Unit 4.2 - Comparatives and Superlatives

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Unit 4.2

Objective: 

I can use Comparatives and Superlatives to make comparisons!

Homework

• Study GF 4.2 p130
• Do ex.  3-4-6-8 (write down sentences in notebook!) p50

Degrees of comparison =
trappen van vergelijking

Comparative = vergrotende trap.

Superlative = overtreffende trap.

more intelligent

best

happier

safest

smaller

Comparative

Superlative

Comparatives and Superlatives

To find out what you can do with Comparatives and Superlatives, watch the following video;

Remember:

'What's it like' means the same as 'tell me about it'

Comparatives and Superlatives

To describe things or people, you use adjectives such as small, old, strong, cold and fast.

To compare two things or people, you add -er (comparative) or 

-est (superlative) to the adjective.

The baseball is small

The tennis ball is smaller.

The golf ball is smallest of them all.

Comparatives and Superlatives

If the adjective ends in -e, you only add -r or -st.

safe - safer - safest

If the adjective ends in a short vowel (a, e, i, o, u) + one consonant, you also double the consonant.

fit - fitter - fittest.

Comparatives and Superlatives

If the adjective ends in a consonant +y, you replace the last letter with -ier and -iest.

happy - happier - happiest

Comparatives and Superlatives

For adjectives with three syllables (lettergrepen) or more, you use more in the comparative and most in the superlative. Note: This is also the case for some two-syllable adjectives (such as awful, famous and boring).

practical - more practical - most practical

awful - more awful - most awful

Comparatives and Superlatives

Some adjectives have their own irregular form:

good/well - better - best

bad - worse - worst

far - further - furthest

little - less - least

many/much - more - most

Comparatives and Superlatives in sentences

We use comparative adjectives + than to compare two people or things:

My father is younger than my mother.

A Ferrari is more expensive than a Mercedes.

We use the + superlative adjectives to say that someone or something has the highest degree of a certain quality:

Sam is the tallest boy in our class.

And Suzie is the most intelligent girl.

What is the comparative of "fast"?

What is the superlative of "hot"?

What is the superlative of "beautiful"?

What is the comparative of "good"

Josie is .................. Amy.

1. more smart
2. the smartest
3. smarter than
4. smarter then

Joe gave me ............... piece of his birthday cake!

1. biggest
2. the biggest
3. bigger than
4. the most big