Comparative and superlative patterns (1)

A Introduction

There are a number of different sentence patterns with comparative and superlative forms, e.g. older than me, the sweetest man in the world.

B The comparative and than

We often use a phrase with than after a comparative. This restaurant is nicer than the Pizza House. I had a bigger meal than you. The steak is more expensive than the fish.

C The superlative

We normally use the before a superlative.

The quickest way is along this path. The last question is the most difficult. Note the pattern with one of.

Michael Jackson is one of the most famous pop singers ever.

After a superlative we can use in or of. We use in with places and with groups of people, e.g. team.

It's the most expensive hotel in Oxford. Who is the best player in the team?

This question is the most difficult of all. August is the wettest month of the year. We often use a clause after a superlative.

That was the most delicious meal (that) I've ever eaten.

Melanie is the nicest person you could meet.

D As... as

We use as ... as to say that things are equal or unequal. Our house is as big as yours. They're the same size, not It is so big as yours. It's warmer today. It isn't as cold as yesterday.

In a negative sentence we can also use so ... as, but this is less common than as ... as. This flat isn't as big as/so big as our old one.

Here are some more examples of as ... as.

The chair is as expensive as the table. We cant do crosswords as quickly as you do.

I don't earn as much money as I'd like. Note also the same as.

The result of the match was the same as last year.

E Than me/than I am

Compare than me and than I am. Both are correct, and they have the same meaning.

You're twenty years older than me. You're twenty years older than I am.

Harriet's husband isn't as tall as her. Her husband isn't as tall as she is.

After than or as, a personal pronoun on its own But if the pronoun has a verb after it, then we us

has the object form, e.g. me. the subject form, e.g. I.

111 Exercises

1 The comparative and than (B)

Comment on these situations. Write sentences with a comparative and than. Use these adjectives: big, expensive, long, old, popular, strong, tall

? The film lasts two and a half hours, but the videotape is only two hours long.
The film is longer than the videotape.

? The water-colour is £85, and the oil-painting is £100.
The oil-painting is more expensive than the water-colour.

1 The church was built in 1878 and the library in 1925.

2 Daniel can lift 90 kilos, but Matthew can lift 120 kilos.

3 Mike is 1.7 metres tall, but Harriet is 1.8 metres.

4 Andrew hasn't many friends. Claire has lots of friends.

5 Mark's car has room for five people, but Sarah's has room for only four.

2 The superlative (C)

Write sentences from the notes. Use the superlative form of the adjective.

► Melanie / kind person /1 know Melanie is the kindest person I know.

1 Friday / busy day / week ………………………………………………………………. of the week.

2 the Metropole / nice hotel / town …………………………………………………….

3 this watch / one / cheap / you can buy ……………………………………………….

4 this Beatles album / good / they ever made …………………………………………..

5 Alan / successful salesman / company …………………………………………………

3 As... as (D)

Use the notes and add sentences with isn't as ... as.

► a car / a motor bike / expensive

Why don't you buy a motor bike? A motor bike isn't as expensive as a car.

1 metal / plastic / strong

I don't like these plastic screws......................................................................

2 the armchair / the stool / comfortable

Oh, don't sit there..............................................................................................

3 surfing / swimming / exciting

I prefer surfing to swimming. ....................................................................

4 the post / e-mail / quick

A letter will take two days...............................................................................

4 Than me/than I am (E)

Choose the correct pronoun.

Tom: Why is Luke in our basketball team and not me? Aren't I as good as (►) he/him? Is he taller than (1)

I/me? Is he a better player than (2) I am/me am?

Nick: I don't know. I can't understand why I'm in the team. You and Luke are both better than (3) I/me. Tom: Carl's in the team too, but I've scored a lot more points than (4) he has/him has.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 2061