Understanding Comparison of Modifiers
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
Comparison of modifiers
Regular comparison
Irregular comparison
Special problems with comparisons
Review A
Review B
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
Comparisons can come in handy when you want
to describe or explain something.
Yes, but it’s sunnier
than yesterday.
Today is the coldest
day we’ve had this
year!
How are modifiers used in comparisons?
One way to compare is to change the forms of
modifiers.
Wild turkeys do not
run very fast.
Turkeys are slower
than rabbits.
But turkeys are faster
than squirrels.
The snail is the
slowest of all.
Comparison of modifiers
A modifier can have three different forms—
positive, comparative, and superlative.
These forms are called degrees of comparison.
The
ocean
looks
calmer
than
IIt’s
think
that’s
the it
calmyesterday.
today.
was
calmest
surf I’ve
ever seen.
Positive
calm
Comparative
calmer
Superlative
calmest
Comparison of modifiers
Positive
The positive degree is the basic form of the
modifier.
The candle is bright.
She dives deep into the ocean.
Comparison of modifiers
Comparative
The comparative degree of a modifier compares
a quality of one thing or action with a quality of
another.
The fire is brighter
than the candles.
Which person will
dive deeper?
Comparison of modifiers
Superlative
The superlative degree of a modifier is used when
comparing more than two things or actions.
The green candle is the
brightest of the three.
These two have dived
the deepest of all.
Comparison of modifiers
On Your Own
Choose the correct modifier in each of the following
sentences.
1. Summer is the (hotter, hottest) time of year.
2. Both twins, Holly and Tina, have brown eyes, but Holly’s
are (darker, darkest).
3. Riding a motorcycle can be (dangerous, most
dangerous).
4. Both shirts are nice, but I like the red one (better, best).
5. Who is the (funnier, funniest) person in the class?
[End of Section]
Regular comparison
Most one-syllable modifiers form the comparative
degree by adding –er and the superlative degree
by adding –est.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
wild
wilder
wildest
large
larger
largest
strong
stronger
strongest
late
later
latest
Regular comparison
Some two-syllable modifiers form the
comparative degree by adding –er and the
superlative by adding –est. Others use more and
most.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
gentle
gentler
gentlest
lively
livelier
liveliest
clearly
more clearly
most clearly
cautious
more cautious
most cautious
Regular comparison
Many two-syllable modifiers can form their
comparatives and superlatives either way.
sillier
silliest
more silly
most silly
silly
If adding –er or –est makes a word sound
awkward, use more and most.
Awkward
Better
jealous, jealouser, jealousest
jealous, more jealous, most jealous
Regular comparison
If a modifier has three or more syllables, use
more and most to form the comparative and
superlative degrees.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
glorious
more glorious
most glorious
efficient
more efficient
most efficient
skillfully
more skillfully
most skillfully
reasonably
more reasonably
most reasonably
Regular comparison
Decreasing comparison
More and –er and most and–est show increases.
To show decreases in the quality a modifier
expresses, use less and least.
The jigsaw puzzle was less
challenging than the maze.
The word game was the least
challenging of all.
Irregular comparison
The comparative and superlative degrees of some
common modifiers are irregular in form.
Positive
bad
ill
good
well
much
many
far
little
Comparative
Superlative
worse
worst
better
best
more
most
farther/further
farthest/furthest
less
least
Regular and irregular comparison
On Your Own
If the comparative or superlative form of a modifier is
incorrect or awkward, give the correct form. If a sentence is
correct, label it C.
1. This chair is comfortabler than the couch.
2. That was the most bad football game I’ve ever seen.
3. Mother cooks less than Dad does.
4. The church steeple is more tall than the clock tower.
5. Fernando is a more good pitcher than Keith is.
[End of Section]
Special problems with comparisons
Double comparisons
Avoid double comparisons. Using both –er and
more is incorrect. Using both –est and most is also
incorrect.
Incorrect
The cherries look more
fresher than the blueberries.
Incorrect
This painting is the most
colorfulest of all.
Special problems with comparisons
Double comparisons
To correct a double comparison, first decide
whether the comparative and superlative forms
use –er and –est or more and most.
more fresh?
OR
fresher?
The cherries look more fresher than the blueberries.
most colorful?
OR
colorfulest?
This painting is the most colorfulest of all.
Then, delete the unnecessary part.
Special problems with comparisons
Comparing within a group
When you are comparing one
member of a group with the
rest of the group, be sure to
include the word other or else.
Logical
Illogical
Joel has hit more home runs than any
other
member
of his team.
member
of his team.
Logical
Illogical
Joel is
memberthan
of the
team. Logically,
Joel
Ielse
know.
Ben
is asmarter
anyone
I know.
could not have hit more home runs than he
himself
did.
Ben
is someone
I know, and Ben cannot be
smarter than himself.
Special problems with comparisons
Double comparisons / Comparing within a group
On Your Own
Correct each error in the use of modifiers in the following
sentences.
1. Heather is more likelier to be on time than Jared is.
2. Beth sold more cookies than anyone in the troop.
3. Of all the family members, Uncle Tomas had traveled the
most farthest to get to the reunion.
4. The Eagles have a better record than any team in the
league.
5. I think Shawn is more funnier than anyone in her class.
[End of Section]
Special problems with comparisons
Clear comparisons
When making a comparison, make sure to clearly
show what you are comparing.
Logical
Illogical
Logical
Illogical
Katie’s arguments in the debate were
more persuasive than her opponent’s
opponent.
[arguments].
This sentence makes an illogical comparison
between
and an
opponent.
The earsarguments
of the African
elephant
are
the Asian
elephant.
larger than those
of the
Asian elephant.
This sentence makes an illogical comparison
between ears and the Asian elephant.
Special problems with comparisons
Clear comparisons
Use a complete comparison if there is any chance
an incomplete one could be misunderstood.
Unclear
I baby-sit them more often than anyone
else.
Than anyone else can be completed in more
than one way, so the sentence is not clear.
Clear
I baby-sit them more often
than anyone else does.
Clear
I baby-sit them more often
than I baby-sit anyone
else.
?
Special problems with comparisons
Clear comparisons
positive
A compound comparison uses both the positive
and comparative degree of a modifier.
I think the temperature tomorrow will be
as low as, if not lower than, it was today.
Avoid the common error of omitting the second
as in the positive degree.
This year’s soccer team is playing as
Nonstandard
Standard
well,as,
if not
better
than,
lastlast
year’s
team.
well
if not
better
than,
year’s
team.
Special problems with comparisons
Absolute adjectives
An absolute adjective is an adjective that does
not have a comparative or superlative form.
Common Absolute Adjectives
complete empty
eternal
perfect
correct
endless
full
round
dead
equal
infinite
unique
Take the word perfect, for example. Something is
either perfect or it’s not. Something cannot be more
or less perfect than something else.
Special problems with comparisons
Absolute adjectives
In formal speaking and writing, avoid using
absolute adjectives in comparisons.
Informal
Of all the designs, Lena’s was
the most unique.
Formal
Of all the designs, Lena’s was
the most unusual.
Formal
Lena’s design was unique
among them all.
Special problems with comparisons
Clear comparisons / Absolute adjectives
On Your Own
Most of the following sentences contain an error in the use
of modifiers. Correct each error. If a sentence is already
correct, label it C.
1. The walls of this old fort are much thicker than a house.
2. Henry is as talented, if not more talented than, anyone
else in the band.
3. I have known Mimi longer than Margaret.
4. Dad gave me a longer speech than he gave you.
5. Ben’s answer was more correct than Kim’s.
[End of Section]
Review A
Complete each sentence by providing the correct form of the
modifier in parentheses.
1. A piece of fruit would be a __________ choice than a
cookie. (healthful)
2. The white kitten seems __________ than the others.
(playful, decreasing comparison)
3. Of the three brothers, Julio sings ___________ . (well)
4. Which of the two flavors do you like __________? (much)
5. That is the __________ lemon drop I’ve ever tasted!
(sour)
Review B
In the following sentences, correct each error in the use of
modifiers.
1. Lucinda has the most uncommonest hobby I’ve ever
heard of—collecting insects.
2. Luisa sees movies much more often than her friend Sarah.
3. Is the sting of a wasp worse than a bumblebee?
4. This year’s football team is playing as well, if not better
than, last year’s.
5. My brother Nick is taller than anyone in his class.
[End of Section]
The End