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Unit 10: Comparisons
1. Comparative forms
A. Comparatives: more
One syllable adj/ adv + er + than

More + Multi- syllable adj/ adv + than
Ex: The PC I bought was more cheap / cheaper than the price that
was written in the brochure.
Inside, the building was more beautiful/ beautifuler than what we
could tell from the outside.
B. Comparatives: less
Less + adj/ adv + than

Ex: The color of leaves in September is less darker / dark than in
July.
C. Equal comparison
As + adj/ adv + as
Ex: Time flies as faster / fast as a bullet.
1. Knowledge is acquired by experience than by books or other

materials.
(A) more easy
(B) easier
(C) easiest
(D) more easily
D. Regular comparisons
One syllable adj/ adv + er/ est
More/ Most + multi- syllable adj/adv
Notes:
1. If the one-syllable adjective ends with an “e”, just add “–r” for the
comparative form and “–st” for the superlative form.
Ex: large → larger → largest
2. If the one-syllable adjective ends with a single consonant with a
vowel before it, double the consonant and add –er for the
comparative form; and double the consonant and add –est for the
superlative form.
Ex: big → bigger → biggest
thin → thinner → thinnest
3. If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add
–er for the comparative form. For the superlative form change the y to i
and add –est.
Ex: happy → happier → happiest
4. Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, or –ow take –er and –est to
form the comparative and superlative forms.
Ex: narrow → narrower → narrowest
5. Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These adjectives
can be used with -er and -est and with more and most.
Clever, gentle, friendly, quiet, simple

Ex: Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
Big dogs are more gentle than small dogs.
E. Irregular comparisons
Stem Comparative Superlative
good/well better than the best
bad/ill worse than the worst
many/much more than the most
Little Less than The least
Far (distance) Farther than The farthest
Far (extent) Further than The furthest
Ex: This picture came out well.

This picture came out better than the first one.
This picture came out the best of all the other pictures.
F. Comparative forms of adjectives which have a Latin origin
inferior to senior to prefer A to B
prior to superior to
Ex: John in the Sales Department is senior to me by four years.

Our company prefers an enthusiastic worker to a person of quiet
capability.
2. his position as the General Manager at the Hotel Excalibur,

he worked as the Chief Administrator at the National Tourism
Organization.
(A) Earlier
(B) Earlier to
(C) Prior
(D) Prior to
2. Superlative
The + superlative + of all the + plural noun
The + superlative + in + singular noun (indicating places)
Ex: The one that is displayed is the most popular of all the items.
Spring Park is the closest park in this area.
Comparative + than + any other + singular noun
Ex: Our magazine is read more than any other monthly journal in the
country.
Negative subject + comparative + than
= negative subject + so (as) + stem + as
Ex: At a press company, nothing is more important than meeting the

deadline.
= At a press company, nothing is as important as meeting the
deadline.
One of the + superlative (+ of all the) + plural noun
EX: This is one of the finest (of all the) computers on the market.
3. Idiomatic expressions of comparison
A. The + comparative + of the two
Ex: The executives unanimously agreed that the first suggestion was the
better of the two.
Of the two items that you saw, I think the latter is better.
B. The + comparative, the + comparative
Ex: The more electricity you use, the higher your bill will be.
The fancier a store is, the more expensive its prices are.
4. More on comparatives and superlatives
A. Fixed expressions
more than- at the latest at the earliest at the earliest convenience

at best at least / at most at one's highest / at one's lowest
Ex: Since you are on the waiting list, you need to wait at least a week
to place an order.
You need to fax the tax receipt by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.
The first official results of the elections are not expected until
Tuesday at the earliest.
B. Comparison intensifiers
a lot/ even/ (by) far/ much/still + comparatives

(by) far/much/still/ very + superlatives
Ex: Much more overtime will need to be worked to finish the project.
This offer is the very best one of all the other suggestions.
5. We expect a ten-percent increase in annual profits …………….unless

our new product becomes a hit.
(A) at best
(B) at the best
(C) at the most
(D) at the least

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Unit 10: Comparisons

One syllable adj/ adv + er + than

Less + adj/ adv + than

1. Knowledge is acquired by experience than by books or other

Clever, gentle, friendly, quiet, simple

Ex: This picture came out well.

Ex: John in the Sales Department is senior to me by four years.

2. his position as the General Manager at the Hotel Excalibur,

Comparative + than + any other + singular noun

Ex: At a press company, nothing is more important than meeting the

One of the + superlative (+ of all the) + plural noun

more than- at the latest at the earliest at the earliest convenience

a lot/ even/ (by) far/ much/still + comparatives

5. We expect a ten-percent increase in annual profits …………….unless

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