Adjectives

Comparison Less and Not As . . . As

Not as . . . as and
less have the same meaning.

My old car was less efficient than my new car.
My old car was not as efficient as my new car.

Use not as . . . as with one-syllable adjectives or
adverbs.

My apartment is not as big as yours.

Tom doesn’t run as fast as Steven.

Use less . . . than or not as . . . as with adjectives
or adverbs that have two or more syllables.

My son visits less frequently than my daughter.
My son doesn’t visit as frequently as my daughter.

Superlative

Use a superlative adjective to
compare

Prague is the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen.

Use a superlative adverb to compare
the action

My red shoes fit the most comfortably of all my shoes.

Add -est to the end of most one-
syllable adjectives or adverbs to
form the superlative.

Adjective: I bought the longest couch in the store.

Adverb: Steve works hardest of all the students.

Use the most before most adjectives
that have two or more syllables and
adverbs ending in -ly.

Of all the girls, Brenda sings the most beautifully.

For some two-syllable adjectives and
adverbs, either -est or the most can
be used to form the superlative.

cruel the cruelest/the most cruel

Some superlatives are irregular.

good/well the best

bad/badly the worst

Comparisons as...as

1.Use as + adjective/adverb + as to compare two people,
places, or things that are the same or equal in some way.

Your car is as old as mine.

2.a)- noun (+ verb)

I dance as well as my brother

2.b) a subject pronoun + verb or an auxiliary verb

I dance as well as he does.

2.c) a possessive noun or possessive pronoun

My computer is as old as hers.

3. In informal speaking

Formal: He’s as tall as I am.
Informal: He’s as tall as me.

Comparative

Comparative adjective + than to compare

Lydia is taller than Alex.

Gorillas are more intelligent than cows.

One syllable adjectives -er + than

SmallER than...

Two syllable adjectives either -er or more + than

Quiet: Quieter than/ More quiet than

Two or more syllable adjectives use more + than

Jack is more serious than Nikki.

Do you think math is more important than music?

Some adjectives use an irregular form

Good=Better

Far=Further/Farther

Bad=Worse

Remember: If the comparison is clear,
the second part of the comparison is not
necessary.

The food at Joe’s cafe isn’t as good as the food
at Chez Claude, but it’s less expensive.