Making comparisons
Form short comparatives/superlatives with -er/-est and spelling changes; Use more/most with longer adjectives and learn irregular forms; Use less/least for reduced degree; Use comparative + than and usually the + superlative; Use (just) as ... as for equality and not as ... as for inequality; Use an object pronoun after than in the target pattern.
1. What is the correct comparative form of happy?
Multiple Choice20sAhappier✓Bmore happyerChappyierDhappiest💡 An adjective ending in consonant + y changes y to i before -er.
2. A superlative compares one person or thing with the whole group in the stated context.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 The superlative rule selects the highest or lowest member of a group.
3. Our new manager is _____ (patient) than the previous one; she listens calmly to everyone.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedmore patient💡 The longer adjective patient forms its comparative with more + adjective + than.
4. Choose the correct irregular comparison.
Multiple Choice20sAThis result is better than the last one.✓BThis result is gooder than the last one.CThis result is more better than the last one.DThis result is best than the last one.💡 Good has the irregular comparative better.
5. Match each adjective to its correct comparative form.
Matching30snice→nicerhot→hotterhelpful→more helpfulbad→worse💡 Short adjectives use spelling changes, longer adjectives use more, and bad is irregular.
6. Complete without an intensifying word: Ella is _____ (tall) her sister; both are exactly 170 cm tall.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedas tall as💡 Equal degree uses as + adjective + as; the instruction excludes optional just.
7. Put the chunks in order to make a comparative sentence.
Put in Order30s- 1.This chair
- 2.is
- 3.more comfortable
- 4.than
- 5.the blue one.
💡 A longer adjective uses more + adjective + than.
8. Which phrase means a smaller degree of confidence?
Multiple Choice20sAless confident✓Bleast more confidentCconfidenterDnot most confidence💡 Less is the opposite of more and forms a reduced-degree comparison.
9. More happier is a correct way to make the comparison stronger.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The comparative-form rule does not combine -er with more.
10. Sam is _____ creative person in our team; nobody has more original ideas.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedthe most💡 A long-adjective superlative uses the most before the adjective.
11. Which sentence says that Mia has less patience than Eva?
Multiple Choice20sAMia isn't as patient as Eva.✓BMia is as patient as Eva.CMia is the patient as Eva.DMia isn't patient than Eva.💡 Not as + adjective + as expresses inequality; Eva is more patient.
12. Match each comparison form to the adjective it comes from.
Matching30sbetter→goodworst→badfurther→farhappiest→happy💡 Good, bad and far are irregular; happy changes y to i before -est.
13. Use the comparative form of far taught in this reference: Their new flat is _____ from the centre than the old one.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedfurther💡 The reference teaches further as the irregular comparative of far.
14. In the target pattern, an object pronoun follows than: younger than us.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 The comparison rule uses object forms such as me, him, her, us and them after than.
15. Which sentence uses least correctly?
Multiple Choice20sAThis is the least expensive option.✓BThis is least the expensive option.CThis is the lesser expensive option of all.DThis is the least expensiver option.💡 The least + adjective forms the lowest-degree superlative.
16. Put the chunks in order to express exact equality.
Put in Order30s- 1.The second talk
- 2.was
- 3.just as interesting
- 4.as the first one.
💡 Equality uses just as + adjective + as.
17. The second route is _____ (long) than the first; it adds five kilometres.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedlonger💡 A regular one-syllable adjective takes -er to form the comparative.
18. Which pair correctly doubles the final consonant?
Multiple Choice20sAhot - hotter - hottest✓Bhot - hoter - hotestChot - more hot - most hotDhot - hottier - hottiest💡 A one-syllable vowel-consonant adjective doubles the final consonant before -er/-est.
19. Superlatives in this unit normally appear without the.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The article is part of the standard superlative pattern taught here.
20. Complete with the superlative of bad: That was _____ meal I've had this year; every dish was disappointing.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedthe worst💡 Bad has the irregular superlative worst, normally preceded by the.