Grammar and Language Workbook

5. Even if one dislikes snakes, (you have, one has) to admit that snakes are fascinating creatures.
6. Yoko and (I, myself) disagree on everything except soccer.
7. A few of the speakers are unhappy with (they, their) choice of subjects.
8. The team sat quietly after (its, their) devastating loss.
9. (Who, Whom) was that stranger in the tan suit?
10. If one studies hard enough, (you, one) can sometimes get into college early.
11. The detective wondered (who, whom) Randolph had called before he disappeared.
12. Whenever you discover (who, whom) wrote that, tell me.
Name ___________________________________________________ Class _________ Date ____________________
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Grammar and Language Workbook, Grade 12
Copyright © by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
Grammar

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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