LESSON 29 COMPARISONS (PETERSON’S TOEFL SUCCESS)

(PETERSON’S TOEFL SUCCESS)

LESSON 29

COMPARISONS

You may see sentences involving comparisons in both types of Structure items. Many of these involve the comparative or superlative forms of adjectives. Most adjectives have three forms: the absolute (the basic adjective form), the comparative, and the superlative. Comparatives are used to show that one item has more of some quality than another does. George is taller than his brother. Superlatives are used to show that one item in a group of three or more has the greatest amount of some quality. He was the tallest man in the room. The chart explains how comparatives and superlatives are formed: Absolute Comparative Superlative One-syllable adjectives Two-syllable adjectives ending with –y Other two-syllable adjectives Adjectives with three or more syllables warm funny common important warmer funnier more common more important the warmest the funniest the most common the most important Some two-syllable adjectives have two correct forms of both the comparative and the superlative: narrower more narrow narrowest most narrow clever more clever cleverest most clever polite more polite politest most polite A “negative” comparison can be expressed with the words less and least. Less and least are used no matter how many syllables an adjective has. less bright the least bright less expensive the least expensive The absolute form of a few adjectives ends in -er (tender, bitter, slender, clever, and so on.) Don’t confuse these with the comparative forms (more bitter or bitterer, for example). Many adverbs also have comparative and superlative forms. The comparative and superlative forms of all -ly adverbs are formed with more and most. more brightly most brightly more importantly most importantly A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms: Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives good/well bad/badly far better worse farther further the best the worst the farthest the furthest (Far has two comparative and superlative forms, depending on how the word is used, but the distinction between these two forms will not be tested.) There are two main types of errors involving comparatives and superlatives: INCORRECT CHOICE OF THE THREE FORMS Any of the three forms—absolute, comparative, or superlative—may be incorrectly used in place of one of the other forms. Sample Items Basketball is played (A) at a much (B) fast (C) pace than baseball (D). The correct answer is (C). The comparative form faster is needed because two concepts—the pace of basketball and the pace of baseball—are being compared. The deep (A) oceans contain (B) some of the stranger (C) of all living (D) creatures. The correct answer is (C). This sentence does not compare two groups; a superlative form (strangest) is required. INCORRECT FORMS OF COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES Incorrect forms, such as more bigger, most hot, and so on, may appear. Sample Item The most small (A) vessels in the (B) circulatory system (C) are (D) capillaries. The correct answer is (A). The correct form is smallest because small is a one-syllable adjective. EXERCISE 29 Focus: Identifying and correcting errors and correct forms of comparatives and superlatives. Directions: Choose the option—(A), (B), (C), or (D)—that correctly completes the sentence. For Error Identification items, circle the underlined portion of the sentence that would not be considered correct. 1 The American and Canadian political systems (A) are like (B) in that both (C) are dominated (D) by two major parties. 2 Wild strawberries are _______________ cultivated strawberries. (A) not sweeter (B) not as sweet as (C) less sweeter than (D) not sweet as 3 The period (A) is probably (B) the most easiest (C) punctuation mark to use (D). 4 When (A) metal replaced wood in the construction (B) of ships’ hulls, more strong (C) ships could be built (D). 5 Sea bass ____________ freshwater bass. (A) are larger than (B) the larger the (C) are as large (D) than are larger 6 Charcoal is (A) the more commonly (B) used cooking fuel (C) in the world (D). 7 Automobiles, airplanes, and buses use more energy per passenger ____________. (A) as do trains (B) than trains do (C) trains do (D) like trains 8 Few (A) American politicians have spoken (B) more eloquently (C) as (D) William Jennings Bryan. 9 The larger a drop of water, _____________ freezing temperature. (A) the higher its (B) its higher (C) higher than its (D) the highest 10 __________ San Diego and San Francisco, Los Angeles has no natural harbor. (A) Dissimilar (B) Unlike (C) Dislike (D) Different 11 During (A) a depression, economic (B) conditions are far worst (C) than they are (D) during a recession. 12 The spinal column is alike (A) the brain in that its main functions can be classified as (B) either sensory or (C) motor functions (D). 13 The water of the Great Salt Lake is ________________ seawater. (A) saltier than that of (B) as salty as that of (C) saltier than (D) so salty as 14 Fungi are the most important (A) decomposers of forest (B) soil, just like (C) bacteria are the most important decomposers of grassland soil (D). 15 A psychosis is a severe mental disorder, ________________ a neurosis. (A) the most serious (B) as serious (C) more serious than (D) as though serious 16 The surfboards used (A) thirty-five years ago (B) were more heavy (C) than the ones (D) used by surfers today. 17 The (A) horse chestnut has a stronger (B), bitter (C) taste than other (D) chestnuts. 18 The social system of bumblebees is not as complex __________________. (A) than honeybees (B) as honeybees (C) that honeybees are (D) as that of honeybees 19 Chicago’s Field Museum is one (A) of the largest (B)  and better known (C) natural history museums in the (D) United States. 20 The administration of private colleges is nearly __________ that of public colleges. (A) same (B) just as (C) the same as (D) similar

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