Unit 9: Using Modifiers Correctly
Lesson 61
Modifiers: Three Degrees of Comparison
Most adjectives and adverbs have three degrees of comparison: the positive, the
comparative, and the superlative.
The
positive
form of a modifier cannot be used to make a comparison. (This is the form
that appears as the entry word in a dictionary.) The
comparative
form
shows two things
being compared. The
superlative
form shows three or more things being compared.
POSITIVE:
The chicken enchiladas are
spicy. (adjective)
Maple
trees grow slowly. (adverb)
COMPARATIVE:
The chicken enchiladas are
spicier than the cheese ones. (adjective)
Maple trees grow
more slowly than poplars. (adverb)
SUPERLATIVE:
The chicken enchiladas are the
spiciest dish on the menu. (adjective)
Of these three trees, the maple grows
most slowly. (adverb)
Most one- and
two-syllable modifiers add -er to form the comparative and
-est to form the
superlative. (The addition of
-er or
-est sometimes makes a spelling change necessary.)
The
room is gloomier on overcast days. (The
y in gloomy changes to an
i.)
Use
more and
most (or
less and
least) to form the comparative and superlative forms if
a modifier has three or more syllables,
if an adverb ends in -ly, or if
-er or
-est sounds
awkward.
Eric took the
least difficult route down the mountain.
He steered
more cautiously as the road grew steeper.
Irina was the
most nervous of the three. (not
nervousest)
Exercise 1
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