Grammar: Adjectives

We use adjectives to describe nouns. Look at the two dogs in the picture. One is big, the other is small.

Sometimes we want to compare things. We can do this in different ways:

The spotted dog is bigger than the black dog.
The black dog is smaller than the spotted dog.

How much bigger is the spotted dog? The spotted dog is much bigger than the black dog.
How much smaller is the black dog?   The black dog is a lot smaller than the spotted dog.

The black dog is not as big as the spotted dog. The spotted dog is not as small as the black dog.

The spotted dog is the biggest. The black dog is the smallest.

Look at these two puppies:

Both puppies are small. Both puppies are the same size. The black puppy is as big as the brown puppy. The brown puppy is as small as the black one. Both puppies are as big as each other.

We can make comparisons in four different ways:

1. using a comparative adjective be + comparative + than
            The spotted dog is bigger than the black dog.
            The black dog is smaller than the spotted dog.

2. using a superlative
            The spotted dog is the biggest. 
            The black dog is the smallest.

3. using be + not as + adjective + as
            The black dog is not as big as the spotted dog.
            The spotted dog is not as small as the black dog.

4. using be + as + adjective + as  if you want to say that things are the same
            The black puppy is as big as the brown puppy.
            The brown puppy is as small as the black one.

How do we make comparatives and superlatives? It depends on the length of the adjective.

For short, one syllable adjectives             + er                            to make comparatives
For short, one syllable adjectives             the + est                     to make superlatives
For two or more syllable adjectives          more + adjective         to make comparatives
For two or more syllable adjectives          the most + adjective    to make superlatives

Spelling:   remember that
if the short adjective ends with 1 vowel + 1 consonant, double the consonant   big-> bigger hot-> hotter
                 adjective ends in y->ier/iest     happy-> happier, the happiest
                 adjective ends in le->ler/liest   simple-> simpler, the simplest 

There are some irregular comparatives and superlatives:
    good         better        the best            bad      worse        the worst             far    further    the furthest
    clever       cleverer    the cleverest     quiet    quieter     the quietest

Some common phrases:
it's + comparative + infinitive
    Changing your currency at the airport is so expensive. It's cheaper to exchange money at the bank.
    The buses here are always late. It's quicker to walk!

even + comparative + than We use this to show something surprising
    Coffee in Starbucks is £4! That's even more expensive than I expected.
    I hate this film. The reviews were terrible, but it's even more boring than I thought .

Want more practice? Here are some exercises:
http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file05/?cc=gb&selLanguage=en

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file05/grammar05_a01n?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file05/grammar05_a02n?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file05/grammar05_b01n?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint3/grammar/file05/grammar05_b02n?cc=gb&selLanguage=en