are as cheap, if not cheaper than, the apples. 1.John is as tall, if not taller than, Kyle.

Illogical Comparisons Some times we make illogical comparisons between two things that logically cannot be compared. Incorrect example: Jan’s time for the race is as fast as Martin. Correct examples: Jan’s time for the race is as fast as Martin’s time. Jan’s time for the race is as fast as that of Martin. Jan’s time for the race is as fast as the time of Martin.

Let’s Practice All Comparisons Identify each of the following sentences as correct or incorrect. Underline the portion of the sentence that contains the error. 1.Richard is the best of the two players. 1.Without a doubt, Jeremy is the better of the two athletes. 1.The prices for those dresses are not as reasonable as the shoes. 2.The birthday present made him as happy, if not happier than, he had been before.