The longer…. the better?

Comparatives and superlatives are one of the “so called” easiest grammatical structures to learn though many upper-intermediate and advanced learners still have problems with them.

These “grammatical structures” are defined in the web as follows:

In grammar, the superlative of an adjective or adverb is the greatest form of adjective or adverb which indicates that something has some feature to a greater degree than anything it is being compared to in a given context.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superlative

In grammar, the comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb which denotes the degree or grade by which a person, thing, or other entity has a property or quality greater or less in extent than that of another, and is used in this context with a subordinating conjunction, such as than, as...as, etc.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative

The first thing you need to know is that there are 6 categories of adjectives, so 6 categories of comparatives and 6 of superlatives. (Relax! Don’t be scared, they are much easier than what you may think.) And one extra category which is entirely dedicated to the words: Good, bad & far. As you can’t certainly say more good or badder. Whether you are comparing or not, you must take in consideration if it is a one syllable, one syllable with “e” ending and so on. And one last thing is that in comparatives, there to forms of comparing things, which are by saying which one is better, stronger, happier than, etc. and on the other hand you can say that something is/isn’t as good, strong, happy as, etc.

For further explanations you may visit:

• http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/regcom.html

If you still have doubts you may watch this explanatory video

Now, if you are ready to try your comparatives and superlatives skill, try this:

• http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/45.html

That’s all for today folks! I hope you liked this post and remember, any comment, any post will be welcomed.

Camilo Palma