Understanding Comparison
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
What are the degrees of comparison?
Regular comparison
Irregular comparison
Solving common modifier problems
Review A
Review B
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
If you’ve ever played the game Twenty questions,
you’ve used modifiers to make comparisons.
Is it smaller
larger than
thana an
skate?
ambulance?
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
A comparison shows how two or more things are
alike or different.
One way we compare is by changing the forms of
modifiers.
scooterisissmaller
smallerthan
thananan
AAscooter
ambulance.but bigger than
ambulance
a skate.
What are the degrees of comparison?
A modifier can have three different degrees, or
forms: positive, comparative, and superlative.
They’re prettier than
They’re the
Those flowers are
the flowers we saw pretty.
prettiest flowers
yesterday.
I’ve ever seen!
Positive
pretty
Comparative
prettier
Superlative
prettiest
What are the degrees of comparison?
Positive
The positive degree is the basic form of the
modifier.
Lisa is a young girl.
The balloon climbed high
into the air.
What are the degrees of comparison?
Comparative
The comparative degree compares one thing or
action with another.
Our balloon climbed higher
than the other one.
Lisa is younger than
her brother.
What are the degrees of comparison?
Superlative
The superlative degree is used to compare more
than two things or actions.
That balloon climbed the
highest of all.
Lisa is the youngest
person in her family.
Regular comparison
Most one-syllable modifiers
• form the comparative by adding –er
• form the superlative by adding –est
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
bright
brighter
brightest
slow
slower
slowest
cute
cuter
cutest
Regular comparison
Some two-syllable modifiers
• form the comparative by adding –er or by
adding more
• form the superlative by adding –est or by
adding most
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
fancy
fancier
fanciest
easy
easier
easiest
often
more often
most often
cheerful
more cheerful
most cheerful
Regular comparison
If a modifier has three or more syllables
• form the comparative by adding more
• form the superlative by adding most
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
powerful
more powerful
most powerful
skillfully
more skillfully
most skillfully
delicate
more delicate
most delicate
creatively
more creatively
most creatively
Regular comparison
Decreasing comparison
More and –er and most and–est show increases.
To show decreases in the quality a modifier
expresses, use less and least.
The red sweater is less
expensive than the gray one.
The pink sweater is the least
expensive of all.
Regular comparison
On Your Own
Complete each sentence by supplying the correct form of the
modifier in parentheses.
1. The Moon is the Earth’s __________ neighbor in
space. (near)
2. Seen from the Earth, the full Moon is __________ than
the new moon. (bright)
3. We notice the Moon ____________ when it is full than
when it is new. (frequently)
4. The moons of some other planets move __________ than
our Moon. (slowly)
[End of Section]
Irregular comparison
The comparative and superlative degrees of some
common modifiers are irregular in form.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
bad
worse
worst
better
best
more
most
good
well
much
many
Irregular comparison
On Your Own
Complete each sentence by supplying the correct form of the
modifier in parentheses.
1. Of all the instruments she can play, Judy plays the flute
__________. (well)
2. Gina’s cold is __________ today than it was yesterday.
(bad).
3. The judges awarded a prize for the __________ essay.
(good).
4. I have __________ baseball cards than she does. (many)
[End of Section]
Solving common modifier problems
Good and well
The modifiers good and well have different uses.
Use good to modify a noun or a pronoun.
The weather
weather was
wasgood
goodfor
forhiking.
hiking.
Noun
If you want a pear, here is a good one.
one.
Pronoun
Solving common modifier problems
Good and well
Use well to modify a verb.
The jazz band plays
well.
plays well.
Verb
Jen did
well in
in most
most of
of her
her classes.
classes.
did well
Verb
Solving common modifier problems
Double comparisons
Avoid double comparisons. Using both –er and
more is incorrect. Using both –est and most is also
incorrect.
Correct
Incorrect
redderredder
than
Her hair is more
her brother’s.
than
her brother’s.
Correct
Incorrect
The
The chili
chili was
was the
the most
most
popular
foodfood
at the
fair.fair.
popularest
at the
Solving common modifier problems
Double comparisons
To correct a double comparison, first decide
whether the comparative and superlative forms of
the modifier use –er and –est or more and most.
Your bike is more faster than mine.
more faster?
or
faster?
That was the most interestingest show I ever saw.
most interesting?
or
interestingest?
Then, delete the unnecessary part.
Solving common modifier problems
Good and well/Double comparisons
On Your Own
Proofread each sentence for the correct use of modifiers. If
you find an error, correct it. If a sentence is already correct,
label it C.
1. Jamal looked good after recovering from the flu.
2. The Moon looks more beautifuller tonight.
3. My sister writes poetry well.
4. As it rained, the river rose more rapidlier.
5. Our team played good at the tournament.
[End of Section]
Review A
Complete each sentence by providing the correct form of the
modifier in parentheses.
1. Yesterday was the __________ day of my entire life.
(good)
2. Which runs __________ , the cheetah or the lion? (fast)
3. This piñata is decorated __________ than the other
one. (beautifully)
4. This is the __________ stamp in Ray’s collection.
(valuable)
5. We had __________ fun at the concert than we did at the
game. (much)
Review B
Correct the errors in the use of modifiers in the following
sentences. If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Tamika performed good at the gymnastics meet.
2. The butler is the most interestingest character in the film.
3. She hit the ball less harder last time.
4. Doug’s grades were good this semester.
5. Flora arrived more sooner than I did.
6. The colorful kite flew the most high in the sky.
[End of Section]
The End