Complete the sentences. Use the correct or more natural option. If both options are correct, choose both.

Summary 5-43

Comparatives

-er vs. more/less

We usually add -er to 1-syllable adjectives and adverbs to make their comparative form. However, we use more + adjective

- with 1-syllable -ed adjectives such as bored, creased со складками, pleased

After I'd ironed my shirt it looked more creased than before. (not ~~creaseder~~)

- with fun, real, right and wrong:

I expected the film to be rather dull, but I couldn't have been more wrong. (not... wronger.)

- when we are comparing two qualities:

Wasn't he brave to swim across? I think he was more mad than brave.

Although the paint was called 'Sky Blue', I thought it was more green than blue.

NB: We can also use 'not so much brave as mad ' and 'it was blue rather than green '.

We can sometimes use more as an alternative to the -er form to emphasise the comparison:

You might think it's dark here but it's more dark in the cellar. (or darker)

Most 2-syllable adjectives ending -y, -ow, -er and -ure can take either an -er or the more +

adjective form, although the -er form is more frequently used.

narrow: narrower / more narrow clever: cleverer / more clever

shallow: shallower/more shallow mature: maturer/more mature

Also, remember: simple: simpler/more simple; quiet: quieter/more quiet

With some adjectives (e.g. complete, equal, favourite, ideal, perfect, unique), we can use comparative or superlative forms for special emphasis:

The weather today was good, but less perfect than yesterday.

Superlatives

We usually use the, a possessive form (with -'s), or a possessive pronoun before a superlative adjective or adverb. In informal contexts we sometimes leave out the before an -est or most + adjective superlative after a linking verb, particularly at the end of a sentence:

Why did you go by bus? It was (the) cheapest.

Which was (the) most expensive?

NB: However, we can't leave out the when we go on to say what group of things is being compared:

Why did you buy these oranges? They were the cheapest ones I could find. (not ~~They were~~

~~cheapest ones~~)

When most + adjective/adverb is used without the, most means something like 'very':

I checked the form most carefully (= very carefully) but didn't notice the mistake.

Exercises

Comparatives Trainer

more + adjective:
- ed. Никто не был более довольным, чем я, когда они поженились.	No one was more pleased than me when they got married.
Я ожидал, что фильм будет более веселым, реальным, правильным и неправильным.	I expected the film to be more fun, real, right and wrong.
Я думаю он более сумасшедший, чем смелый.	I think he was more mad than brave.
Я думаю, что он не столько смелый, сколько сумасшедший.	I think he was not so much brave as mad.
emphasize the comparison:
Она дорога, а ты еще более дорога.	She is dear, you are even more dear (dearer)
Было холодно, а сейчас еще более холодно.	It was cold, it is even more cold (colder)
Море глубокое, а океан еще более глубокий.	The sea is deep, the ocean even more deep (deeper)
Это еще более справедливо	This is even more fair (fairer)
Это грубо, а то еще более грубо.	This is rough, that is even more rough (rougher)
Ее кожа мягкая, а его кожа еще более мягкая.	Her skin is soft, his skin is even more soft (softer)
Твоя история правдивая, но моя еще более правдивая.	Your story is true but mine is even more true (truer)
2 syllables:
- y	lazy: lazier / more lazy
- ow	narrow: narrower / more narrow
- er	clever: cleverer / more clever
- ure	mature: mature / more mature
Remember:
Твой план проще (более простой), чем мой.	Your plan is simpler (more simple) than mine.
Эта комната тише (более тихая).	This room is quieter (more quiet).
superlatives:
Почему ты поехал на автобусе? Это дешевле всего.	Why did you go by bus? It was (the) cheapest.
Эти апельсины были самыми дешевыми фруктами, которые я смог найти.	These oranges were the cheapest fruit I could find.
Я проверил форму самым тщательным образом, но не заметил ошибку.	I checked the form most carefully but didn't notice the mistake.

Homework for the

Revise everything

Key to the Exercises

Complete the sentences. Use the correct or more natural option. If both options are correct, choose both.

1. It’s going to take ages to get to the station. Can’t you go any ____

a. faster b. more fast

2. The content of your webpage is OK, but a lot of points are a little vague. You need to make it _

a. directer b. more direct

3. Did you enjoy yourself? I couldn’t have had a _____ day, thank you.

a. nicer b. more nice

4. In his youth he was an active member of the communist party, but in his _____ years his politics moved towards the centre.