Comparatives and Superlatives [PDF]

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Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression



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LESSON 41 ERRORS WITH COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES Most adjectives have three forms: the absolute (the basic adjective form), the comparative, and the superlative. Comparatives are used to show that one item has more of some quality that another does. George is taller than his brother. Superlatives are used to show that one item in a group of three or more has the greatest amount of some quality. He was the tallest man in the room. The chart explains how comparatives and superlatives are formed:



One-syllable adjectives



warm



warmer



the warmest



Two-syllable adjectives ending with l'



funny



funnier



the funniest



Other two-syllable adjectives



common



more common



the most common



Adjectives with three or more syllables



important



more important



the most important



Some two-syllable adjectives have two correct forms of both the comparative and the superlative: narrower more narrow



clever more clever



polite more polite



narrowest most narrow



cleverest most clever



politest most polite



A "negative" comparison can be expressed with the words less and least. Less and least are used no matter how many syllables an adjective has. less bright the least bright



less expensive the least expensive



The absolute form of a few adjectives ends in -er (tender, bitter, slender, clever, and so on). Don't confuse these with the comparative forms (more bitter or bitterer, for example). Many adverbs also have comparative and superlative forms. The comparative and superlative forms of all -ly adverbs are formed with more and most. more brightly most brightly



more importantly most importantly



A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms:



good/well



better



the best



badlbadly



worse



the worst



far



farther



the farthest



further



the furthest



248 Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression



(Far has two comparative and superlative forms, depending on how the word is used, but the distinction between these two forms will not be tested.) There are two main types of errors involving comparatives and superlatives:



A) Incorrect Choice of the Three Forms Any of the three forms-absolute, comparative, or superlative-may be incorrectly used in place of one of the other forms. ...



Sample Items



Basketball is played at a much fast pace than baseball. ABC



0



The comparative formfaster is needed because two concepts-the pace of basketball and the pace of baseball-are being compared. The deep oceans contain some of the stranger of all living creatures. A B C



D



This sentence does not compare two groups; a superlative form (strangest) is required. ....



B) Incorrect Forms of Comparatives and Superlatives Incorrect forms such as more bigger or most hot may appear. ...



Sample Item



The most small vessels in the circulatory system are capillaries. A B C



D



The correct form is smallest because small is a one-syllable adjective.



....



Exercise 41 Focus: Identifying and correcting errors in comparatives and superlatives. Directions: If the underlined form is correct, mark the sentence C. If the underlined form is incorrect, mark the sentence X and write a correction for the underlined form in the blank at the end of the sentence. The first one is done as an example. ~



1. The period is probably the most easiest punctuation mark to use.



the easieet



2. When metal replaced wood in the construction of ships' hulls, more strong and large ships could be built. _ _ _ _ __ 3. Charcoal is the most commonly used cooking fuel in the world. _ _ _ _ __



Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression



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4. Soft solder melts at a low temperature than ordinary solder. ______ 5. Many of the nation's most important documents are stored in the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. _ _ _ _ __ 6. The surfboards used twenty-five years ago were more heavier than the ones used by surferstoda~ ______ ___



7. Few American politicians have spoken more eloquently than William Jennings Bryan.



___



8. Subterranean termites are the more destructive type of termites in the United States. 9. Prince Edward Island is the less populous of Canada's ten provinces. ______ 10. During a depression, economic conditions are far worst than they are during a recession. 11. One of the most basic American contributions to technology was the so-called "American system" of interchangeable machine parts. ______ 12. The horse chestnut has a stronger, bitter taste than other chestnuts. ______ 13. Chicago's Field Museum is one of the largest and better known natural history museums in the United States. _ _ _ _ __ 14. Baltimore has one ofthe world's most frnest natural harbors. ______ 15. The Kennedy-Nixon race of 1960 was the closest presidential election of last century. 16. The finback whale is the fastest of all whales, and only the blue whale is largest. 17. The cello is shorter and more slender than the double bass. _ _ _ _ __ 18. Oil floats on water because oil is less denser than water. ______