Comparative adjectives.
Hi, my name is Sarah
and today we are going to learn about comparatives in English.
Imagine you are comparing 2 cars.
This car is fast. It goes 100kph
But this car is faster. It goes 200 kph.
With most one-syllable adjectives, we add
–er when we compare 2 things.
Imagine and a snail and a rabbit.
The snail is slower than the rabbit.
Notice we also use "than"
before the second thing which is compared, if it is mentioned.
Now imagine you are comparing flowers.
A beautiful bunch of tulips
and an unwanted weed.
These flowers are more beautiful than these flowers.
When comparing 2 things
with most adjectives with two syllables or more,
we add "more" plus the adjective.
For example:
Skiing is more exciting than golf.
Ex – cit – ing is 3 syllables so we use "more."
So the Rule is : Short adjectives ( 1 syllable) we add "-er"
Long adjectives of 2 syllables or more
we add "more" plus the adjective.
There are some spelling changes
you should remember.
The first one to remember
is with one-syllable adjectives
with the pattern consonant ,vowel, consonant.
remember to double the final consonant before –er
For example:
This ball is big.
That's consonant, vowel, consonant.
But this ball is bigger.
Notice the double consonant "g".
If the adjective ends in –e, we just add –r
For instance:
This house is large. But this house is larger.
If the adjective ending in –y, it changes to i
For example:
This monkey is angry. This monkey is angrier.
Notice the "y" has changed to "i" and then "er" is added.
Now for the exceptions:
Well the first one
and the most important one is with "good".
Imagine comparing a drink and a cake.
The drink is good. The meal is better.
The comparative of good is better. not gooder!
How about comparing alcohol and cigarettes?
Alcohol is bad for your health.
But cigarettes are worse.
The comparative of bad is worse not badder!
How about comparing 2 distant countries
like the UK and China.
The UK is far.
But China is farther or you could say further.
So in this case,
you can use further or farther as
a comparative for far.
What other ways of comparing things are there?
We often use "as" + adjective + "as".
This means the same.
Or not "as" + adjective + "as".
Which means not the same.
So imagine you're comparing 2 boys height.
Danny is as tall as Tom.
They're the same height.
And then comparing
the bravery of a mouse and a lion.
The mouse is not as brave as the lion.
It's not the same.
They are not the same.
A lion is braver than a mouse.
Now it's your turn.
Compare these 2 cats using the adjective fat.
This cat is fatter than this cat.
Remember CVC, consonant, vowel, consonant,
then you double the final consonant.
Compare these 2 people using the adjective lucky.
The woman is luckier than the man.
Remember y changes to i and then the -er is added.
Compare these 2 objects using the adjective expensive.
The crown is more expensive than the pen.
Remember long adjectives of 2 syllables or more
we use "more" plus the adjective when comparing.
Congratulations,
you now know how to use comparatives in English.
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