9th COURSE
COMPARISON COMPARATIVE & SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Comparative degree – comparing two things or persons.
Superlative degree – comparing three or more things or persons.
Positive
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Comparative
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Superlative
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large
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larger
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largest
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horrible
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more horrible
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most horrible
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How to compare adjectives
1. Add er and est to short adjectives of one syllable (sometimes two syllables)
Positive
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Comparative
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Superlative
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short
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shorter
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shortest
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great
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greater
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greatest
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small
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smaller
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smallest
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old
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older
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oldest
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2. If a short adjective ends with consonant and y, change the y to i and add er and est.
Positive
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Comparative
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Superlative
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lucky
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luckier
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luckiest
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heavy
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heavier
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heaviest
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happy
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happier
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happiest
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silly
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sillier
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silliest
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ugly
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uglier
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ugliest
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3. If a short adjective ends with e, add er and st.
Positive
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Comparative
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Superlative
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little
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littler
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littlest
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fine
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finer
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finest
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4. Put more(less) and most(least) in front of longer adjectives (with two or more syllables) to show comparison.
Positive
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Comparative
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Superlative
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appealing
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less appealing
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least appealing
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remarkable
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more remarkable
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most remarkable
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beautiful
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more beautiful
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most beautiful
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alert
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more alert
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most alert
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Some adjectives are irregular adjectives and don't follow thee rules. They change form considerably from one degree to the next. You need to study these changes carefully in order to recognize them easily.
LIST OF IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES.
Positive
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Comparative
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Superlative
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bad
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worse
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worst
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far
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further
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furthest
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far
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farther
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farthest
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good
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better
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best
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many
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more
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most
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little
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less
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least
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old
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elder
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eldest
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well (healthy)
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better
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best
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Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Table
Fill in the gaps with the comparative form of the adjectives given.
1. A rock is than a leaf. (heavy)
2. Our house is than yours. (big)
3. The princess is than the witch. (beautiful)
4. Tom is a student than Mary. (good)
5. Bicycles are than motorbikes. (safe)
6. July is than January. (hot)
7. A lion is than a cat. (dangerous)
8. Helen is than Mary. (happy)
9. Computers are than telephones. (expensive)
10. I think golf is than football. (boring)
EXERCISE 2:
Complete the following sentences. Use the COMPARATIVE FORM of one of these adjectives. Use each word only once. Add 'than' if necessary.
1. My exam results are good. They are last year.
I think that speaking is writing. I don't find speaking difficult.
3. It is to be healthy than wealthy.
4. Mount Everest is than Mont Blanc.
5. I am eating too much. I am much I was last month.
6. This exercise is very easy. Can you give me something ?
7. My mother is 42 but my father is much . He's 73.
8. Julietta never goes out. She's in studying for university.
9. His first book was boring but this one is .
10. Robert is anyone I know. He never lifts a finger to work.
EXERCISE 3
Fill in the gaps with the superlative form of the adjectives given.
1. It is the shop in town. (large)
2. Monday is the day of the week. (bad)
3. Ben was the person in his family. (noisy)
4. Sam is the in the class. (popular)
5. Which is the subject at school? (difficult)
6. Jim is the player in the football team. (good)
7. Elephants are the animals. (heavy)
8. Let's pick the apple of the tree. (big)
9. Mary is the girl in the class. (thin)
10. That is the sofa in our house. (comfortable)
EXERCISE 4
The City and the Country
David: How do you like living in the big city?
Maria: There are many things that are__________ better than living in the country!
GOOD
David: Can you give me some examples?
Maria: Well, it certainly is __________________ than the country. There is so much more to do and see!
INTERESTING
David: Yes, but the city is________________________ than the country.
DANGEROUS
Maria: That's true. People in the city aren't as open and friendly as those in the countryside.
David: I'm sure that the country is _____________________, too!
RELAXED
Maria: Yes, the city is _____________than the country. However, the country is much slower than the city.
BUSY
David: I think that's a good thing!
Maria: Oh, I don't. The country is so slow and boring! It's much __________________ than the city.
BORING
David: How about the cost of living? Is the country cheaper than the city?
Maria: Oh, yes. The city is more expensive than the country.
David: Life in the country is also much healthier than in the city.
Maria: Yes, it's cleaner and less dangerous in the country. But, the city is so much more exciting. It's
faster, ______________ and _________________ than the country.
CRAZY FUN
David: I think YOU are crazy for moving to the city.
Maria: Well, I'm young now. Maybe when I'm married and have children I'll move back to the country. EXERCISE 5
READING EXERCISE FOR COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
Yesterday my brother and I went to see a football game. We watched our two favorite teams, the Eagles and the Hawks. It was the second week of the season and the day was much ____________ (COLD) than the week before. We were excited because I love the Hawks and he loves the Eagles.
The seats were good, but I wanted something _____________ (CLOSE) to the field. However, we sat and enjoyed the game. Well, we enjoyed it until we started arguing. The problem with my brother and I is that we both think our team is _________(GOOD) than the other team. He always says to me that the Eagles are ______(FAST), ___________(STRONG), and _____________(SMART) than the Hawks. I never agree. On this day, he was wrong. The Hawks played a lot ________(GOOD) than the Eagles. They looked __________( STRONG) and __________(TOUGH ) than the Eagles.
One thing I didn’t like was that the food and drinks were much ______________________(EXPENSIVE) than other places, and tasted much _______________(BAD). I was surprised that a hotdog and a drink cost $7. Also, the hotdog was _______________(SMALL) than normal hotdogs. So I was a little sad about my meal, and hoped to get something _______________(TASTY) after the game. But I was happy because the Hawks beat the Eagles by 15 points.
Driving home I talked about how much ___________(GOOD) my team was than the Eagles. My brother was getting angry and I noticed he was driving a lot __________(FAST) than usual. We were lucky he didn’t crash. Finally he saw a police car so he started to drive ______________ (SLOW). So we made it home safe and overall it was a great day. Although we fight, it is a lot _______________ (FUN) going to games with my brother than anyone else.
EXERCISE 6:
Write the superlatives
EXERCISE 7:
MIXED COMPARATIVE OR SUPERLATIVE.
1. A car is ____________________than (expensive) a bicycle.
2. Tokyo is________________________(large) city in the world.
3. An elephant is __________________ than (heavy)a horse.
4. Spain is __________________ than (big) England.
5. My car is_________________ than (bad)your car.
6. Helen was the ___________________(beautiful) woman in Greece.
7.An aeroplane is__________________ (fast) than a plane.
8. This exam is the __________________(difficult) of all
9. Old people are _________________ than (intelligent) young people.
10. Winter is than________________________ (cold) autumn.
11. The_________________(hot) dessert of all is the Shara and it's in Africa.
12. Germany is _____________________(far) from home than France.
13. My health is___________________(good) now than 5 years ago.
14. I've got _______________________(little) money than you but I don't mind.
15. Chinese is the _______________(difficult) language in the world.
16. Valencia played _____________(bad) yesterday than last week.
17. Cats are not ____________________ (intelligent) as dogs.
18. I think you must tell me the ___________(good) way to do it, or it will take me ages to finish.
19.- I feel _______________(bad) than yesterday. I need a rest.
20. Who is _____________________(talkative) person in class?
21. You look much____________________(good) than yesterday
22. The ____________(bad) thing you can do near a fierce dog is to be afraid.
23. She's the ______________(careful) girl in the class. She has never broken anything.
24. Indian cooking has some of the ________________(hot) dishes in the world.
25. Who is _______________(beautiful) , Madonna or Sophia Loren ?.
27. Living in Paris is ___________________(expensive) than living in Valencia.
28. Anne is the_______________(clever) person I know. She learns everything immediately.
EXERCISE 8
COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVE
Use the adjectives in the box once only to fill the gaps. ("X2" means you use it twice.)
BAD CLEAN FAR BIG X2 DANGEROUS GOOD CHEAP EXPENSIVE LUXURIOUS
1 The distance from Sydney to Madrid is ________________ than the distance from New
York to London.
2 David's kitchen is very dirty. Mine is much ________________ .
3 That film was terrible. In fact, it's ________________ film I've ever seen.
4 Generally speaking, the coffee in Spain and Italy is ________________ than the coffee
you get in Britain.
5 Riding a motorbike is ________________ than driving a car.
6 Clare's apartment is just as ________________ as Michael's.
7 One night at The Ritz is ________________ than a week in The Holiday Inn.
8 Rolls Royce make some of ________________ cars in the world.
9 If you buy ________________, you won't get the best.
10 The aquarium in Valencia is ________________ in Europe.
EXERCISE 9
ADJECTIVES – WORKSHEET ON COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS
EXERCISE 10:
(Ex 3.)
Choose the correct form in the following sentences.
Yester Yesterday we played our (worse, worst) concert.
2.
I am (more hungrier, hungrier) now.
3. Who is the (shorter, more shorter, most short, shortest) of the four sisters?
4. Is this the (best, better, more better, most best ) value that you have?
5. John is the (most happiest, happiest) kid I know.
EXERCISE 11:
e.g. She can swim faster than me. (fast)
We all went to bed very late, but Kathy went to bed the latest. (late)
1. It was driving I have ever seen. (good)
2. Peter sang than all the others. (loud)
3. The holiday wasn't the one we had last year. (expensive)
4. She's a good student. She works than the others. (carefully)
5. Would you play please? I'm trying to sleep. (quietly)
6. My mother wakes up than me. (early)
7. I tried than last time, but still I didn�ft manage to pass the exam. (hard)
8. They are all good singers, but Aliki can sing the . (well)
9. We all swam very far, but Manuel swam the . (far)
10. I can jump than you. (high)
EXERCISE 12:
Comparative and Superlative Adjective Exercise
Use the adjectives in the box once only to fill the gaps. ("X2" means you use it twice.)
bad clean far expensive
big X2 dangerous good cheap
luxurious
The distance from Sydney to Madrid is ________________ than the distance from New York to London.
David's kitchen is very dirty. Mine is much ________________ .
That film was terrible. In fact, it's ________________ film I've ever seen.
Generally speaking, the coffee in Spain and Italy is ________________ than the coffee you get in Britain.
Riding a motorbike is ________________ than driving a car.
Clare's apartment is just as ________________ as Michael's.
One night at The Ritz is ________________ than a week in The Holiday Inn.
Rolls Royce make some of ________________ cars in the world.
If you buy ________________, you won't get the best.
The aquarium in Valencia is ________________ in Europe.
EXERCISE 13:
Now, choose the correct answer:
a) I think Hanna is .................. Laura.
a best student
a better student than
best student
b) I think that Greta ........................Rachel.
isn't as attractive as
is most attractive as
is the most attractive
c) In my opinion, Laura is ........................of the girls.
the most clever
the cleverest
more clever than
d) As I see it, Greta's job must be .................
the more difficult
as difficult as
the most difficult
e) I think Hanna must be ........................the rest of the girls.
funnier than
the funniest
more funny
EXERCISE 14:
Let's Learn Comparatives Listening to this Song
Deeper Than The Holler
Well I've heard those city singers singin 'bout how they can love
the oceans the stars above
Well I come from the country and I know I ain't seen it all
But I heard that ocean salty and the stars they sometimes fall
But that would not do justice to the way I feel for you
So I have to sing this song about all the things I knew
My love is the holler, the river
the pine trees growin' tall upon the hill
My love is the snowflakes that fall in late December
And honest as a robin on a springtime window sill
And the song of a whippoorwill
From the backroads to the broadway shows there's a million miles between
There's a least a million love songs that people love to sing
And every one is different and every one's the same
This is just another way of sayin' the same thing
My love is the holler, the river
the pine trees growin' tall upon the hill
My love is the snowflakes that fall in late December
And honest as a robin on a springtime window sill
And the song of a whippoorwill
My love is the holler, the river
the pine trees growin' tall upon the hill
My love is the snowflakes that fall in late December
And honest as a robin on a springtime window sill
And the song of a whippoorwill
A whippoorwill
EXERCISE N. 15
CHOOSE THE RIGHT COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Q1 - It's better ____ I thought.
as then than like
Q2 - Brazil is _____ England.
biger than bigger as bigger than biger as
Q3 - She is _____ in the class
the best best better than as good as
Q4 - I'm not as successful ___ she is.
as like than then
Q5 - It was ______ expensive restaurant I've ever been to.
more the more most the most
Q6 - I'd like some ____ information.
farther further Either could be used here.
Q7 - It's ____ art collection in Europe.
finer finest the finer the finest
Q8 - It was ____ than I was expecting.
cheaper cheapest Either could be used here.
Q9 - This is the ______ kitchen I've ever seen.
dirtiest dirtiest Either could be used here.
Q10 - Which is ____ of the two?
more difficult most difficult Either could be used here.
Q11 - She finished ____ than everyone else.
more quickly quicker Either could be used here.
Q12 - The underground is ____ buses.
more expensivemost expensive the most expensive more expensive than
Q13 - The plane would be _____ than the coach.
more quickly quicker Either could be used here.
Q14 - It was ____ test I have ever done.
the most hard the hardest Either could be used here.
Q15 - There were ____ people at the game than expected.
most more many
Q16 - The _____ difficult thing was communication.
more most It depends on how many things there were.
Q17 The blue car is ______ than the red car.
a.- more fast b.-more faster c.-faster d-fast
Q18.- This is _______ than that one.
a.- more interesting b.-interestinger c.-more interest d. interesting
Q19.- Mt. Everest is _____ than Mt Fuji.
a.-more high b- highest c.-higher d.- more higher
Q20.- This is the ______ shirt in the store.
a.- expensivest b.- most expensive c. most expensiver d.-more expensiver
Q21.- The Mona Lisa is one of the ______ paintings in this museum.
a.-more beautifuler b. most beautiful c.-beautifuler d.- most beauty
Q22.- The Lut Desert in Iran is the ______ place in the world as of 2005.
a.- hottest b.- hotter c.- most hot d.-more hottest
Q23.- Antarctica is the _______ place on earth.
a.-coldest b.- more colder c.- most coldest d.-most colder
Q24.- Bob is ______ than Mike.
a.- most knowledgeable b. more knowledgeable c. more knowledge
Q25.- Michael Jordan is the _______ basketball player.
a.- most best b.- best c.- most better d.- more better
Q26.-This soup is _______ than that soup.
a.- most delicious b.-more deliciouser c.- deliciouser d.-more delicious
Q27.- A tiger is _________ than a cat.
a.- more strong b .- strongest c.- more stronger d.-stronger
Q28.- A cow is ______ than a puppy.
a.- hungrier b.- more hungrier c.- hungriest d,- more hungry
Q29.- Albert Einstein was _______ than me.
a.- intelligenter b.- intelligent c.- most intelligent d.- more intelligent
Q30.- This is the ______ movie I've ever seen.
a.- more bore b.- most boring c.- boring d.- boringest
Q31.- A kitten is _______ than a puppy.
a.- cuter b.- more cuter c.- most cuter d.- cute
Q32.- This is the ______ book in the store.
a.- worse b.-most bad c.- baddest d.- worst
Q33.- A mouse is _________ than a lion.
a.- weaker b.- weakest c.- more weak d.- more weaker
Q34.- Some governments are ________ than others.
a.- most bad b.- more worse c.- more bad d.- worse
Q35.- Sugar is ________ than salt.
a.- more sweet b.- sweeter c.- more sweeter d.- sweetest
Q36.- That was the __________ exam I had all semester.
a.- more difficult b.- difficultest c.- most difficult d.-most difficultest
Q37.- Some sports are ________ than others.
a.- more excite b.- most exciting c.- more exciting d.-excitinger
Q39.- Water is _______ than tequila.
a.- healthier b.- more healthier c.- most healthy d.-healthiest
Q40.- Oxygen is the __________ natural resource.
a.- cheapest b.- most cheap c.- more cheapest d.- more cheaper
Q41.- Elvis Presley is ______ than me.
a.- more popular b.- popularer c.- more popularer d.- most popular
Q42.- This is the ________ meal on the menu.
a.-most nutritiousest b.-nutritiousest c.- more nutritious d.- most nutritious
Q43.- Some children are __________ than others.
a.-more louder b.- most loud c.- louder d.- loudest
Q44.- I live in the ________ city in the world.
a.- comfortablest b.- most comfortablest c. most comfortable d.-more comfortable
Q45.- A desert is ________ than a jungle.
a.- more drier b.- more driest c.- drier d.- more dry
Q46.- A blue whale is the ________ animal in the world.
a.- heaviest b.- most heavy c.- most heaviest d.- heaver
Q47.- Sometimes email is ______ than a telephone.
a.- most convenient b.- more convenientest c.- more convenient d.- convenienter
EXERCISE N. 16
EXERCISE IN CONTEXT
INSTRUCTIONS: Use the above rules and examples to complete the following exercise
SOLDIER: Hi, mate! Can't wait to get home. I haven't been home for six months.
SAILOR: Well, I have been away from home much ________ than that. (long – Comp)
SOLDIER: Where do you live? I live in Scotland.
SAILOR: Well, I live in Kent; it is a bit _____ than Scotland.( warm)
SOLDIER: Have you got a girlfriend or wife?
SAILOR: Yes, I have a girlfriend who wants to marry me, but she's ______ than me. (tall)
SOLDIER: Is she a lot ________ than you? (tall)
SAILOR: Oh, yes. 10 centimeters.
SOLDIER: Well my girlfriend is much ________ than that (taller) . In fact she is ______ woman I know. (lanky)
SAILOR: My girlfriend's very tall, too. Have you got a photo of your one?
SOLDIER: Yes, here it is. My girlfriend is ________ girl in the world ( pretty- sup), but she is so lanky.
SAILOR: She reminds me of my girlfriend, but this woman has________ hair (curly). Let me look _________(close)with my glasses. Hmmmm! This woman is definitely as pretty as my girlfriend! Just a minute! She is MY girlfriend, not YOUR girlfriend! You're _______(mean- Super) scumbag I have ever met. Get a girlfriend of your own!
SOLDIER: Are you sure she's your girlfriend? Is her hair as dark as your girlfriend's?
SAILOR: Well, no, but she must have dyed it. It's usually much _________ than that. I have always preferred blondes. (blonder)
SOLDIER: Well, there you are, then. She can't be your girlfriend - her hair's the wrong colour.
SAILOR: Maybe you're right, but she does look just like my Meg. Sorry, mate. Didn't mean to turn on you like that. I'm not usually as touchy as that. Look, here's a photo of Meg.
SOLDIER: Yes, she does resemble my Margaret a bit, but her hair is much ________(lighter –Comp) and she also looks_______ in the face (chubby). (Thinks: You must be __________(stupid) than you look!)
SAILOR: Yes. You're right. Well then, bye mate. Nice to have met you.
SOLDIER: Bye, mate.
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