Grammar for English Language Teachers - Comparatives & Superlatives

Question 1

How are comparatives and superlatives formed with longer adjectives and adverbs (3+ syllables)?

Answer 1

By adding more or most before the adjective or adverb.

Question 2

How are comparatives and superlatives formed with shorter adjectives and adverbs?

Answer 2

By adding -er or -est before the adjectives or adverb.

Question 3

Why are some comparatives and superlatives formed with more or most despite the adjective or adverb being a short one (1 syllable)?

Answer 3

Because they are also past participles (spoiled, forced, drunk), ungradable (dead, male, royal), or to contrast with less.

Question 4

How are comparatives and superlatives formed with 2 syllable adjectives and adverbs?

Answer 4

We can choose from the two standard forms, but some rules exist. For example, adverbs that end in -ly take the more/most form, as well as adjectives that take usual adjective forms.

Question 5

How are less and least used?

Answer 5

They are used regardless of syllables or base form endings.

Question 6

How are comparatives and superlatives pronounced?

Answer 6

The -er and -est suffixes are usually weak. This causes considerable comprehension problems for learners listening to connected speech.

The /t/ sound in most and least is usually left out, especially if followed by a consonant.

In words like stronger and longer, and extra /g/ sound is added.

Question 7

How are comparatives and superlatives spelled?

Answer 7

In addition to adding the -er or -est suffixes, there are rules for:

words ending in ‘y’ (change to ‘i’)
words ending in a single vowel followed by a single consonant (hot > hotter)
words ending in two consonants, or a consonant preceded by two vowels do not change.

Question 8

What don’t course books cover?

Answer 8

Comparatives are often used to compare more than just two things.

We often use comparatives without mentioning one of the things being compared.

Real life uses of comparatives and superlatives often differ from the simple examples in coursebooks (for example, in adverts).

The contexts in which comparatives and superlatives occur.

Question 9

How are comparatives and superlatives intensified or downtoned?

Answer 9

We can use:

a bit
far
quite a lot

Question 10

Which rules of thumb should be handled with care?

Answer 10

‘the’ can sometimes be used in comparative utterances

‘the’ can sometimes be left out of superlative utterances

Question 11

Which other grammar point lends itself to using superlatives?

Answer 11

Relative clauses

e.g. It’s the best wine that I have ever tasted.