Question

14 Be a grammar detective! Look at page 27 in the AB. When do we use comparative adjectives? How do we make comparative adjectives?

Answer 1

Comparative adjectives are used when we want to compare two or more things, showing the difference in degree or quality between them. We use comparative adjectives to indicate that one thing has more or less of a particular quality than another.

To form comparative adjectives in English, you typically add "-er" to short adjectives or use "more" with longer adjectives. Here are some examples:

-Short adjective with "-er": big (positive) → bigger (comparative)
-Longer adjective with "more": expensive (positive) → more expensive (comparative)
So, comparative adjectives help us express comparisons between things, and their form depends on the length of the adjective.

Answer 2

I apologize for any confusion, but I don't have access to specific pages in books, including page 27 of the AB. However, I can certainly explain when and how we use comparative adjectives.

When to Use Comparative Adjectives:

Comparative adjectives are used when you want to compare two or more things and show the difference in degree or quality between them. We use comparative adjectives in the following situations:

1. Comparing Two Things: When you want to compare two nouns, you use a comparative adjective to indicate which one has more or less of a particular quality.

   Example: The elephant is larger than the giraffe.

2. Comparing Multiple Things: You can also use comparative adjectives when comparing more than two things, but you typically compare them in pairs or groups.

   Example: Among the fruits, apples are sweeter than oranges, but grapes are the sweetest of all.

How to Form Comparative Adjectives:

The formation of comparative adjectives depends on the length and structure of the adjective. Here are the basic rules:

1. Short Adjectives (one syllable): To form the comparative, add "-er" to the adjective.

   Example: fast → faster, tall → taller

2. Short Adjectives Ending in "e": Remove the "e" and add "-er."

   Example: nice → nicer, late → later

3. Short Adjectives Ending in a Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) Pattern: Double the final consonant and add "-er."

   Example: big → bigger, hot → hotter

4. Long Adjectives (two or more syllables): Use "more" before the adjective to form the comparative.

   Example: beautiful → more beautiful, intelligent → more intelligent

5. Irregular Comparatives: Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms that do not follow the standard rules. For example, "good" becomes "better," and "bad" becomes "worse."

   Example: good → better, bad → worse

Please note that when using comparative adjectives, it's essential to include the word "than" after the comparative form to make a clear comparison.

I hope this helps you understand when and how to use comparative adjectives!