Modifiers : Comparative Form

Comparative Form:

Comparative Adjectives:

Use the comparative form of the adjective to compare one thing or person with another thing or group.  The comparative is formed in two ways:

Adjectives are able to express degrees of modification, or comparison:   

(Zsa Zsa is pretty, but Elizabeth is prettier, and Angelique is theprettiest of all.)  

These degrees of comparison are:  1) the positive, 2) the comparative, and 3) the superlative.  The comparative is used for comparing two things and the superlative is used for comparing more than two things.  *Notice that the word than frequently accompanies the comparative and the word the  precedes the superlative.  You are always correct in using more or most if you are unsure about words with two or more syllables.

Here’s how to form comparative adjectives (those that compare two things) 

Short adjectives
one-syllable adjectives—add “er”		smart = smarter, cold = colder
EXCEPTION:  If the adjective ends in “e”, just add “r”		large = larger
EXCEPTION:  If the adjective ends in consonant, vowel, consonant, double the last consonant		hot = hotter
EXCEPTION:  If the adjective ends in “y”, change the “y” to “i” and add “er”.		crazy = crazier; fluffy = fluffier
Long adjectives
two (or more)-syllable adjectives not ending in “y”—use “more”	gifted = more gifted; stubborn = more stubborn
all adjectives of three or more syllables—use “more”	glorious = more glorious; persistent = more persistent

*Note:  With some longer adjectives, you have the choice of using the er form or the word more.  DO NOT USE BOTH TOGETHER!  clever = cleverer/more clever (NOT more cleverer), pleasant = pleasanter/more pleasant (NOT more pleasanter), simple, narrow, and quiet are some more adjective that you can use both ways.  There is no rule as to which adjectives can be used both ways in the comparative form, and no reference that I know of that lists them.  If you are unsure, please look at a dictionary.

Some adjectives and adverbs do not follow the rules.  They have irregular forms of the comparative.

good = better	bad = worse	little = less
much, may, some = more	far = farther, further

Comparative Adverbs:

Comparative adverbs are formed the same way as comparative adjectives, that is by adding er or whatever the spelling rule is for the word (See Comparative Adjectives).  Some adverbs have irregular forms.  These must just be learned.

*Note:  An ellipsis may be used when you are making a comparison using adverbs. An ellipsis is when you either drop the main verb in the second part of the comparison and only use the auxiliary verb, or when you omit the entire verb in the second part.  The verb is implied or 'understood'.  The verb that can be left out of the second part of the comparison is in brackets.

• Steve can jump as high as Rob can [jump].      
•  Barb's hair feels as soft as a kitten's [feels].    
• The brass buttons on his coat sparkled more brightly than gold [sparkles].
•  She runs as fast as a deer [runs].

Using than in comparisons:

The most common form of making comparisons using adverbs is to use the comparative form of the adverb followed by than.  You can use an ellipsis as shown above.

• Norman can tap dance faster than Bert [can tap dance].
• Marcy waltzes better than Norman [waltzes], however.

You can use than with single adverbs or with adverb phrases and clauses:

• Murielle reads faster when she is alone than she does when she is in front of other people. (adverb clauses)
• Peter writes more neatly for his boss than he does for his mother.  (Adverb phrases.  Note the ellipsis.  The auxiliary verb does is used instead of repeating reads or writes.)

Try rewriting these sentences to show comparison.  You may use ellipses if you want.  There are no answers, but here's a hint: THAN!

Example:   The river flows fast.  (the brook)  becomes "The river flows faster than the brook."

1. At sunset, the clouds start getting dark.  (at sunrise)
2. His father played hard.  (his brother)
3. Melvin sings loud.  (Leroy)
4. Dylan retired early.  (Henry did)
5. The hurricane hit close.  (we thought)

Using more and more in comparisons:

• She shopped for clothes more and more determinedly.  
• Carl left work late more and more often.

These sentences may also be phrased as : 

• She shopped for clothes increasingly determinedly.  (This sentence is awkward, so you can see the more and more construction is a better choice.)   
• Carl left work late increasingly often.

Using less and less in comparisons:

 less and less means the opposite of more and more.

• She shopped for clothes less and less determinedly.  
• Carl left work late less and less often.

These sentences may also be phrased as : 

• She shopped for clothes decreasingly determinedly.  (This sentence is awkward, so you can see the less and less construction is a better choice.)   
• Carl left work late decreasingly often.

Try rewriting these sentences substituting "more and more" or "less and less" as appropriate.

1. As the Queen watched interestedly, the team played increasingly intensely.

2. The sirens wailed increasingly shrilly.

3. The class answered decreasingly correctly.

4. As we waited increasingly impatiently, the food grew cold.

5. His new car ran increasingly badly.

6. The stars twinkled decreasingly brightly.

7. As Miss Snodgrass teaches longer, she speaks increasingly hoarsely.

Using The . . .the in comparisons:

You can show a type of comparison by joining two clauses, each beginning with the also.  Each clause has a comparative adjective or adverb, and together they show a cause and effect between two different things.

• The slower he walked, the more impatiently she scolded him.            
• The more Aunt Tilly complained, the grumpier Uncle Fester acted.
• The more viciously the dog barked, the more quickly the thief ran.
• The better beaten the batter, the better baked the brioche.

  Remember that this type of sentence always needs a comma separating the two clauses!

I hope these exercises can test your knowledge about comparative form:

Exercise 1:

1. Everyone should know that reading a book is  (good) than watching television.
2. My grandfather always says that a good health is  (important) than anything else.
3. Jessica is  (bad) than Cristin at mathematics.
4. Going to Boston by car is  (long) than going by train.
5. Tunisia is  (beautiful) in summer than in winter.
6. Jack thought that the second part of that film is  (interesting) than the first part.
7. I think that Turkish language is  (hard) than French language.
8. New York is  (big) than Dover. 

Exercise 2:

1. Murphy talks  __________________of anyone I have heard.  (fast) 

2. She screamed as _________________as she was able.  (loud) 

3. Beginning weight lifters finish their sets _______ _______ than experienced weight lifters.  (slow)  

4. Ryan  exercises ________________ devotedly.  (decreasingly)  

5. The ___________ you eat, the thinner you will get.  (much) 

6. Horses run ___________ than chickens do.  (swift)  

7. Robert shaves __________ of all his brothers.  (less)  

8. Men wait __________while women shop.  (impatient)  

9. His new Rolls rode ____________of any car he had owned before. (smooth)  

10. The ______________ she ages, the smarter she becomes. (much)

11. A spider spins  ____________ than a caterpillar.  (complex) 

12. Dr. Quack examined the patient __________________ than Dr. Fee did. (thoroughly)