Comparisons

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Comparisons (vergelijkingen)

CEN Grammar

Learning goals

1. I can compare things and people using comparatives and superlatives.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
China is ... (big) the U.S.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
Football is ... (popular) sport in the world.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
The North Pole is ... (cold) the Netherlands.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
A cheeta is ... (fast) a snail.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
However, the peregrine Falcon is ... (fast) animal.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
I love you! You are ... (beautiful) girl in the world!

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
English grammar is ... (easy) Old-Greek.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
Dad bought me a PS5. He is ... (good) father ever!

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
My grandfather is ... (old) in our family.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
I am so busy. Today I have even ... (little) time than yesterday...

Different ways to compare:

• Comparative (vergrotende trap)
• Superlative (overtreffende trap)

What are we going to see

• How to make comparisons using the comparative and the superlative.

Comparisons (1)

What could be a grammar rule for the following examples?

word	comparative	superlative
big	bigger (than)	(the) biggest
slow	slower (than)	(the) slowest
cheap	cheaper (than)	(the) cheapest
soft	softer (than)	(the) softest
sweet	sweeter (than)	(the) sweetest
hard	harder (than)	(the) hardest

• Words with one syllable (lettergreep):
• Comparative: word + er
  
• Superlative: word + est 

Comparisons (2)

What could be a grammar rule for the following examples?

word	comparative	superlative
beautiful	more beautiful (than)	(the) most beautiful
annoying	more annoying (than)	(the) most annoying
dangerous	more dangerous (than)	(the) most dangerous
difficult	more difficult (than)	(the) most difficult
exciting	more exciting (than)	(the) most exciting
ridiculous	more ridiculous (than)	(the) most ridiculous

• Words with 3 or more syllables:
• Comparative more + word
  
• Superlative: most + word

Comparisons (3)

What could be a grammar rule for the following examples?

word	comparative	superlative
easy	easier (than)	(the) easiest
funny	funnier (than)	(the) funniest
tidy	tidier (than)	(the) tidiest
lucky	luckier (than)	(the) luckiest
pretty	prettier (than)	(the) prettiest
dreamy	dreamier (than)	(the) dreamiest

• Words with 2 syllables ending in -y
• Comparative: word + er (mind the spelling!)
  
• Superlative: word + est (mind the spelling!)

Comparisons (4)

What could be a grammar rule for the following examples?

woord	vergrotende trap	overtreffende trap
gentle	gentler / more gentle(than)	(the) gentlest / most gentle
simple	simpler / more simple (than)	(the) simplest / most simple
clever	cleverer / more clever(than)	(the) cleverest / most clever
tender	tenderer / more tender (than)	(the) tenderest / most tender
narrow	narrower / more narrow (than)	(the) narrowest / most narrow
shallow	shallower / more shallow (than)	(the) shallowest / most shallow

• Words with 2 syllables ending in -le, -er or -ow
• Comparative: word + er or more + word
  
• Superlative: word + est or most + word

Comparisons (5)

What could be a grammar rule for the following examples?

woord	vergrotende trap	overtreffende trap
boring	more boring (than)	(the) most boring
tired	more tired (than)	(the) most tired
careful	more careful (than)	(the) most careful
famous	more famous (than)	(the) most famous
common	more common (than)	(the) most common
anxious	more anxious (than)	(the) most anxious

• All the other words with two syllables:
• Comparative: more + word
  
• Superlative: most + word

Combine the syllables with the forms:

-er / -est

more / most

both forms

1 syllable

2 syllables

2 syllables ending in -y

2 syllables ending in -er, -le or -ow

3 or more sylables

Exceptions

You have to learn these, there are no rules...

word	comparative	superlative
good	better (than)	(the) best
bad	worse (than)	(the) worst
much / many	more (than)	(the) most
little (weinig)	less (than)	(the) least
little (klein)	smaller (than)	(the) smallest
old (familieleden)	elder (than)	(the) eldest
far (letterlijk)	farther (than)	(the) farthest
far (figuurlijk / abstract)	further (than)	(the) furthest

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
A snail is much ... (slow) a cheetah.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
Turtles can become ... (old) dogs.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
The Netherlands is ... (peaceful) Syria.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
I always get a 10 for English. I am ... (good) in my class.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
I don't have time, so let's discuss this ... (far) when we have time.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
English is often seen as ... (easy) language in the world.

Make a comparison using the words between brackets:
That Ferrari is ... (yellow) car I have ever seen.

I know how to create the comparative and superlative forms

Yes

Not entirely, but I don't need any help.

Not entirely and I would like somehelp

I don't get it at all...