Grammar Lesson 39
• Vocabulary:
• Implicit- means implied or hinted at; suggested, though not directly
expressed
• Explicit- an antonym of implicit, means clear and definite, leaving nothing
unexplained
Comparison Adjectives
• These adjectives have three forms that show greater or lesser degrees of
quality, quantity, or manner
• 3 forms: positive, comparative, superlative
Positive
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Basic form
Describes a noun or pronoun without comparing it to any other
Examples: Oliver Ellsworth is eloquent.
That firefighter is brave.
Comparative
• Compares two persons, places, or things
• Examples: That firefighter is braver than I am.
• Hector looks paler than his brother.
Superlative
• Compares three or more persons, places, or things
• Examples: That firefighter is the bravest in the department.
• Of the three brothers, Hector looks the palest.
Forming Comparison Adjectives
• Most one-syllable adjectives become comparative by adding er to the ending
• They become superlative by adding est to the ending
• When a two-syllable adjective ends in y we create the comparative and
superlative forms by adding er or est
• Adjectives of two or more syllables usually form their comparative degree by
adding “more” (or “less”), they form the superlative by adding “most” (or
“least”)- example: bellicose, more bellicose, most bellicose
Exceptions
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Little (size, not amount), littler, littlest
Clever, cleverer, cleverest
Quiet, quieter, quietest
Simpler, simpler, simplest
*check the dictionary if you are unsure how to form the comparative/superlative
*remember spelling can change
Grammar Lesson 40
• Vocabulary:
• The roots cep-, cap-, and cip- come from the Latin word capere meaning “to
take or seize”
• Perceptible- means noticeable; able to be taken in through the senses
• Susceptible- means vulnerable, liable, and open to influence
Irregular Comparison Adjectives
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Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
Little(amount, not size)
less
least
Good, well
better
best
Bad, ill
worse
worst
Far
farther
farthest
Many, much, some
more
most
Little or few?
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We use little, less, and least with things that cannot be counted
Example: He has less patience today than he had yesterday.
We use few, fewer, and fewest for thing that can be counted
Example: We will have fewer tests this semester.
Much or many?
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We use much with things that cannot be counted
Example: There wasn’t much debate.
We use many with things that can be counted
Example: Many delegates offered opinions.
Avoid double comparisons
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We do not combine two comparatives or superlatives.
No: Julita was more better than Juanita at soccer.
Yes: Julita was better than Juanita at soccer.
Absolute Adjectives: some adjectives do not normally permit comparison.
Adjectives that represent an ultimate condition cannot be increased by degree
(square, round, maximum, equal, fatal, unique, dead)
• No: My house plant looks deader than yours.
• Yes: The withered plant is nearly dead.