Comparative forms

Comparative forms

1. We form the comparative and superlative of one-syllable adjectives by adding -er and -est and of three-syllable adjectives by putting more and the most before them

   • Something that is more expensive is not always higher quality
   • He's not the brightest student in the class, but he's certainly the most hard working

2. Two-syllable adjectives can be formed in either way except when they end in -y or if they are formed with a suffix such as -ing,-ed, -ive, -ful, -less, -ic, etc

   • This dress is more classic, but that one is prettier

3. Notice we do not use comparatives with ungradable adjectives, but we can use a superlative to give the sense of absolutely

   • Today is (much) colder than yesterday
   • They serve the most delicious food there

4. As...as; not as...as, so...as to+ infinitive

   • We use as...as to say two things are the same. We use not as... as to express differences
     • She's as talented as her mother was
     • The remake of the film is not as good as the original
   • We use as...as with words expressing multiples to express the degree of difference
     • The pizza contains twice as many calories as a normal one
   • We use so+ adjective+ as to+ infinitive in a similar way to how we use too+ adjective+ to+ infinitive
     • The differences between the two languages are so small as to be negligible

5. Degrees of difference in comparatives

   • We use certain words to emphasize the size of the difference: far, much, slightly, a little + comparative: by far, much+ superlative; not nearly+ as...as
     • There has been criticism that the exams are much/ a whole lot easier now than they were in the past
     • I think we should move to the other room- It's slightly/ a bit cooler in there
     • It's by far the simplest way to register
   • a whole lot and a bit are more colloquial expressions

6. The+comparative, the+comparative

   • We use the+ comparative, the+ comparative to say that one thing changes or develops in relation to another
     • The more you practise, the easier it will become
   • If the verb is "be", it can be omitted: the more colourful the flower (is), the less powerful the smell (is)
   • Sometimes we only use the+ comparative adjective
     • When would you like to leave. The sooner, the better

7. Expressing preferences

   • When we express preferences in general we use:
     • I prefer Thai food to Japanese food
     • I like Thai food more than Japanese food
     • I favour Thai food over Japanese food
   • When we express preferences on specific occasions we use:
     • Would (much) prefer+to+infinitive: I'd prefer to speak to her in person
     • Would (much) rather+ infinitive: I'd rather not drive
     • Would (much) sooner+ infinitive: I'd sooner play tennis than play football
     • Would (just) as soon+ infinitive: I'd just as soon walk to work
   • We use would be better+ to+ infinitive or would be better off+ -ing to express the same ideas in a more objective way
     • It would be better to walk than drive. You'd be better off walking than taking the car
   • When we say what we would prefer another person to do, we use the following forms:
     • Would (much) prefer+ object+ to+infinitive: I'd prefer him not to organize lots of events for my birthday
     • Would (much) rather+ subject+ past tense: I don't mind mentioning it, but I'd rather you spoke to him
     • (much) sooner+ subject+ past tense: I'd sooner they had employed a full-time assistant rather than two part-time ones
     • (just) as soon+ subject+ past tense: I'd just as soon they came tomorrow
   • We only use would rather/ sooner/ as soon+ subject+ past tense if the person expressing the preference is different from the person doing the action
     • He said he'd rather wait
   • When the verb is not a verb of preference, we can still express a preference between two things using rather than
     • I'd like a cold drink rather than a hot one