Degrees of Comparison

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

Give me a few comparative
forms you already know:

This is a cheap lunch.
This lunch is ... than yours.

1. more cheap
2. the cheapest
3. cheaper
4. cheap

The comparative

short words (one syllable):

long--> longer

sweet --> sweeter

longer words (2 syllables or more):

unhealthy --> more unhealthy

serious --> more serious 

The comparative

When do we use a comparative?

We use a comparative to compare 2 people/things.

He is nice.
My boyfriend is ...

1. nicer
2. more nice
3. nice
4. niceer

Warning 

-e 

 -> -er in comparative degree

P.e. Sanne is wiser than Jarni.

Shannon's dog is … than Femke's cat

1. lazyer
2. more lazy
3. lazier
4. biger

Warning

-y after a consonant 

-> -ier  in comperative degree

P.e. Lazy: Shannon's dog is lazier than Femke's cat.

Shannon's dog is … than Femke's cat

1. biger
2. the biggest
3. more big
4. bigger

Warning

Double the consonant after a short vowel

P.e. Big: Shannon's dog is bigger than Femke's cat.

Comparative degree

Between two persons or -things

Use of Comperative Degree

Add -er -> most one syllable adjectives 

P.e. Kayleigh is louder than Senne

Use of Positive Degree

Add 'more' or 'less' -> adjectives two or more syllables 

P.e. Kayleigh is more studious than Senne.

cheaper

healthier

more expensive

The garden looks ___ since
you tidied it up.

1. good
2. well
3. gooder
4. better

He did very badly in the exam, _____ than expected.

1. worse
2. badder
3. more bad
4. bader

I don't have many apples, I can see you have ____

1. manyer
2. manier
3. more many
4. more

I don't have much time, tomorrow I will have ____

1. mucher
2. more
3. more much
4. lots of

I have little time, tomorrow I even have ____ time

1. less
2. littler
3. lesser
4. more little

more expensive

better

Give me a few superlative
forms you already know:

This is a cheap lunch.
This lunch is ... .

1. more cheap
2. the cheapest
3. cheapest
4. most cheap

The superlative

short words (one syllable):

long--> the longest

sweet --> the sweetest

longer words (2 syllables or more):

unhealthy --> the most unhealthy

serious --> the most serious 

The superlative

When do we use a superlative?

We use a superlative to compare a person/thing to a group.

Severine is the _____ of them all.

1. wiser
2. wisest
3. most wise
4. wiseest

Warning 

-e 

-> -est in superlative degree

.

P.e. Severine is the wisest of them all.  

Yanni's panda is the … of them all.

1. lazyiest
2. more lazy
3. laziest
4. most lazy

Warning

-y after a consonant 

 -> -iest in superlative degree

P.e. Lazy: Yanni's panda is the laziest of them all.

Yanni's panda is the _________ of them all.

1. biger
2. most big
3. biggest
4. bigest

Warning

Double the consonant after a short vowel

P.e. Big: Yanni's panda is the biggest of them all.

cheaper

healthier

the healthiest

more expensive

the most unhealthy

Your garden looks the ____

1. good
2. best
3. gooder
4. the most good

Ronald is the … teacher of them all

1. the worser
2. the worset
3. the worse
4. the worst

Whoever has the ______ points is the winner.

1. manyest
2. maniest
3. most
4. more many

Since you have the _____ money, why don't you pay?

1. mucher
2. more
3. more much
4. most

Whoever has the ______ points is the loser.

1. less
2. littler
3. least
4. more little

more expensive

better

the most

the least

the most unhealthy

Do the following exercises. 

1) p. 160 - exercise 26

2) p. 161 - exercise 27