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EMPLOIS
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On
compare deux choses ou deux personnes.
Il y a 3 cas:
Adjective + than
Kate is bigger than
Susan.
(Kate
est plus grande que Susan (comparatif de supériorité)
As + adjective + as
My work is as tiring as yours.
(Mon
travail est aussi épuisant que le tien (comparatif d'égalité)
A Mini is cheaper than a Ferrari.
A mini is less expensive than a Ferrari.
(Une
Mini est moins cher qu'une Ferrari.)(comparatif d'infériorité)
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On
situe une personne ou un objet dans un grand groupe.
Il y a 2 cas:
the most + adjective
My car is the most beautiful car in the neighbourhood. Ma
voiture est la plus belle de tout le quartier (superlatif de supériorité)
The least + adjective
Paul is the least intelligent student in high school.
(Paul est l'élève le moins intelligent du lycée (superlatif d'infériorité)
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SUPERIORITE
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Adjectifs courts:
adjective + -ER THAN
Peter is taller
than Sandra.
(Peter est plus
grand que Sandra.)
Adjectifs longs:
MORE + adjective + THAN
A Ferrari is more
expensive than a Mini.
(Une Ferrari est
plus chère qu'une Mini. )
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Adjectifs
courts:
THE
+ adjective -EST
Tom is the tallest boy of the school.
(Tom est le plus
grand garçon de l'école. )
Adjectifs longs:
THE MOST + adjective
This is the most
pleasant place on Earth!
(C'est le plus bel
endroit au monde!)
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EGALITE
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Adjectifs courts et
adjectifs longs:
AS... adjectif... AS
English is as easy
as German.
(L'anglais est
aussi facile que l'allemand. )
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N'existe
pas.
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INFERIORITE
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Adjectifs courts et adjectifs longs:
LESS + adjective + THAN
July is less cold
than January.
(Juillet est moins
froid que janvier.)
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Adjectifs courts et adjectifs longs:
THE LEAST + adjective
This is the least
interesting movie of the year!
(C'est le film le
moins intéressant de l'année!)
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Superlatif de supériorité:
Exceptions: GOOD donne THE BEST.
BAD donne THE WORST.
FAR donne THE FARTHEST.
Comparison of Adjectives
There are three forms of comparison:
-
positive
- comparative
- superlative
A - Comparison with -er/-est
clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest
We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:
1) Adjectives with one syllable
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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clean
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cleaner
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cleanest
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new
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newer
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newest
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cheap
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cheaper
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cheapest
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2) Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:
2 - 1) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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dirty
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dirtier
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dirtiest
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easy
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easier
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easiest
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happy
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happier
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happiest
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pretty
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prettier
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prettiest
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2 - 2) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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clever
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cleverer
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cleverest
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2 - 3) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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simple
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simpler
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simplest
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2 - 4) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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narrow
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narrower
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narrowest
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3) Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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comment
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large
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larger
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largest
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leave out the silent -e
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big
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bigger
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biggest
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Double the consonant after short vowel
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sad
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sadder
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saddest
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dirty
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dirtier
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dirtiest
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Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)
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shy
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shyer
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shyest
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Here -y is not changed to -i.
(although consonant before -y)
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B - Comparison with more - most
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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difficult
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more difficult
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(the) most difficult
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all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables -
see
2 - 1 to 2 - 4)
C - Irregular adjectives
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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comment
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good
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better
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best
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bad
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worse
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worst
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much
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more
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most
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uncountable nouns
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many
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more
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most
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countable nouns
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little
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less
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least
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little
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smaller
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smallest
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D - Special adjectives
Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most).
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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clever
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cleverer / more clever
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cleverest / most clever
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common
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commoner / more common
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commonest / most common
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likely
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likelier / more likely
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likeliest / most likely
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pleasant
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pleasanter / more pleasant
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pleasantest / most pleasant
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polite
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politer / more polite
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politest / most polite
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quiet
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quieter / more quiet
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quietest / most quiet
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simple
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simpler / more simple
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simplest / most simple
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stupid
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stupider / more stupid
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stupidest / most stupid
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subtle
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subtler / more subtle
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subtlest / most subtle
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sure
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surer / more sure
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surest / most sure
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E - Difference in meaning with adjectives:
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positive
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comparative
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superlative
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comment
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far
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farther
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farthest
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distance
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further
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furthest
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distance or
time
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late
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later
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latest
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latter
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x
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x
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last
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old
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older
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oldest
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people and things
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elder
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eldest
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people (family)
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near
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nearer
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nearest
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distance
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x
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next
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order
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Sentences with comparisons
1. something is similar A=B
Our car is as fast as Peter's car.
2. something is not similar A><B
a) Use not as ... as (to say that something is not similar)
John's car is not as fast as our car. (A><B)
b) Use than (to say that something is bigger or smaller)
Our car is faster than John's car. (A>B)
John's car is slower than our car. (A<B)
NOTE!
Peter is taller than me. (informal)
Peter is taller than I am. (formal)
Max is as tall as me. (informal)
Max is as tall as I am. (formal)
Do not mix up then with than.
Then or Than
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Word
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Explanation
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Example
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then
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(1) at a time in the past or future
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(1) They have not visited her friends since then.
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(2) next
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(2) First I get up, then I have breakfast.
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(3) additional information
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(3) He had a cup of coffee, and then two glasses of milk.
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(4) logical result
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(4) If you fail that test, then you'll be suspended.
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than
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comparison of two things
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The yellow car is faster than the black one.
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Exercices
(essayez-les pour
voir si vous pouvez les réussir sans regarder les réponses.)
Supériorité indiquée par le signe
+
Egalité indiquée par le signe
=
Infériorité indiquée par le signe
-
Exercise: A
1. This
book is ______________________________ (+ interesting) than yours. (long adjective!!)
2. The weather today is ______________________________ (+ bad) than yesterday. (exception!)
3. John is ______________________________ (+ tall) than his sisters.
4. This house is ______________________________ (+ expensive) than his flat. (long adjective!)
5. This rose smells ______________________________ (= sweet) yours. (égalité!)
6. The suitcase is ______________________________ (+ heavy) than the bag. (ending in y - ier)
7. That car is ______________________________ (- expensive) than a Rolls-Royce. (long adjective! )
8. He is ______________________________ (+ happy) than my dog.
9. He is ______________________________ (= tall) his mother. (égalité!)
10. He is ______________________________ (= intelligent) his brother. (égalité!)
11. The weather is ______________________________ (- cold) than today.
12. Tom's exercise is ______________________________ (- difficult) than Ben's.
13. This hotel is ______________________________ (+ comfortable) than the other one. (long adjective!)
14. English grammar is ______________________________ (+ easy) than French grammar.
15. Romeo is ______________________________ (= clever) Juliet. (égalité!)
16. The TGV is ______________________________ (+ fast) than other trains.
17. My French is ______________________________ (+ good) than my English.(exception!!)
18. The USA is ______________________________ (+ big) than Europe.
Exercises B
1. Sandra is ______________________________ (+ pretty) Sophia.
2. This song is ______________________________ (+ good) the previous one.
3. My boat is ______________________________ (= expensive) your boat.
4. This book is ______________________________ (= bad) that one.
5. Jurassic Park is ______________________________ (- frightening) Star Wars.
6. The Lost World is ______________________________ (- good) Jurassic Park I.
7. Peter is ______________________________ (+ intelligent) student in the school!
8. This museum is ______________________________ (- interesting) place of the town.
REPONSES:
A
1) more interesting
2) worse
3) taller
4) more expensive
5) as sweet as
6) heavier
7) less expensive
8) happier
9) as tall as
10) as intelligent as
11) less cold
12) less difficult
13) more comfortable
14) easier
15) as clever as
16) faster
17) better
18) bigger
REPONSES: B
1) prettier than
2) better than
3) as expensive as
4) as bad as
5) less frightening than
6) less good than
7) the most intelligent
8) the least interesting
EXPLICATIONS:
1) Le -y se transforme en -i- lorsque j'ajoute -er (comparatif de supériorité).
2) Comparatif de supériorité irrégulier: GOOD donne BETTER.
3) Comparatif d'égalité: penser à équilibrer les deux plateaux de la balance grâce à AS...AS...
4) Comparatif d'égalité: penser à équilibrer les deux plateaux de la balance grâce à AS...AS... On se moque ici qu'il y ait des formes irrégulières: ce n'est pas un comparatif de
supériorité.
5) Comparatif d'infériorité: less... than... On se moque ici de savoir si l'adjectif est court ou long, la règle est la même pour les deux cas.
7) Superlatif de supériorité: on situe Peter parmi tous les élèves de la classe. Adjectif long.
8) Superlatif d'infériorité: on compare ce musée à tous les lieux de la ville.
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