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m Making comparisons SA p47 B Superlatives 68 p49

COMPARATIVES • We use superlatives to compare three or more people, places
or things: He's the most boring man Dom's ever met.
• We use comparatives to compare two people, places or
things that are different: Debbie's more selfish than Milly. type of adjective spelling rule superlative
type of adjective spelling rule comparative most 1-syllable add -est richest oldest
adjectives but! dry -+ driest
most 1-syllable add -er older
adjectives brighter 1-syllable adjectives add -st nicest
but! dry -+ drier ending in -e rudest

1-syllable adjectives add-r nicer 1-syllable adjectives double the last biggest
ending in -e ruder ending in consonant consonant and fattest
+ vowel + consonant add -est but! new-+ newest
1-syllable adjectives double the last bigger
ending in consonant consonant and fatter 2-syllable adjectives -y -+ -i and add happiest
+ vowel + consonant add -er but! new-+ newer ending in -y -est funniest

2-syllable adjectives -y-+ -i and easier 2-syllable adjectives put most before most boring
ending in -y add -er tidier not ending in -y the adjective most patient

2-syllable adjectives put more before more selfish adjectives with 3 put most before most popular
not ending in -y the adjective more patient syllables or more the adjective most attractive
adjectives with 3 put more before more organised irregular adjectives good best
syllables or more the adjective more aggressive bad worst
far furthest/farthest
irregular adjectives good better
bad worse • The opposite of most is least: He's my least favourite relative.
far further/farther
TIP• Before superlatives in sentences we use the (She's the
• The opposite of more is less: Milly's less moody than Debbie. happiest person I know.), possessive's (He's Jake's best
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friend.) or a possessive adjective (She's our richest relative.).
• When we compare two things in the same sentence we use
the + superlative is the most common form.
than after the comparative:
Debbie's more selfish than Milly. l;hfl11QM;J!•> ----------------
• We use a lot or much before the comparative to say there's
a big difference: m Taking phone messages 60 p52
She's a lot tidier. Milly's much more considerate than Debbie. • • • • •
I'm afraid he isn't here this afternoon.
• We use a bit before the comparative to say there's a small Can I take a message?
. ' . . .
difference: Shall I tell him you called?
She's a bit more mature. Hold the line, please. I'll put you through.
I'm sorry, he's in a meeting.
TIP • We can also use more with nouns: He's got more money • • •
Would you Ii ke to leave a message?
than her. I've got more free time than my brother.
B
(NOT) AS +ADJECTIVE +AS Leaving phone messages 60 p52

• We can also use not as + adjective + as to compare two asking to speak to someone
people or things that are different: Can I speak to (Matt Robertson), please?
Debbie isn't as happy as Milly. Is (Matt) there, please?
(=Milly is happier than Debbie). Could I speak to (David Baxter), please?

• We use as + adjective + as to say that two people or leaving a message
things are the same: Could you ask him/her to phone me tomorrow?
Milly's as confident as Debbie. Can you ask him/her to call me back?
(= they are both equally confident). Just tell him/her (Matt Robertson) called.

• We use the adjective with (not) as ... as, not the saying where people can contact you
comparative form:
He/She can rTng me at the office.
.
She isn't as happy as her sister. not She isn't as happier He/She can get me on my mobile.
. ' . .
as her sister. He/She can call me at home this evening.
• We don't use than with (not) as ... as: She's as confident
TIP• When we tell people who we are on the phone, we say:
as her sister. not She's as confident than her sister.
It's David. not /'m Dm•id.
•