Making comparisons B2-level

1. Making comparisonsB2-level using comparatives to show how the qualities of two people or things can be compared using superlatives to show how three or more can be compared

2. 3 types of comparison 1. to a higher degree(comparative form + than) Bill is richerthan John. He drives more carefully than I do. 2. to the same degree(we use the structure as…as) Jane is as clever as her sister. John didn´t do as well as Helen in the exam. 3. to a lower degree (we use less + than and the least) I´m less interested in reading than I used to be. He usually buys the least expensive clothes.

3. other forms so … as can be used in negative statements instead of as…as Computers are not as / so expensive as they were. She didn´t work as / so hard as she could to finish early. Be careful: in positive sentences and in questions you cannot use so…as but only as…as Could you try and get here as quickly as you can, please? She worked as hard as she could to finish early.

4. as much/many/little/few …. as in comparisonswe use thisstructurewithouta wecannot use more/less/severaletc. Billdoesn´t haveas much money asJosh. Ifshe had as little money as he did, shewouldn´t buy such expensivethings. Billdoesn´t eatas manymeals as shedoes. Ifshe had as fewmeals as Bill, shewouldbethinner. thesame (as) – always use the! youcan use exactly to emphasise Their car isthesame asours. Their car isexactlythesame asours.

5. repeatingcomparatives– isused to saythatsthis changing (increasingordecreasing) allthetime, usually withthePresentContinuous • comparativeadj+and+comparativeadj = changingallthetime: Shewasgettingmore and morenervous. • the+comparativeadj+verb+the+comparativeadj+verb = twothingschangeatthesametime:Theolder I get, thewiser I become. • the+comparativeadj+the+comparativeadj = used in commonphrases: thebiggerthebetter, thesoonerthebetter

6. revise basics – one-syllable adjectives 1. most one-syllableadj. formthecomparative by adding - erandthe superlative by adding –est cheap – cheaper – thecheapest shy – shyer – theshyest tall – taller – thetallest young – younger – theyoungest !! one-syllableadj. ending –edcannottake –er, -est. We use more/most: bored – more bored – the most bored worried – more worried – the most worried

7. 2. one-syllable and two-syllable adjectives ending in –e form the comparative and superlative by adding –r and – st safe – safer – the safest close – closer – the closest gentle – gentler – the gentlest polite – politer – the politest !! two-syllable adj. ending in –e also form the comparative and superlative using more and most gentle – more gentle – the most gentle polite – more polite – the most polite

8. 3. one-syllable adj. ending in a short vowel and a cosonant form the comparative and superlative by doubling the consonant and then adding –er and –est big – bigger – the biggest fat – fatter – the fattest !!but if the vowel is long, do not double the consonant: great – greater – the greatest late – later – the latest cheap – cheaper – the cheapest

9. revise basics – two (and more)-syllable adjectives most of these adj. form the comparative and superlative with more and most common – more common – the most common tired – more tired – the most tired careless – more careless – the most careless expensive – more expensive – the most expensive !! two-syllables adj. ending in – y first change y ˃ i and add –er and –est angry – angrier – the angriest busy – busier – the busiest

10. revise basics – irregular adj. good – better – the best bad – worse – the worst little – less – the least much – more – the most many – more – the most far – farther / further – the farthest / the furthest old – older – the oldest elder – the eldest (when talking about people in a family)

11. revise basics – one-syllable adverbs these take –er and –est (as adjectives) fast – faster – the fastest high – higher – the highest late – later – the latest near – nearer – the nearest slow – slower – the slowest loud – louder – the loudest hard – harder – the hardest early – earlier – the earliest (!!) She arrived earlier (NOT more early) than expected. She arrived (the) earliestof them all.

12. revise basics – two or more syllables nearly all adverbs of two syllables or more use more/less… and (the) most/(the) least… to form the comparative and superlative !!!even though they are of two syllables and end in – y quietly – more/less quietly – (the) most/least quietly often – more/less often – (the) most/least often carefully – more/less carefully – (the) most/least carefully beautifully – more/less beautifully – (the) most/least beautifully

13. revise basics – irregular adverbs well – better – best badly – worse – worst much – more – most little – less – least a lot – more – most far – further/farther – furthest/farthest