COMPARISON Remember that comparative forms show the difference between two things and superlatives are used when comparing three or more things. Most one-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives form comparative and superlatives with -er (than) and (the) -est respectively. The final consonant doubles if preceded by a consonant. Two syllable adjectives ending in -y remove the -y and add -ier and -iest. Most two and all three- or more syllable adjectives place more and the most before the adjective. There are also some irregular adjectives: good/well (better, the best), bad/badly (worse, the worst), far (farther, the farthest), little (less, the least), much/many (more, the most). 9 Give comparative and superlative forms of these adjectives. 1. crucial 2. difficult .................................. .................................. 7. new .................................. .................................. 8. accurate .................................. .................................. .................................. .................................. 3. easy .................................. .................................. 9. big .................................. .................................. 4. high .................................. .................................. 10. fast .................................. .................................. 5. insignificant .................................. .................................. 11. small .................................. .................................. 6. low .................................. .................................. 12. wide .................................. .................................. the sentences. 1. Methane is (simple) ...................... alkane. 2. Benzene is one of (well) ...................... known aromatic hydrocarbons. 3. Cellulose is (common) ...................... organic compound on Earth. ACTIVITIES 10 Use comparative or superlative forms of the adjectives/adverbs in brackets to complete 4. Carbohydrates are (abundant) ...................... biomolecules. 5. Flavour enhancers make food taste (good) ...................... 6. Nucleic acids are (small) ...................... organic chemicals in our body. 7. Micro-organisms are (old) ...................... form of life on Earth. 8. Eukaryotic cells are (large) ...................... and (complex) ...................... than prokaryotic cells. 9. E. coli is (useful) ...................... microbe in biotechnology. 10. The (good) ...................... way to prevent pollution is not to throw harmful substances into the environment. 11. Acid rain is one of (important) ...................... environmental problems. 12. Industrial production methods employing enzymes are (safe) ...................... and environmentally (friendly) ...................... than other methods. 13. Refrigeration and freezing are (popular) ...................... forms of food preservation. 14. HACCP id (effective) ...................... method of controlling foodborne disease. 15. Laboratory work is (exciting) ...................... than class lessons. THE WONDER OF CHEMISTRY Module 2 93