Supplementary Material

COMPARING PEOPLE AND THINGS

(Compulsory Supplementary Material for Beta Upper Module.
Suggested Supplementary Material for Gamma Lower Module.)

COMPARING TWO PEOPLE, OBJECTS, ANIMALS OR SITUATIONS.

Whenever we want to compare the characteristics of two people, two objects, two animals, or two situations,
we use THE COMPARATIVE FORM OF ADJECTIVES. How? Examine the following rules:

a) SHORT ADJECTIVES
For adjectives of one syllable, the general rule is as follows:

ADJECTIVE + ER THAN as in shorter than

faster than
smaller than

Examples: John is shorter than Paul. (SHORT + ER)

The blue car is faster than the red car. (FAST + ER)
Mary's house is smaller than Jane's house. (SMALL + ER)

Note 1: If the adjective ends in "e" as in "nice", then we only add "r"

Example: Classic rock is nicer than punk rock. (NICE + R)

Note 2: If the adjective has only one vowel and one consonant, then we double the consonant
before adding "er".

Examples: Santiago is bigger than Puerto Natales. (BIG + G + ER)

This pig is fatter than that one. (FAT + T + ER)
My brother Joe is thinner than my other brothers. (THIN + N + ER)

Some adjectives of two syllables also maketheir comparative form like this:

ADJECTIVE + ER THAN as in cleverer than

narrower than
smaller than

Examples: My sister Claire is cleverer than my brothers.

Ahumada St. is narrower than Apoquindo Ave.
Mary's house is smaller than Jane's house.

b) LONG ADJECTIVES
For some two-syllable adjectives and all adjectives of three or more syllables.

MORE ____ THAN as in more beautiful than

more expensive than
more attractive than

* Irregular forms
bad ..... worse good ..... better little ..... less many/much ..... more
far ..... farther / further (further can also mean 'additional'. i.e. Further information)
old ..... older / elder (elder is never used with 'than'. i.e. My elder brother)

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EXERCISE 1. Rewrite the following sentences in comparative form using the adjectives given in parentheses.
Example: John is (tall) his brother.
John is taller than his brother.

1. The weather this week is (hot) it was last week.

2. Helen is (old) her sister.

3. This book is (cheap) my French book.

4. Today, it is much (warm) it was yesterday.

5. Grace is (popular) her sister.

6. Samantha is (beautiful) Barbara.

EXERCISE 2. Complete these sentences by using the opposites of the adjectives.

Example: New York is not smaller than Boston.
New York is larger than Boston.

1. Henry is not taller than John; Henry is

2. These exercises are not easier than the last ones; these exercises are

3. His work is not better than it was last semester; his work is

4. This street is not wider than your street ; this street is

5. My car is not newer than yours; it is

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EXERCISE 3. Re-state each of the following negative sentences twice, using comparative adjectives in their
construction.
Example: A pony isn't as large as a horse.
a) A pony is smaller than a horse.
b) A horse is larger than a pony.

1. February isn't as long as March.

a)

b)

2. Peter doesn't eat as much as John.

a)

b)

3. Bob isn't as strong as Peter.

a)

b)

4. Marys books don't look as new as Janes.

a)

b)

5. Lemons are not as good as oranges.

a)

b)

KEY-CHECK. COMPARING PEOPLE OR THINGS.

EXERCISE 1. EXERCISE 2.

1. ... hotter than ... 1. shorter than ...

2. ... older than ... 2. more difficult than ...
3. ... cheaper than ... 3. worse than ...
4. ... warmer than ... 4. narrower than ...
5. ... more popular than ... 5. older than ...
6. ... more beautiful than ...

EXERCISE 3.

1. ... is shorter than ... 4. ... older than ...

... is longer than ... ... newer than ...

2. ... eats less than ... 5. ... worse than ...

... eats more than ... ... better than ...

3. ... weaker than ...

... stronger than ...