Lesson 36
Parts of Speech - Adjectives

Adjectives can be used in comparisons which means we change the form of the adjective when speaking of one, two, or more than two. They change either by adding er or est to the adjective or by using the words more or most before the adjective. Some are irregular in their form and must be memorized or looked up in the dictionary. The dictionary gives the forms for most words using er or est to form comparisons. The three degrees of comparison are called (1) positive which states a quality of one thing or person, (2) comparative which compares two things or persons, and (3) superlative which compares more than two things or persons. Examples: positive - new, careless, good; comparative - newer, more careless, better; superlative - newest, most careless, best

Instructions: Write the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives.

1. jolly

2. honest

3. dim

4. friendly

5. little

Answers:

1. jolly, jollier, jolliest

2. honest, more honest, most honest

3. dim, dimmer, dimmest

4. friendly, friendlier, friendliest

5. little, less or lesser or littler, least or littlest (Little when referring to amount uses less, lesser and least; when referring to size uses littler and littlest.)

Lesson 37
Parts of Speech - Adjectives

In comparison of adjectives, one-syllable adjectives and some two-syllable adjectives (especially those ending in y or le) form the comparative with er and the superlative with est. Examples: new, newer, newest; jolly, jollier, jolliest.

Instructions: Write the correct comparative and superlative forms for the following adjectives.

1. glad

2. prompt

3. small

4 noble

5. funny

Answers:

1. glad, gladder, gladdest

2. prompt, prompter, promptest

3. small, smaller, smallest

4. noble, nobler, noblest

5. funny, funnier, funniest

Lesson 38
Parts of Speech - Adjectives

Many two-syllable adjectives and almost all adjectives with three or more syllables use more or most to form the comparative and superlative forms. Examples: honest, more honest, most honest; careful, more careful, most careful.

Instructions: Write the comparative and superlative forms for these words.

1. interesting

2. critical

3. splendid

4. delicious

5. outstanding

Answers:

1. interesting, more interesting, most interesting

2. critical, more critical, most critical

3. splendid, more splendid, most splendid

4. delicious, more delicious, most delicious

5. outstanding, more outstanding, most outstanding

Lesson 39
Parts of Speech - Adjectives

There are a few adjectives that are irregular in their comparisons. Examples: good, better, best.

Instructions: Give the comparative and superlative forms of the following words.

1. many

2. ill

3. much

4. perfect

5. bad

Answers:

1. many, more, most

2. ill, worse, worst

3. much, more, most

4. perfect - cannot be compared since there is no more perfect or most perfect.

5. bad, worse, worst

Lesson 40
Parts of Speech - Adjectives

Never use double comparisons. If you use er or est, then don't use more or most. Correct: He is busier than I. Incorrect: He is more busier than I.

Instructions: Chose the correct form in the following sentences.

1. Yesterday we played our (worse, worst) concert.

2. I am (more hungrier, hungrier) now.

3. Who is the (shorter, more shorter, most short, shortest) of the four sisters?

4. Is this the (best, better, more better, most best ) value that you have?

5. John is the (most happiest, happiest) kid I know.

Answers:

1. worst

2. hungrier

3. shortest

4. best

5. happiest

Quiz for Lessons 36-40
Parts of Speech - Adjectives

Instructions: Give the comparative and superlative forms for these adjectives.

1. fair

2. tender

3. difficult

4. earnest

5. responsible

6. easy

7. many

8. straight

9, muddy

10. cheerful

Answers:

1. fair, fairer, fairest

2. tender, tenderer, tenderest

3. difficult, more difficult, most difficult

4. earnest, more earnest, most earnest

5. responsible, more responsible, most responsible

6. easy, easier, easiest

7. many, more, most

8. straight, straighter, straightest

9. muddy, muddier, muddiest

10. cheerful, more cheerful, most cheerful

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