Camden Town

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

LE COMPARATIF /LE SUPERLATIF

Comparer des choses ou des personnes
Pour comparer, on peut utiliser 2 structures assez proches, qu'il ne faut pas confondre: le comparatif et le superlatif.

                                              COMPARATIF                                      SUPERLATIF

EMPLOIS

On compare deux choses ou deux personnes.

Il y a 3 cas:

 

Adjective + than
Kate is bigger than Susan.

 

(Kate est plus grande que Susan (comparatif de supériorité)

 

As + adjective + as

My work is as tiring as yours.

 

(Mon travail est aussi épuisant que le tien (comparatif d'égalité)

 

A Mini is cheaper than a Ferrari.

A mini is less expensive than a Ferrari.

(Une Mini est moins cher qu'une Ferrari.)(comparatif d'infériorité)

 

On situe une personne ou un objet dans un grand groupe.

Il y a 2 cas: 

 

the most + adjective
My car is the most beautiful car in the neighbourhood.               Ma voiture est la plus belle de tout le quartier (superlatif de supériorité)

 

The least + adjective

Paul is the least intelligent student in high school.

(Paul est l'élève le moins intelligent du lycée (superlatif d'infériorité)

SUPERIORITE

Adjectifs courts:

adjective + -ER THAN


Peter is taller than Sandra.
(Peter est plus grand que Sandra.)

 Adjectifs longs:

MORE + adjective + THAN
A Ferrari is more expensive than a Mini.

(Une Ferrari est plus chère qu'une Mini. )

Adjectifs courts:

THE + adjective -EST

Tom is the tallest boy of the school.
(Tom est le plus grand garçon de l'école. )
Adjectifs longs:
THE MOST + adjective
This is the most pleasant place on Earth!

(C'est le plus bel endroit au monde!)

EGALITE

Adjectifs courts et adjectifs longs:
AS... adjectif...
AS
English is as easy as German.
(L'anglais est aussi facile que l'allemand. )

N'existe pas.

INFERIORITE

Adjectifs courts et adjectifs longs:
LESS + adjective + THAN
July is less cold than January.
(Juillet est moins froid que janvier.)

Adjectifs courts et adjectifs longs:
THE LEAST + adjective
This is the least interesting movie of the year!
(C'est le film le moins intéressant de l'année!)


Superlatif de supériorité:

 

Exceptions: GOOD donne THE BEST.

BAD donne THE WORST.

FAR donne THE FARTHEST.

 

Comparison of Adjectives

 

There are three forms of comparison:

- positive
- comparative
- superlative

 

A - Comparison with -er/-est

clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest

We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:

 

1) Adjectives with one syllable

positive

comparative

superlative

clean

cleaner

cleanest

new

newer

newest

cheap

cheaper

cheapest

 

2) Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

 

2 - 1) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y

 

positive

comparative

superlative

dirty

dirtier

dirtiest

easy

easier

easiest

happy

happier

happiest

pretty

prettier

prettiest

 

2 - 2) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er

positive

comparative

superlative

clever

cleverer

 

cleverest

 

2 - 3) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le

positive

comparative

superlative

 

simple

simpler

simplest

 

2 - 4) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow

positive

comparative

superlative

narrow

narrower

 

narrowest

 

3) Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est

positive

comparative

superlative

 

comment

 

large

larger

largest

leave out the silent -e

big

bigger

biggest

Double the consonant after short vowel

sad

sadder

saddest

dirty

dirtier

dirtiest

Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)

shy

shyer

shyest

Here -y is not changed to -i.
(although consonant before -y)

 

B - Comparison with more - most

positive

comparative

superlative

difficult

more difficult

(the) most difficult

all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see
2 - 1 to 2 - 4)

 

C - Irregular adjectives

positive

comparative

superlative

comment

good

better

best

 

bad

worse

worst

 

much

more

most

uncountable nouns

many

more

most

countable nouns

little

less

least

 

little

smaller

smallest

 

 

D - Special adjectives

Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most).

positive

 

comparative

 

superlative

clever

cleverer / more clever

cleverest / most clever

common

commoner / more common

commonest / most common

likely

likelier / more likely

likeliest / most likely

pleasant

pleasanter / more pleasant

pleasantest / most pleasant

polite

politer / more polite

politest / most polite

quiet

quieter / more quiet

quietest / most quiet

simple

simpler / more simple

simplest / most simple

stupid

stupider / more stupid

stupidest / most stupid

subtle

subtler / more subtle

subtlest / most subtle

sure

surer / more sure

surest / most sure

 

E - Difference in meaning with adjectives:

positive

comparative

superlative

comment

far

farther

farthest

distance

further

furthest

distance or
time

late

later

latest

 

latter

x

 

x

last

 

old

older

oldest

people and things

elder

eldest

people (family)

near

nearer

nearest

distance

x

next

order

 

Sentences with comparisons

1. something is similar A=B

Our car is as fast as Peter's car.

 

2. something is not similar A><B

a) Use not as ... as (to say that something is not similar)

John's car is not as fast as our car. (A><B)

b) Use than (to say that something is bigger or smaller)

Our car is faster than John's car. (A>B)
John's car is slower than our car. (A<B)

 

NOTE!

Peter is taller than me. (informal)
Peter is taller than I am. (formal)

Max is as tall as me. (informal)
Max is as tall as I am. (formal)

Do not mix up then with than.

Then or Than

 

Word

Explanation

Example

then

(1) at a time in the past or future

(1) They have not visited her friends since then.

(2) next

(2) First I get up, then I have breakfast.

(3) additional information

(3) He had a cup of coffee, and then two glasses of milk.

(4) logical result

(4) If you fail that test, then you'll be suspended.

than

comparison of two things

The yellow car is faster than the black one.

 

Exercices (essayez-les pour voir si vous pouvez les réussir sans regarder les réponses.)

 

Supériorité indiquée par le signe +

Egalité indiquée par le signe =

Infériorité indiquée par le signe -

 

Exercise: A

 

1. This book is ______________________________ (+ interesting) than yours. (long adjective!!)
2. The weather today is ______________________________ (+ bad) than yesterday. (exception!)
3. John is ______________________________ (+ tall) than his sisters.
4. This house is ______________________________ (+ expensive) than his flat. (long adjective!)
5. This rose smells ______________________________ (= sweet) yours. (égalité!)
6. The suitcase is ______________________________ (+ heavy) than the bag. (ending in y - ier)
7. That car is ______________________________ (- expensive) than a Rolls-Royce. (long adjective! )
8. He is ______________________________ (+ happy) than my dog.
9. He is ______________________________ (= tall) his mother. (égalité!)
10. He is ______________________________ (= intelligent) his brother. (égalité!)
11. The weather is ______________________________ (- cold) than today.
12. Tom's exercise is ______________________________ (- difficult) than Ben's.
13. This hotel is ______________________________ (+ comfortable) than the other one. (long adjective!)
14. English grammar is ______________________________ (+ easy) than French grammar.
15. Romeo is ______________________________ (= clever) Juliet. (égalité!)
16. The TGV is ______________________________ (+ fast) than other trains.
17. My French is ______________________________ (+ good) than my English.(exception!!)
18. The USA is ______________________________ (+ big) than Europe.

Exercises B

1. Sandra is ______________________________ (+ pretty) Sophia.

2. This song is ______________________________ (+ good) the previous one.
3. My boat is ______________________________ (= expensive) your boat.
4. This book is ______________________________ (= bad) that one.
5. Jurassic Park is ______________________________ (- frightening) Star Wars.
6. The Lost World is ______________________________ (- good) Jurassic Park I.

7. Peter is ______________________________ (+ intelligent) student in the school!
8. This museum is ______________________________ (- interesting) place of the town.

 

 

REPONSES: A

1) more interesting
2) worse
3) taller
4) more expensive
5) as sweet as
6) heavier
7) less expensive
8) happier
9) as tall as
10) as intelligent as
11) less cold
12) less difficult
13) more comfortable
14) easier
15) as clever as
16) faster
17) better
18) bigger



REPONSES: B

1) prettier than
2) better than
3) as expensive as
4) as bad as
5) less frightening than
6) less good than
7) the most intelligent
8) the least interesting

 

EXPLICATIONS:


1) Le -y se transforme en -i- lorsque j'ajoute -er (comparatif de supériorité).
2) Comparatif de supériorité irrégulier: GOOD donne BETTER.
3) Comparatif d'égalité: penser à équilibrer les deux plateaux de la balance grâce à AS...AS...
4) Comparatif d'égalité: penser à équilibrer les deux plateaux de la balance grâce à AS...AS... On se moque ici qu'il y ait des formes irrégulières: ce n'est pas un comparatif de supériorité.
5) Comparatif d'infériorité: less... than... On se moque ici de savoir si l'adjectif est court ou long, la règle est la même pour les deux cas.
7) Superlatif de supériorité: on situe Peter parmi tous les élèves de la classe. Adjectif long.
8) Superlatif d'infériorité: on compare ce musée à tous les lieux de la ville.