Using Irregular Adjectives in

Making ComparisonsDegrees of Comparison in Adjectives

Let us read what he says when he compares them…

One time, the grade six pupils decided to have a pet show. Surprisingly, Justin brought his two pet dogs which are of high breed.

“It is hard for me to tell which of my two dogs is better. They are alike in many ways, yet they are different. To begin with, Rusty, a beagle, and Rooney, a German shepherd, represent two of the most popular breeds of dogs. They are both short- haired and came from a long line of working dogs. Shepherds once worked with sheepherders, and beagles are still trained to work with hunters. I find the difference between Rusty and Rooney interesting, too. The shepherd is big and the beagle is medium-sized. Rooney’s silver and black coat

contrasts with Rusty’s white-and-brown spotted coat. And although you can always find Rusty sticking around the house, protecting everybody in the family from my father to our cat, Mooney, good old Rooney likes to run and he takes off for a long walk all alone whenever he gets the chance.”

- How are Rusty and Rooney alike?- How are they different?- If you have a pet dog, too, how would you compare it with Rusty and Rooney?

Pointing out Similarities and DifferencesSIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES

Rusty and Rooney are the most popular breeds of dogs.

The shepherd is big and the beagle is medium-sized.

Both are short-haired. They are working dogs.

Rooney has silver and black coat while Rusty has white and brown spotted coat.Rusty is protective and homey while Rooney is very active and loves to wander.

Degrees of Comparison in Irregular Adjectives

Positive degreeComparative degree

Superlative degree

Adjectives or describing words change form to show degrees of comparison which are positive, comparative, and superlative.Positive Degree Comparative Degree Superlative Degree- Describe only one thing or person

- Comparing two persons or things

- Comparing three or more persons or things

A Japanese spitz is large.

A beagle is larger than a Japanese spitz.

The German shepherd is the largest of the three.

The Japanese spitz is popular.

The beagle is more popular than the Japanese spitz.

The German shepherd is the most popular of the three.

Adjectives of one syllable • Adjectives of one syllable add -er and -est.• Adjectives ending on 'e' just add -r and -st.• Some adjectives double the final consonant.

Positive Comparative

Superlative

smallwarm

oldnicebig

smallerwarmer

oldernicer

bigger

smallestwarmest

oldestnicest

biggest

Adjectives of two syllables • Some adjectives of two syllables add -er and -est.• For adjectives ending in 'y‘ – cut y then add -ier and -iest.• Adjectives ending in -ful, -less, -ing, -ed use more and

most.• Some other adjectives of two syllables use more and most

(modern, famous, normal, correct, ...).Positive Comparative Superlativ

enarrowhappyusefulboringmodern

narrowerhappier

more usefulmore boringmore modern

narrowesthappiest

most usefulmost boring

most modern

Adjectives of three or more syllables • Adjectives of three or more syllables use

more and most.

Positive Comparative Superlative

beautifuldangerous

exciting

more beautiful

more dangerous

more exciting

most beautifulmost

dangerousmost exciting

Degree of Comparison in Irregular Adjectives

Positive Comparative Superlativegood (well)

badlittle

much, manyfarlateold

betterworselessmore

farther, furtherlater

older, elder

bestworstleastmost

farthestlast, latest

older, oldest

Work it out!!!

Exercise #1: complete the chart by supplying the missing form of the adjectives.Example: great greater greatestPositive Comparative Superlative1.Studious2. Gentle3. Hungrier4. High5. Famous6. Prettiest7. Worse8. Better9. Dangerous10. Far

Exercise #2: Decide which adjective correctly completes each sentence. Then rewrite the sentence.Example: Tony is a (slower, slowest) runner than Anna.Answer: Tony is a slower runner than Anna.1. Our members are the (more fearless, most fearless).2. The Rockets are (more gracious, most gracious) than

us.3. Roy is (taller, tallest) than Ben and gets more

rebounds.4. Mark is the (more daring, most daring) player in the

court.5. He is also the (more loyal, most loyal) player we have.6. Of all the players, Cris is the (older, oldest)7. Our (more difficult, most difficult) game is on Saturday.8. We play the (more dynamic, most dynamic) tea of all.9. It will be the (tougher, toughest) game of the season.10.Our basketball team is called the (more dangerous,

most dangerous) in the league.

Exercise #3: Rewrite the following using the correct form of the adjectives in parenthesis.

1. The (small) fish in the world is found in the Philippines.2. Tabios is even (tiny) than anchovy or dilis.3. Is there any place (hot) than Death Valley.4. Libya has the (high) temperature of all.5. If you like the sun, the Sahara is (good) place to be.6. If you don’t, it is (bad) place to be.7. The Gobi desert has (little) rainfall than the Sahara.8. For me, the cat would be a (good) pet than the dog.9. The cat is (easy) to manage because it is (small).10.However, the dog might be (useful) than the cat

because it can do (big) chores like hoarding the house.

Exercise #4: Fill in the correct forms of adjectives.