1. 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

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

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

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

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

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

7. 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.

8. Comparison of modifiers
On Your Own
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?
[End of Section]

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

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

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

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

13. 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 jigsaw puzzle was less challenging than the maze.
The word game was the least challenging of all.

14. Irregular comparison
The comparative and superlative degrees of some common modifiers are irregular in form.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
bad
worse
worst
ill
good
better
best
well
much
more
most
many
far
farther/further
farthest/furthest
little
less
least

15. Regular and irregular comparison
On Your Own
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.
Fernando is a more good pitcher than Keith is.
[End of Section]

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

17. 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.
more fresh? OR
fresher?
The cherries look more fresher than the blueberries.
most colorful? OR
colorfulest?
This painting is the most colorfulest of all.
Then, delete the unnecessary part.

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

19. Special problems with comparisons Double comparisons / Comparing within a group
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.
[End of Section]

20. 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’s [arguments].
Katie’s arguments in the debate were more persuasive than her opponent.
Illogical
Logical
This sentence makes an illogical comparison between arguments and an opponent.
Logical
The ears of the African elephant are larger than those of the Asian elephant.
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.

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

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

23. Special problems with comparisons Absolute adjectives
An absolute adjective is an adjective that does not have a comparative or superlative form.
Common Absolute Adjectives
complete
empty
eternal
perfect
correct
endless
full
round
dead
equal
infinite
unique
Take the word perfect, for example. Something is either perfect or it’s not. Something cannot be more or less perfect than something else.

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

25. Special problems with comparisons Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives
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.
[End of Section]

26. 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)

27. Review B
In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of modifiers.
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.
[End of Section]

28. The End