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.

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

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.

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

Do the following exercises. 

1) p. 17 - exercise 2.1

2) p. 17 - exercise 2.2