1. COMPARATIVE FORMS

2. Comparative Structures We can use comparative structures to say that:  things are more:  Our prices are bett er than any of our rivals.  We have a more interesting range of music than you'll see anywhere else.  things are less:  Cassettes usually aren't as/so expensive as CDs.  The CDs in the sale are much less expensive than usual.  or things are equal:  Classical music is as popular as rock music with our customers.

3. ADJECTIVECOMPARATIVESUPERLATIVE One syllable Strong Great Add –er Stronger Greater Add –est The strongest The greatest You can become stronger at the Fitness Center. Two syllables ending in –y Tidy Funny Drop –y and add – ier Tidier Funnier Drop –y and add – iest The tidiest The funniest Your flat is tidier than ours. Two/three/four syllables Famous Self-confident more … More famous More self- confident The most … The most famous The most self- confident You can become a more self- confident person.

4. Comparison of Adjectives:  A few two-syllable adjectives (e.g. quiet, pleasant, common, polite ) sometimes also use -er or -est:  It's quieter than any garden I've visited before.  Two-syllable adjectives ending in -ow, -er and -le can usually add -er or -est: cleverer; the narrowest

5. Comparison of Adjectives:  Most adjectives ending in a vowel and -b, -d, -g, -n, -p or -t double the last letter before adding -er or -est:  bigger; the saddest  A few adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms: Goodbetterbest Badworseworst Farfartherfarthest

6. ADVERBS:  Adjectives (happy, beautiful) tell us about a noun.  Adverbs (happily, beautifully) tell us about a verb, an adjective or another adverb. They give us information about time (when?), place (where?), manner (how?) and frequency (how often?

7. Comparison of Adverbs  Adverbs use the same comparative structures as adjectives:  He shouted as loudly as she did.  I can't add up as quickly as you can.  They arrived later than we did.

8. Comparison of Adverbs  Most adverbs use more or less to make comparatives and the most or the least to make superlatives:  My brother speaks Italian more fluently than I do.  Adverbs without -ly make comparatives and superlatives in the same way as short adjectives  highhigherhighest

9. Comparison of Adverbs:  Some comparative and superlative adverbs are irregular:  Wellbetterbest  badlyworseworst  Farfartherfarthest  I did better than him in the test.  None of the students lives very near the school, but Darren lives farthest away.

10. Making comparisons:  The simplest kind of comparison uses than.  You look younger than your brother.  Comparatives can be repeated to suggest continuing change.  This lesson seems to be getting longer and longer.  Jim started feeling more and more tired.

11. Making comparisons:  Note this construction that repeats the word the.  The faster you drive, the more petrol you use.  Comparatives can be made stronger or weaker by using these words:  Stronger: much, far, a lot  Weaker: a bit, a little  This book is much/a little more expensive.

12. COMPARATIVE STRUCTURES  A BIG DIFFERENCE  Far + more + adjective (or adjective-er) + than  Nowhere near as + adjective + as  Considerably + less + adjective + than  Not nearly as + adjective + as  A great deal + more + adjective (or adjective –er) than  A SMALL DIFFERENCE  Almost as + adjective + as  Nearly as + adjective + as  Slightly + more + adjective (or adjective –er) than  Not quite as + adjective + as  NO DIFFERENCE  As + adjective + as  No + more + adjective (or adjective –er) + than