MODIFIERS
ADJECTIVES: COMPARATIVE
AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS
COMPARATIVES
We use comparatives when we talk about two things:
Alexander of Macedonia was greater than Napoleon.
Elizabeth I of England was as great as Catherine of Russia.
We form comparatives four ways:
> If the adjective has one syllable (great), we add -er to it {greater) and follow
the word with than (greater than).
> If the adjective has two syllables and ends in -y (friendly), we change the y to i
and add -er (friendlier) and follow the word with than (friendlier than).
> If the adjective has two or more syllables (interesting), we put more before it
(more interesting) and follow the word with than (more interesting than).
>• If two or more things are the same, we put as before and after the adjective
(as great as).
SUPERLATIVES
We use superlatives when we talk about three or more things:
Of the five bosses I've worked for in my career, Mr. Honeywell is
the friendliest.
We form superlatives in 3 ways:
> If the adjective has one syllable (great), we put the before it and
add -est to it (the greatest).
> If the adjective has two syllables and ends in y (friendly), we put
the before it, change the y to I, and add -est to it (the friendliest).
> If the adjective has two or more syllables (interesting), we put the
most before it (the most interesting).
Some adjectives in English have irregular comparative
and superlative forms:
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther/further farthest/furthest
little less (noncount)/few (count) Least/fewest
many/more more most
Practice A
DIRECTIONS: Mark the choice that best completes the
sentence.
1. The size ten envelopes are_______for sending documents than those small ones.
(A) better
(B) more better
(C) best
(D) the best
2. You can buy the slightly _____pens this time. We don't need the most expensive ones.
(A) cheap
(B) cheaper
(C) cheapest
(D) the cheapest
3. Paul is _____ candidate for that position. He hates speaking in public.
(A) the bad
(B) worse
(C) worst
(D) The worst
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
SINGLE WORDS
• Adverbs of frequency can be single words such as always, seldom, or never.
> We put adverbs of frequency after the verb be.
They are rarely late for meetings.
> We put adverbs of frequency between the subject and the verb.
She never acts rude, even when she has a lot of stress.
> We put adverbs of frequency after the first auxiliary.
She can usually be reached on her cell phone.
PHRASES
• Adverbs of frequency can also be phrases such as on occasion or from time to
time.
On occasion, the whole office likes having lunch together.
The whole office likes having lunch together from time to time.
Practice B
DIRECTIONS: Mark the choice that best completes the
sentence.
1. We _____ look at resumes sent by e-mail. You must deliver it by mail or in person.
(A) sometimes
(B) rarely
(C) never
(D) always
2. I ______ buy a cup of coffee at w^ork, but I usually bring one from home.
(A) always
(B) sometimes
(C) usually
(D) often
3. It is our policy to give employees at least one warning. We ______fire a person after only one
minor mistake.
(A) sometimes
(B) never
(C) rarely
(D) frequently
VERBAL ADJECTIVES: PRESENT
AND PAST PARTICIPLES
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
We use the present participle adjective to describe a person or thing that is responsible
for doing an action or causing a feeling {burning food / a frightening movie).
We form the present participle by adding -ing to a verb (interesting).
PAST PARTICIPLE
We use the past participle adjective to describe a person or thing that receives an action
or feeling (the burned food / the frightened moviegoers).
We form the past participle in three ways:
> If the verb is regular, it looks just like the simple past: wre add -d or -ed to it (boiled).
> If the verb ends in -ay, it looks like the simple past: we change the y to i and then add
-d (paid).
> If the verb is irregular, it is the third form of that verb (see, saw, seen).
Practice c
DIRECTIONS: Mark the choice that best completes the
sentence.
1. The _______ photocopier is sitting on the floor underneath the table.
(A) break
(B) broken
(C) breaking
(D) broke
2. We're interested in the woman _______in the last chair of the first row.
(A) seat
(B) seated
(C) seating
(D) sat
3. I found this _____ piece of paper on your desk.
Why did you destroy the document?
(A) tearing
(B) tear
(C) torn
(D) to tear