Grammar COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES COMPARATIVE RELATIVE SUPERLATIVE MAJORITY One-syllable adjectives or adverbs adjective/adverb + -er + than That building is higher than the ones nearby. This construction company works faster than the one we hired two years ago. the + adjective/adverb + -est + of/in* That building is the highest in town. This construction company works the fastest. One-syllable adjectives ending in -e adjective + -r + than This procedure is safer than that one. the + adjective + st + of/in* This is the safest area in the yard. One-syllable adjectives/adverbs ending in one vowel + one consonant adjective/adverb + double consonant + -er + than + object Martin s flat is bigger than Luke s. BUT! clean cleaner (two vowels) strong stronger (two consonants) the + adjective + double consonant + -est + of/in* + object Martin s flat is the biggest in the building. BUT! clean the cleanest (two vowels) strong the strongest (two consonants) Two-syllables adjectives/adverbs ending in -y, -ow, -er, -le adjective/adverb without -y + -ier + than This room looks cosier than that one. The corridors of this B&B are narrower than those we saw yesterday. the + adjective without -y + -iest + of/in* These are the cosiest rooms in the hotel. The corridors of this B&B are the narrowest of all we ve seen; the accommodation is the simplest but spacious all in all. Adjectives/adverbs with two or more syllables more + adjective/adverb + than These goggles are more protective than the ones I used to wear. They work more efficiently than their competitors. the + most + adjective + of/in* This district is the most elegant in Dubai. The three siblings are successful businesspeople but the youngest runs the business the most efficiently. Irregular forms good bad far old good bad far old better worse farther/further older/elder the best the worst the farthest/the furthest the oldest/eldest EQUALITY Adjectives/adverbs with one or more syllables as + adjective/adverb + as This project is as good as the other one. The workers are completing the walls as quickly as possible. with negative verb: + as/so + adjective + as This project isn t as/so good as the other one. The workers are not completing the walls as/so quickly as they should. MINORITY Adjectives/adverbs with one or more syllables less + adjective/adverb + than Karl s company is less competitive than Jim s. On this yard they deal with safety less carefully than on that one. * ATTENTION! Than, of/in are added only if there is an object which follows. In general, in is used with groups of people and places and of with everything else. 208 Module 6 BRICKS AND MORTAR the + least + adjective/adverb + of/in* That new company is the least competitive in the area. Of all the companies in the area, BUILDIT is the company who works the least quickly and carefully.