Comparisons of Adjectives

When we place two objects side by side, we notice some differences or similarities between them as to size, weight, color, etc. The similarities and differences allow us to compare them.

FORM

There are 3 degrees of adjectives in comparison: the basic adjectives, the comparatives, and the superlatives; for instance,

	Adjectives	Comparatives	Superlatives
One syllable adjectives	hot high long fat deep light bright	hotter higher longer fatter deeper lighter brighter	hottest highest longest fattest deepest lightest brightest
two or more syllable adjectives	busy clever common easy happy	busier cleverer commoner easier happier	busiest cleverest commonest easiest happiest
	careful honest patient	more/less careful more/less honest more/less patient	most/least careful most/least honest most/least patient
Three or more syllable adjectives	obedient expensive intelligent experienced generous aggressive	more/less obedient more/less expensive more/less intelligent more/less experienced more/less generous more/less aggressive	most/least obedient most/least expensive most/least intelligent most/least experienced most/least generous most/least aggressive
Irregular adjectives	bad far good little much/many	worse farther / further better less more	worst farthest / furthest best least most

USAGE

There are several ways we can use to compare things – like:

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVE – we use it to compare two things; for examples,

Samang is 20 years old. Ratha is 18 years old.

• Samang is older than Ratha.
• Ratha is younger than Samnang.

Vanna always get good grade at school while his friend does not.

• Vanna is more intelligent than his friend.
• Vanna’s friend is less intelligent than Vanna.

Bunna spent 20,000 dollars to buy a car while Ratha spent 15,000 dollars.

• Bunna’s car is more expensive than Ratha’s .
• Ratha’s car is less expensive than Bunna’s.

SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVE – we use it to compare one to other things (or one among other things); for examples,

Samang is 60kg. Ratha is 65kg. Vanna is 55kg.

• Vanna is the lightest (among the three).
• Samnang is the heaviest.

Google is ranked the first followed by Yahoo and Altavista.

• Google is the most popular search engine.
• Altavista is the least popular search engine.

There are some 400 million people in Indonesia, 80 million people in Philippine, and 14 million people in Cambodia.

• Indonesia is the most populous country (among the three).
• Cambodia is the least populous country (among the three).

AS + ADJECTIVE + AS – we use it to compare things which are the same or equal; for examples,

Bopha is 1.60m, and Chenda is 1.60m.

• Bopha is as tall as Chenda.

Smart’s calling price is 5 cents per minute, and so does Beeline’s.

• Smart’s calling price is as cheap as Beeline’s.

Both Macintosh and Window work perfectly.

• Macintosh is as perfect as Window.

NOT + SO/AS + ADJECTIVE + AS – we use it to compare things which are not the same or equal as an alternative to comparative adjective form; for examples,

Firefox has more user than Opera.

• Opera is not as popular as Firefox.

Mount Oral is higher than Mount Dangrek.

• Mount Dangrek is not as high as Mount Oral.

REPEATING COMPARATIVE – we use it to describe a situation which keeps changing or changes slowly; for examples,

Form: adj-er and adj-er

• The earth is getting warmer and warmer.
• He is getting busier and busier at the moment.

Form: more and more + adjective

• It becomes more and more difficult to find a job these days.
• The book is getting more and more interesting.

Form: less and less + adjective

• The calling price seems to be less and less expensive.
• Many people have become less and less interested in the political issues.

PROPORTIONAL COMPARATIVE – we use it to show effect when one comparative takes place; for examples,

Form: The comparative …, the comparative ….

• The older we get, the more forgetful we are.
• The more advanced, the more complicated the computer is.
• The older you are, the lonelier you will become.

NOTE: There are some common modifier such as "much, a lot, far, a little, a bit, a little bit" which are normally used with comparative adjectives. For examples,

• Her performance was much better that yours.
• He is a bit taller than James.