How are modifiers used in comparisons?

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How are modifiers used in comparisons?
Did you ever play the game 20 Questions?
Is it smaller than an elephant?
Is it bigger than a mouse?
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How are modifiers used in comparisons?
We often use comparisons to describe something
unknown by comparing it to something known.

One way we compare is by changing the forms of
modifiers.
A raccoon is smaller than an elephant.
A raccoon is smaller than an elephant but bigger
than a mouse.
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How are modifiers used in comparisons?
A modifier makes the meaning of another word or
word group more specific.
Adjective
Adverb
The heavy snow covered the roads completely.
The heavy snow covered the roads completely.
The heavy snow covered the roads completely.
Noun
Verb
Heavy tells what kind of snow.
Completely tells to what extent the roads are
covered.
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Comparison of modifiers
A modifier can have three different
formspositive, comparative, and superlative.
These forms are called degrees of comparison.
Thats a beautiful sunset!
Its the most beautiful sunset Ive ever seen!
Its more beautiful than yesterdays sunset.
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Comparison of modifiersPositive
The positive degree is the basic form of the
modifier.
The Saint Bernard is a big dog.
James swims fast.
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Comparison of modifiersComparative
The comparative form compares a quality of one
thing or action with a quality of another.
Ray swam faster than James did.
The dog on the left is bigger than the other dog.
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Comparison of modifiersComparative
The comparative form is also used to compare one
member of a group to all the other members of a
group.
Ray swam faster than any other team member.
Ray swam faster than anyone else on the team.
Be sure to include other or else when comparing
one member with all the others in a group. We use
it in this example because Ray cant swim faster
than himself.
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Comparison of modifiersSuperlative
The superlative form is used when comparing more
than two things or actions.
Jacob was the fastest swimmer in the event.
The yellow Lab is the biggest dog in the group.
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Comparison of modifiers
Advertisements often make comparisons without
making clear what two things are being compared.
Grammar Gal Says...
Our fruit is fresher!
Our fruit is fresher than any other stores!
Our pizza is the best!
Our pizza is the best in town!
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Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
1. The play was better than the movie.
2. My final project earned the highest grade in
the class.
3. Pablo uses his time wisely.
4. Aunt Carolyn is the most artistic person in my
family.
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Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
1. The play was better than the movie.
Better is the comparative degree of good. The
play is being compared to the movie.
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Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
2. My final project earned the highest grade in
the class.
Highest is the superlative form of high. My
grade is being compared to all the other grades
in the class.
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Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
3. Pablo uses his time wisely.
Wisely is the positive form. There is no
comparison. This sentence simply describes how
Jose uses his time.
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Comparison of modifiers
Identify the degree of comparison of each
modifier. Be prepared to explain what is being
compared.
4. Aunt Carolyn is the most artistic person in my
family.
Most artistic is the superlative form of
artistic. Aunt Carolyn is being compared to all
the other members of the family.
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Comparison of modifiers
On Your Own
Choose the correct modifier in each of the
following sentences. 1. The last chapter was
the (sadder, saddest) part of the whole
book. 2. Sarah is (old, older) than Suzi. 3. Mom
buys (fresh, fresher) produce at the
market. 4. Have you seen Marys (beautiful, more
beautiful) scarf? 5. My little brother makes up
the (sillier, silliest) songs Ive ever heard.
End of Section
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Comparison of modifiers
Answers
Choose the correct modifier in each of the
following sentences.
1. The last chapter was the (sadder, saddest)
part of the whole book.
2. Sarah is (old, older) than Suzi.
3. Mom buys (fresh, fresher) produce at the
market.
4. Have you seen Marys (beautiful, more
beautiful) scarf?
5. My little brother makes up the (sillier,
silliest) songs Ive ever heard.
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Regular comparison
Most one-syllable modifiers form the comparative
form by adding er and the superlative form by
adding est.
Positive
young
happy
deep
soon
Comparative
younger
happier
deeper
sooner
Superlative
youngest
happiest
deepest
soonest
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Regular comparison
Some two-syllable modifiers form the comparative
degree by adding er and the superlative by
adding est. Others use more and most.
Positive
wealthy
ruined
wisely
hazy
Comparative
wealthier
more ruined
more wisely
hazier
Superlative
wealthiest
most ruined
most wisely
haziest
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Regular comparison
Participles are verbs ending in ed or ing that
are used as adjectives. Instead of adding er or
est to show comparison, use more and most.
Grammar Gal Says...
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Regular comparison
Some two-syllable modifiers can form their
comparatives and superlatives either way.
unkinder
unkindest
unkind
more unkind
most unkind
If adding er or est makes a word sound awkward,
use more and most.
recent, recenter, recentest
AWKWARD
recent, more recent, most recent
BETTER
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Regular comparison
Adverbs that end in ly form their comparatives
and superlatives by using more and most.
Grammar Gal Says...
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Regular comparison
If a modifier has three or more syllables, use
more and most to form the comparative and
superlative degrees.
Positive
beautifully
important
inventive
predictably
Comparative
more beautifully
more important
more inventive
more predictably
Superlative
most beautifully
most important
most inventive
most predictably
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Regular comparisonDecreasing comparison
More and er and most andest show increases. To
show decreases in the quality a modifier
expresses, use less and least.
The main character is less interesting than the
minor ones.
The hero of the story is the least interesting
character of all.
End of Section
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Irregular comparison
The comparative and superlative degrees of some
common modifiers are irregular in form.
Positive Comparative Superlative
bad worse worst
badly worse worst
good better best
well better best
much more most
many more most
little less least
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Irregular comparison
The word little has both irregular and regular
comparative and superlative forms. Regular forms
are used to describe physical size, and irregular
forms are used to describe an amount.
Grammar Gal Says...
Size the littlest puppy
Amount less homework
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Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in
parentheses.
1. I have __________ time to practice than he
does. (little)
2. Tyrone is the __________ pitcher on our
baseball team this year. (good)
3. We have __________ homework today than we had
all last week. (much)
4. That is the __________ insect in the garden.
(strange)
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Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in
parentheses.
1. I have __________ time to practice than he
does. (little)
less
In this sentence, the adjective little means
amount. The comparative degree is less.
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Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in
parentheses.
2. Tyrone is the __________ pitcher on our
baseball team this year. (good)
best
The superlative degree of the adjective good is
best.
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Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in
parentheses.
3. We have __________ homework today than we had
all last week. (much)
more
The comparative degree of the adjective much is
more.
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Regular and irregular comparison
For the blanks in the following sentences,
choose the correct form of the modifier in
parentheses.
4. That is the __________ insect in the garden.
(strange)
strangest
The superlative degree of the adjective strange
is strangest.
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Regular and irregular comparison
On Your Own

• If the comparative or superlative form of a
  modifier is incorrect or awkward, write the
  correct form. If the form is correct, write C.
• 1. This flower is commonlier found in Iowa than
  in Ohio.
• 2. That shop sells the most good milkshakes of
  all.
• 3. Some days seem to pass slowlier than others.
• 4. My notebook looks worse than Joshs.
• Tonight I will wear my colorfulest shirt.

End of Section
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Regular and irregular comparison
Answers

• If the comparative or superlative form of a
  modifier is incorrect or awkward, write the
  correct form. If the form is correct, write C.
• 1. This flower is more commonly found in Iowa
  than in Ohio.
• 2. That shop sells the best milkshakes of all.
• 3. Some days seem to pass more slowly than
  others.
• 4. My notebook looks worse than Joshs. C
• Tonight I will wear my most colorful shirt.

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Double comparisons
Avoid double comparisons. Using both er and more
is incorrect. Using both est and most is also
incorrect.
INCORRECT
This banana is more riper than that one.
INCORRECT
That story was the most excitingest of all.
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Double comparisons
To correct a double comparison, first decide
whether the comparative and superlative forms use
er and est or more and most.
OR
riper?
more ripe?
This banana is more riper than that one.
Ripe has 1 syllable. Add er.
OR
most exciting?
excitingest?
That story was the most excitingest of all.
Exciting has three syllables use more or most.
Then, delete the unnecessary part.
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Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double comparison in
each sentence.
1. Are you working more harder in school this
year?
2. We had the most best basketball team in the
whole state last year.
3. Parrots are more intelligenter than other
birds.
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Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double comparison in
each sentence.
1. Are you working more harder in school this
year?
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Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double comparison in
each sentence.
2. We had the most best basketball team in the
whole state last year.
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Double comparisons
Identify and correct the double comparison in
each sentence.
3. Parrots are more intelligenter than other
birds.
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Double comparisons
On Your Own

• Identify and correct the double comparison in
  each of the following sentences.
• 1. This project is more interestinger than the
  last one.
• 2. Our school has the bestest team spirit.
• 3. The owners of that store are more friendlier
  to students than they used to be.
• 4. Isnt that the most greenest grass youve ever
  seen?
• This new light bulb gives a more naturaler
  light than the other one did.

End of Section
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Double comparisons
Answers
Identify and correct the double comparison in
each of the following sentences. 1. This project
is more interestinger than the last one. 2. Our
school has the bestest team spirit. 3. The owners
of that store are more friendlier to students
than they used to be. 4. Isnt that the most
greenest grass youve ever seen? 5. This new
light bulb gives a more naturaler light than the
other one did.
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Review A
Complete each sentence by providing the correct
degree of the modifier in parentheses.
1. Please tell me the __________ possible way to
Room 42. (quick)
2. This song is __________ than the last one.
(long)
3. You are behaving _______________ than you did
when you were a child! (childishly)
4. Do you feel __________ today than you did
yesterday? (well)
5. The smoke caused __________ damage than the
fire did. (much)
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Review A
Complete each sentence by providing the correct
degree of the modifier in parentheses.
1. Please tell me the __________ possible way to
Room 42. (quick)
quickest
2. This song is __________ than the last one.
(long)
longer
3. You are behaving _______________ than you did
when you were a child! (childishly)
more childishly
4. Do you feel __________ today than you did
yesterday? (well)
better
more
5. The smoke caused __________ damage than the
fire did. (much)
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Review B
Identify and correct the errors in comparison in
the following sentences.
1. This is the least tenderest steak I have ever
eaten!
2. The dim tunnel seemed dangerouser than it had
only a few minutes before.
3. Of all the personal stories we heard, Noras
was the more fascinating.
4. I did more badly on this quiz than on the last
one.
5. Nicks family has many members than mine does.
End of Section
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Review B
Identify and correct the errors in comparison in
the following sentences.
1. This is the least tender steak I have ever
eaten!
2. The dim tunnel seemed more dangerous than it
had only a few minutes before.
3. Of all the personal stories we heard, Noras
was the most fascinating.
4. I did worse on this quiz than on the last one.
5. Nicks family has more members than mine does.
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The End