1. Comparison
Comparative

2. Index Usage …………………………………………………………3 Form/Examples …………………………………………..4
Irregular Comparisons ………………………………..6
Exercises …………………………………………………….7
Bibliography ………………………………………………12

3. Usage
A «comparison» is used when it is necessary to consider people or things in order to see how similar or how different they are. So a «comparison» is an act of comparing always two things.

4. How is it formed ? Superiority Number of syllables Form Example
The comparative of superiority is used in sentences with THAN, but sometimes THAN is omitted.
Superiority
Number of syllables
Form
Example
One
+ er
Tall > taller
With the spelling
Consonant + single vowel + consonant
Fat >fatter
Double the final consonant
Two
Ending in –y; -ly; -ow
Ending in –le; -er; ure Or
More + adj.
Happy >happier/more happy
Yellow > yellower/more yellow
Simple > simpler/more simple
Tender > tender/more tender
Two syllables or more
Intelligent > more intelligent

5. Inferiority Equality Form Example Form Example Less + adjective + than
Days are less warm in January than in May.
Not so + adjective + as
Days are not so warm in January as in May
Form
Example
as + adjective + as
Jack is as tall as his brother

6. Irregular comparisons
A few English comparatives do not follow the usual pattern. Here is a list of common exceptions.
Positive
Comparative
Bad
Worse
Badly
Far (distance)
Farther
Far (extent)
Further
Good
Better
Ill
Positive
Comparative
Late
Later
Less
Lesser
Little (amount)
Many
More
Much
Well
Better

7. Exercises www.better-english.com/grammar/comparatives.htm
Joe is ______ than Ed. (short) 1. superiority
Joe is shorter than Ed
Joe is ______ than Al. (thin)
Joe is thinner than All
Al is _______ than Joe. (heavy)
All is heavier than Joe
Joe is ______ than Ed. (happy)
Joe is happier than Ed
Joe is ______ than Ed. (energetic)
Joe is more energetic than Ed.

8. Exercises
This shirt is ________ (expensive) than the other inferiority
This shirt is less expensive (expensive) than the other
He is _________ (problematic) than his brother.
He is less problematic (problematic) than his brother.
Alice is __________ (intelligent) as I thought she was.
Alice is not so intelligent (intelligent) as I thought she was.
3. Rewrite the sentences using the equality comparative .
Helen is nice. Sandra is nice. ____________________________________________
Helen is as nice as Sandra
My English teacher is clever. My history teacher is clever. _____________________
My English teacher is as clever as my history teacher.

9. Exercises 4. Complete using the right form.
Anne is _________ (smart) as her sister.
Less smart b) not so smart
Michael is __________ (strong) than his friend Jordan.
Less strong b) not so strong
My father is __________ (brave) as the unknown soldier.
a) Not so brave b) less brave

10. Exercises irregular adjectives
Well _____
Ill _____
Less _____
Much _____
Bad _____
Good _____
Late _____
Better
Worse
Lesser
More
Later

11. Bibliography www.better-english.com www.english-zone.com

12. Trabalho elaborado por:
11º C1
Ana Cristina, nº 1
Sónia Valente, nº 16