1. Understanding Comparison of Modifiers
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
Comparison of modifiers
Regular comparison
Irregular comparison
Double comparisons
Review A
Review B

2. How are modifiers used in comparisons?
Did you ever play the game “20 Questions”?
Is it bigger than a mouse?
Is it smaller than an elephant?

3. How are modifiers used in comparisons?
We often use comparisons to describe something unknown by comparing it to something known.
One way we compare is by changing the forms of modifiers.
A raccoon is smaller than an elephant but bigger than a mouse.
A raccoon is smaller than an elephant.

4. How are modifiers used in comparisons?
A modifier makes the meaning of another word or word group more specific.
Adjective
Adverb
The heavy snow covered the roads completely.
The heavy snow covered the roads completely.
The heavy snow covered the roads completely.
Noun
Verb
Heavy tells “what kind” of snow.
Completely tells “to what extent” the roads are covered.

5. Comparison of modifiers
A modifier can have three different forms—positive, comparative, and superlative.
These forms are called degrees of comparison.
That’s a beautiful sunset!
It’s the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen!
It’s more beautiful than yesterday’s sunset.
Comparative
more beautiful
Positive
beautiful
Superlative
most beautiful

6. Comparison of modifiers Positive
The positive degree is the basic form of the modifier.
The Saint Bernard is a big dog.
James swims fast.

7. Comparison of modifiers Comparative
The comparative form compares a quality of one thing or action with a quality of another.
Ray swam faster than James did.
The dog on the left is bigger than the other dog.

8. Comparison of modifiers Comparative
The comparative form is also used to compare one member of a group to all the other members of a group.
Ray swam faster than any other team member.
Ray swam faster than anyone else on the team.
Be sure to include other or else when comparing one member with all the others in a group. We use it in this example because Ray can’t swim faster than himself.

9. Comparison of modifiers
Advertisements often make comparisons without making clear what two things are being compared.
Grammar Gal Says...
Our fruit is fresher than any other store’s!
Our fruit is fresher!
Our pizza is the best in town!
Our pizza is the best!

10. Comparison of modifiers Superlative
The superlative form is used when comparing more than two things or actions.
Jacob was the fastest swimmer in the event.
The yellow Lab is the biggest dog in the group.

11. Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared.
1. The play was better than the movie.
2. My final project earned the highest grade in the class.
3. Pablo uses his time wisely.
4. Aunt Carolyn is the most artistic person in my family.

12. Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared.
1. The play was better than the movie.
Better is the comparative degree of good.
The play is being compared to the movie.

13. Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared.
2. My final project earned the highest grade in the class.
Highest is the superlative form of high.
My grade is being compared to all the other grades in the class.

14. Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared.
3. Pablo uses his time wisely.
Wisely is the positive form.
There is no comparison. This sentence simply describes how Jose uses his time.

15. Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being compared.
4. Aunt Carolyn is the most artistic person in my family.
Most artistic is the superlative form of artistic.
Aunt Carolyn is being compared to all the other members of the family.

16. Comparison of modifiers
On Your Own
Choose the correct modifier in each of the following sentences.
1. The last chapter was the (sadder, saddest) part of the whole book.
2. Sarah is (old, older) than Suzi.
3. Mom buys (fresh, fresher) produce at the market.
4. Have you seen Mary’s (beautiful, more beautiful) scarf?
5. My little brother makes up the (sillier, silliest) songs I’ve ever heard.
[End of Section]

17. Comparison of modifiers
Answers
Choose the correct modifier in each of the following sentences.
1. The last chapter was the (sadder, saddest) part of the whole book.
2. Sarah is (old, older) than Suzi.
3. Mom buys (fresh, fresher) produce at the market.
4. Have you seen Mary’s (beautiful, more beautiful) scarf?
5. My little brother makes up the (sillier, silliest) songs I’ve ever heard.

18. Regular comparison
Most one-syllable modifiers form the comparative form by adding –er and the superlative form by adding –est.
Positive
young
happy
deep
soon
Comparative
younger
happier
deeper
sooner
Superlative
youngest
happiest
deepest
soonest

19. 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
wealthy
ruined
wisely
hazy
Comparative
wealthier
more ruined
more wisely
hazier
Superlative
wealthiest
most ruined
most wisely
haziest

20. Grammar Gal Says... Regular comparison
Participles are verbs ending in –ed or –ing that are used as adjectives. Instead of adding –er or –est to show comparison, use more and most.
Grammar Gal Says...
Participles
ruined more ruined most ruined
flowing more flowing most flowing
daring more daring most daring

21. Regular comparison
Some two-syllable modifiers can form their comparatives and superlatives either way.
unkinder
unkindest
unkind
more unkind
most unkind
If adding –er or –est makes a word sound awkward, use more and most.
AWKWARD
recent, recenter, recentest
BETTER
recent, more recent, most recent

22. Grammar Gal Says... Regular comparison
Adverbs that end in –ly form their comparatives and superlatives by using more and most.
Grammar Gal Says...
Adverbs
loudly more loudly most loudly
gently more gently most gently
happily more happily most happily

23. Regular comparison
If a modifier has three or more syllables, use more and most to form the comparative and superlative degrees.
Positive
beautifully
important
inventive
predictably
Comparative
more beautifully
more important
more inventive
more predictably
Superlative
most beautifully
most important
most inventive
most predictably

24. 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 main character is less interesting than the minor ones.
The hero of the story is the least interesting character of all.
[End of Section]

25. Irregular comparison
The comparative and superlative degrees of some common modifiers are irregular in form.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
bad
worse
worst
badly
good
better
best
well
much
more
most
many
little
less
least

26. Grammar Gal Says... Irregular comparison
The word little has both irregular and regular comparative and superlative forms. Regular forms are used to describe physical size, and irregular forms are used to describe an amount.
Grammar Gal Says...
Size
the littlest puppy
Amount
less homework

27. Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences, choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
1. I have __________ time to practice than he does. (little)
2. Tyrone is the __________ pitcher on our baseball team this year. (good)
3. We have __________ homework today than we had all last week. (much)
4. That is the __________ insect in the garden. (strange)

28. Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences, choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
1. I have __________ time to practice than he does. (little)
less
In this sentence, the adjective little means “amount.” The comparative degree is less.

29. Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences, choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
2. Tyrone is the __________ pitcher on our baseball team this year. (good)
best
The superlative degree of the adjective good is best.

30. Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences, choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
3. We have __________ homework today than we had all last week. (much)
more
The comparative degree of the adjective much is more.

31. Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences, choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
4. That is the __________ insect in the garden. (strange)
strangest
The superlative degree of the adjective strange is strangest.

32. Regular and irregular comparison
On Your Own
If the comparative or superlative form of a modifier is incorrect or awkward, write the correct form. If the form is correct, write C.
1. This flower is commonlier found in Iowa than in Ohio.
2. That shop sells the most good milkshakes of all.
3. Some days seem to pass slowlier than others.
4. My notebook looks worse than Josh’s.
Tonight I will wear my colorfulest shirt.
[End of Section]

33. Regular and irregular comparison
Answers
If the comparative or superlative form of a modifier is incorrect or awkward, write the correct form. If the form is correct, write C.
1. This flower is more commonly found in Iowa than in Ohio.
2. That shop sells the best milkshakes of all.
3. Some days seem to pass more slowly than others.
4. My notebook looks worse than Josh’s. C
Tonight I will wear my most colorful shirt.

34. Double comparisons
Avoid double comparisons. Using both –er and more is incorrect. Using both –est and most is also incorrect.
INCORRECT
This banana is more riper than that one.
INCORRECT
That story was the most excitingest of all.

35. Double comparisons
To correct a double comparison, first decide whether the comparative and superlative forms use –er and –est or more and most.
more ripe? OR
riper?
This banana is more riper than that one.
Ripe has 1 syllable. Add –er.
most exciting? OR
excitingest?
That story was the most excitingest of all.
Exciting has three syllables; use more or most.
Then, delete the unnecessary part.

36. Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double comparison in each sentence.
1. Are you working more harder in school this year?
2. We had the most best basketball team in the whole state last year.
3. Parrots are more intelligenter than other birds.

37. Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double comparison in each sentence.
1. Are you working more harder in school this year?
hardest
hard
harder

38. Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double comparison in each sentence.
2. We had the most best basketball team in the whole state last year.
best
good
better

39. Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double comparison in each sentence.
3. Parrots are more intelligenter than other birds.
most intelligent
intelligent
more intelligent

40. Double comparisons On Your Own
Identify and correct the double comparison in each of the following sentences.
1. This project is more interestinger than the last one.
2. Our school has the bestest team spirit.
3. The owners of that store are more friendlier to students than they used to be.
4. Isn’t that the most greenest grass you’ve ever seen?
This new light bulb gives a more naturaler light than the other one did.
[End of Section]

41. Double comparisons Answers
Identify and correct the double comparison in each of the following sentences.
1. This project is more interestinger than the last one.
2. Our school has the bestest team spirit.
3. The owners of that store are more friendlier to students than they used to be.
4. Isn’t that the most greenest grass you’ve ever seen?
5. This new light bulb gives a more naturaler light than the other one did.

42. Review A
Complete each sentence by providing the correct degree of the modifier in parentheses.
1. Please tell me the __________ possible way to Room 42. (quick)
2. This song is __________ than the last one. (long)
3. You are behaving _______________ than you did when you were a child! (childishly)
4. Do you feel __________ today than you did yesterday? (well)
5. The smoke caused __________ damage than the fire did. (much)

43. Review A
Complete each sentence by providing the correct degree of the modifier in parentheses.
1. Please tell me the __________ possible way to Room 42. (quick)
quickest
2. This song is __________ than the last one. (long)
longer
3. You are behaving _______________ than you did when you were a child! (childishly)
more childishly
4. Do you feel __________ today than you did yesterday? (well)
better
5. The smoke caused __________ damage than the fire did. (much)
more

44. Review B
Identify and correct the errors in comparison in the following sentences.
1. This is the least tenderest steak I have ever eaten!
2. The dim tunnel seemed dangerouser than it had only a few minutes before.
3. Of all the personal stories we heard, Nora’s was the more fascinating.
4. I did more badly on this quiz than on the last one.
5. Nick’s family has many members than mine does.
[End of Section]

45. Review B
Identify and correct the errors in comparison in the following sentences.
1. This is the least tender steak I have ever eaten!
2. The dim tunnel seemed more dangerous than it had only a few minutes before.
3. Of all the personal stories we heard, Nora’s was the most fascinating.
4. I did worse on this quiz than on the last one.
5. Nick’s family has more members than mine does.

46. The End