How are modifiers used in comparisons?
Think about a mouse and an elephant. Compare
and contrast them.
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
We often use comparisons to describe something
unknown by comparing it to something known.
One way we compare is by changing the forms of
modifiers.
A raccoon is smaller
smallerthan
thanan
elephant
but bigger than a
an elephant.
mouse.
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
A modifier makes the meaning of another word
or word group more specific.
Adjective
Adverb
The heavy
heavy snow
snowcovered
covered
coveredthe
the
theroads
roads
roadscompletely
completely
completely
. ..
Noun
Verb
Heavy tells “what kind” of snow.
Completely tells “to what extent” the roads are
covered.
Comparison of modifiers
A modifier can have three different forms—
positive, comparative, and superlative.
These forms are called degrees of comparison.
a beautiful
It’sThat’s
the most
sunset!
beautiful
sunset
It’s more beautiful
I’ve
seen!
thanever
yesterday’s
sunset.
Comparative
Superlative
Positive
more
most
beautiful
beautiful
Comparison of modifiers
Positive
The positive degree is the basic form of the
modifier.
The Saint Bernard is a big dog.
James swims fast.
Comparison of modifiers
Comparative
The comparative form compares a quality of one
thing or action with a quality of another.
Ray swam faster than James did.
The dog on the left is bigger
than the other dog.
Comparison of modifiers
Superlative
The superlative form is used when comparing
more than two things or actions.
Jacob was the fastest swimmer in
the event.
The yellow Lab is the biggest
dog in the group.
Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
1. The play was better than the movie.
2. My final project earned the highest grade in
the class.
3. Pablo uses his time wisely.
4. Aunt Carolyn is the most artistic person in
my family.
Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
1. The play was better than the movie.
Better is the comparative degree of good.
The play is being compared to the movie.
Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
2. My final project earned the highest grade in
the class.
Highest is the superlative form of high.
My grade is being compared to all the other grades
in the class.
Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
3. Pablo uses his time wisely.
Wisely is the positive form.
There is no comparison. This sentence simply
describes how Jose uses his time.
Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
4. Aunt Carolyn is the most artistic person in
my family.
Most artistic is the superlative form of artistic.
Aunt Carolyn is being compared to all the other
members of the family.
Comparison of modifiers
On Your Own
Choose the correct modifier in each of the following
sentences.
1. The last chapter was the (sadder, saddest) part of the
whole book.
2. Sarah is (old, older) than Suzi.
3. Mom buys (fresh, fresher) produce at the market.
4. Have you seen Mary’s (beautiful, more beautiful) scarf?
5. My little brother makes up the (sillier, silliest) songs I’ve
ever heard.
[End of Section]
Comparison of modifiers
Answers
Choose the correct modifier in each of the following
sentences.
1. The last chapter was the (sadder, saddest) part of the
whole book.
2. Sarah is (old, older) than Suzi.
3. Mom buys (fresh, fresher) produce at the market.
4. Have you seen Mary’s (beautiful, more beautiful) scarf?
5. My little brother makes up the (sillier, silliest) songs
I’ve ever heard.
Regular comparison
Most one-syllable modifiers form the
comparative form by adding –er and the
superlative form by adding –est.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
young
younger
youngest
happy
happier
happiest
deep
deeper
deepest
soon
sooner
soonest
Regular comparison
Some two-syllable modifiers form the
comparative degree by adding –er and the
superlative by adding –est. Others use more and
most.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
wealthy
wealthier
wealthiest
ruined
more ruined
most ruined
wisely
more wisely
most wisely
hazy
hazier
haziest
Regular comparison
Some two-syllable modifiers can form their
comparatives and superlatives either way.
unkinder
unkindest
more unkind
most unkind
unkind
If adding –er or –est makes a word sound
awkward, use more and most.
AWKWARD
BETTER
recent, recenter, recentest
recent, more recent, most recent
Regular comparison
Adverbs that end in –ly form their
comparatives and superlatives by
using more and most.
Adverbs
loudly
more loudly
most loudly
gently
more gently
most gently
happily
more happily
most happily
Regular comparison
If a modifier has three or more syllables, use
more and most to form the comparative and
superlative degrees.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
beautifully
more beautifully
most beautifully
important
more important
most important
inventive
more inventive
most inventive
predictably
more predictably
most predictably
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 main character is less
interesting than the minor ones.
The hero of the story is the least
interesting character of all.
[End of Section]
Irregular comparison
The comparative and superlative degrees of some
common modifiers are irregular in form.
Positive
bad
badly
good
well
much
many
little
Comparative
Superlative
worse
worst
better
best
more
most
less
least
Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
1. I have __________ time to practice than he does.
(little)
2. Tyrone is the __________ pitcher on our baseball
team this year. (good)
3. We have __________ homework today than we
had all last week. (much)
4. That is the __________ insect in the garden.
(strange)
Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
less
1. I have __________
time to practice than he
does. (little)
In this sentence, the adjective little means “amount.”
The comparative degree is less.
Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
best
2. Tyrone is the __________
pitcher on our
baseball team this year. (good)
The superlative degree of the adjective good is best.
Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
more
3. We have __________
homework today than
we had all last week. (much)
The comparative degree of the adjective much is
more.
Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in parentheses.
strangest insect in the garden.
4. That is the __________
(strange)
The superlative degree of the adjective strange is
strangest.
Regular and irregular comparison
On Your Own
If the comparative or superlative form of a modifier is
incorrect or awkward, write the correct form. If the form is
correct, write C.
1. This flower is commonlier found in Iowa than in Ohio.
2. That shop sells the most good milkshakes of all.
3. Some days seem to pass slowlier than others.
4. My notebook looks worse than Josh’s.
5. Tonight I will wear my colorfulest shirt.
[End of Section]
Regular and irregular comparison
Answers
If the comparative or superlative form of a modifier is
incorrect or awkward, write the correct form. If the form is
correct, write C.
1. This flower is more commonly found in Iowa than in Ohio.
2. That shop sells the best milkshakes of all.
3. Some days seem to pass more slowly than others.
4. My notebook looks worse than Josh’s. C
5. Tonight I will wear my most colorful shirt.
Double comparisons
Avoid double comparisons. Using both –er and
more is incorrect. Using both –est and most is also
incorrect.
INCORRECT
This banana is more riper
than that one.
INCORRECT
That story was the most
excitingest of all.
Double comparisons
To correct a double comparison, first decide
whether the comparative and superlative forms
use –er and –est or more and most.
more ripe?
OR
riper?
This banana is more riper than that one.
Ripe has 1 syllable. Add –er.
OR
excitingest?
That story was the most excitingest of all.
most exciting?
Exciting has three syllables; use more or most.
Then, delete the unnecessary part.
Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double
comparison in each sentence.
1. Are you working more harder in school this
year?
2. We had the most best basketball team in the
whole state last year.
3. Parrots are more intelligenter than other
birds.
Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double
comparison in each sentence.
1. Are you working more harder in school this
year?
hard
harder
hardest
Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double
comparison in each sentence.
2. We had the most best basketball team in
the whole state last year.
good
better
best
Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double
comparison in each sentence.
3. Parrots are more intelligenter than other
birds.
intelligent
more intelligent
most intelligent
Using Comparative and Superlative Degrees
• One common mistake to avoid:
When
comparing
just two
things,
• One
common
mistake
to avoid:
peoplecomparing
often use just
the superlative.
When
two things,
Use comparative
when
comparing
people
often use the
superlative.
just
two
things.
Use comparative when comparing
– Incorrect: Of the two practice runs,
just
two
things.
that one was best.
––Incorrect:
thetwo
twopractice
practiceruns,
runs, that
Correct: OfOfthe
one
thatwas
one best.
was better.
– Correct: Of the two practice runs, that
one was better.
Double comparisons
On Your Own
Identify and correct the double comparison in each of the
following sentences.
1. This project is more interestinger than the last one.
2. Our school has the bestest team spirit.
3. The owners of that store are more friendlier to students
than they used to be.
4. Isn’t that the most greenest grass you’ve ever seen?
5. This new light bulb gives a more naturaler light than the
other one did.
[End of Section]
Double comparisons
Answers
Identify and correct the double comparison in each of the
following sentences.
1. This project is more interestinger than the last one.
2. Our school has the bestest team spirit.
3. The owners of that store are more friendlier to students
than they used to be.
4. Isn’t that the most greenest grass you’ve ever seen?
5. This new light bulb gives a more naturaler light than the
other one did.
Review A
Complete each sentence by providing the correct
degree of the modifier in parentheses.
1. Please tell me the __________ possible way to Room 42.
(quick)
2. This song is __________ than the last one. (long)
3. You are behaving _______________ than you did when
you were a child! (childishly)
4. Do you feel __________ today than you did yesterday?
(well)
5. The smoke caused __________ damage than the fire did.
(much)
Review A
Complete each sentence by providing the correct
degree of the modifier in parentheses.
1. Please tell me the __________
quickest
possible way to Room 42.
(quick)
2. This song is __________
longer
than the last one. (long)
3. You are behaving _______________
more childishly than you did when
you were a child! (childishly)
4. Do you feel __________
better
today than you did yesterday?
(well)
more
5. The smoke caused __________
damage than the fire did.
(much)
Review B
Identify and correct the errors in comparison in the
following sentences.
1. This is the least tenderest steak I have ever eaten!
2. The dim tunnel seemed dangerouser than it had only a
few minutes before.
3. Of all the personal stories we heard, Nora’s was the more
fascinating.
4. I did more badly on this quiz than on the last one.
5. Nick’s family has many members than mine does.
[End of Section]
Review B
Identify and correct the errors in comparison in the
following sentences.
1. This is the least tender steak I have ever eaten!
2. The dim tunnel seemed more dangerous than it had
only a few minutes before.
3. Of all the personal stories we heard, Nora’s was the most
fascinating.
4. I did worse on this quiz than on the last one.
5. Nick’s family has more members than mine does.
The End