Grammar for Everyone - Barbara Dykes 2007
Adjectives of degree and comparison
Introduction
Part II The parts of speech
These are alternative terms applied to the act of comparing the extent or amount of the quality expressed by the adjective. We show this comparison by adding endings (suffixes) to the adjectives.
If two things are compared (comparative form), we use the suffix er.
For example:
Dad’s voice is loud er than Mum’s.
Your baby is heavier than mine.
Note how the y of heavy has been changed to i with the addition of an ending.
If more than two things are compared (superlative form), est is the correct ending.
For example:
Colin’s voice is loudest of all.
My BMX is the fastest on the track.
Some adjectives would become very clumsy with the endings added, so we have the alternative of preceding the adjective with more or most. This usually applies to longer words such as ’sensible’ or ’beautiful’. Sometimes it is just a matter of ease on the ear.
For example:
Comfortable: This chair is comfortable; that chair is more comfortable but Grandad’s chair is most comfortable.
Some of the words that we find hard to categorise are, on further examination, clearly adjectives, as they tell more about nouns. Students do need to realise this so that they can fit them into the scheme of things. They should be explained, although the terms need not be memorised at this stage.
Note: For correct use of few and less see pages 129, 193.
Colin’s voice is the loudest of all.
4.3 Activities: degree and comparison
1. Students should write the chart of comparisons in their grammar exercise books and add more words of their choice.
2. Students can practise comparative and superlative forms orally. Suggest a word for which students add the comparative and superlative forms. They can put them into sentences.
3. A large chart may be made by the students to hang on the wall. If the chart is laminated, students can add new words using whiteboard pens.
4. Students select words from boxes to match with suitable nouns (see following page).
Answers are written to increase vocabulary and spelling ability.
a ... path
b ... footbridge
c ... soldier
d ... arrow
e ... tank
f ... monster
g ... model
h ... fox
i ... tale
j ... artist
5. Students find more meaningful words than ’nice’ or ’good’ for the following.
a ... party
b ... boy
c ... person
d ... race
e ... house
f ... pear
g ... dog
h ... tune
i ... garden
They then find an adjective for each of these which means the opposite (i.e. not good).
6. Students complete an adjectives flowchart.
Checklist: adjectives
The student should now be able to:
• give the meaning of the word adjective
• define the word adjective - what is an adjective?
• give examples of adjectives
• qualify given nouns with appropriate adjectives
• pick out adjectives from written material
• apply adjectives to nouns to make a sentence more meaningful
• explain the function of adjectives