Comparative and Superlative 3

A. Comparative of equality
When things being compared have equal characteristics, the comparison of
equality is used. Si usa il comparativo di uguaglianza quando due cose o
persone hanno uguali caratteristiche.

1. The comparisons of equality using adjectives or adverbs is formed in the

following way:
Il comparativo di uguaglianza con aggettivi o avverbi va formato nel
seguente modo:

Affirmative forms:
as aggettivo/avverbio as

George is as tall as his father.

Tom doesn’t speak French as well as me.

Negative forms:
not as aggettivo/avverbio as
not so aggettivo/avverbio as

The wine isn’t as expensive as champagne.

Tom doesn’t write so clearly as Sara.
The bees are plentiful, but not so common as las summer.
He doesn’t run as fast as me.

2. The comparisons of equality using nouns is formed in the following way:

Il comparativo di uguaglianza con sostantivi va formato nel seguente modo:

Affirmative forms:
as much singular noun as
as many plural nouns as

There is as much traffic as yesterday.

Tom drinks as much milk as her sister.
I have as many books as you.
In the classroom, there are as many students as yesterday.

Negative forms:
not so much singular noun as
not so many plural nouns as

There is not so much traffic as yesterday.

Tom drinks not so much milk as her sister.
I have not so many books as you.
In the classroom, there are not so many students as yesterday.
3. The comparisons of equality using verbs is formed in the following way:
Il comparativo di uguaglianza con verbi va formato nel seguente modo:

verbo as much as

My aunt earns as much as my uncle.

Steve drinks as much as a camel.

Watch out:
Learn the following expressions by heart:

as soon as non appena

as far as fino a/per quanto
as long as finché/purché
as well as oltre che

Tony will come as soon as possible.

This bus goes as far as the city hall.
As far as I Know, she is not married.
You can take my book as long as you bring it back tomorrow.
Carol is intelligent as well as beautiful.

B. Comparative of Inferiority
The comparative of inferiority is formed in the following way:
Il comparativo di uguaglianza va formato nel seguente modo:

less Aggettivi/avverbi/verbi/ sostantivi singolari than

fewer Sostantivi plurali than

This dish is less tasty than I thought.

I see them less frequently than I used to.
You put less sugar in the coffee than me.
I read less now than in the past.
There are fewer cars on the roads today.

Anyway, the comparative of inferiority isn’t very common in English. Either

the comparative of superiority or the negative equality comparative is
preferred instead of it.
Comunque, il comparativo di minoranza non è molto usato in inglese. Al suo
posto si preferisce il comparativo di maggioranza o quello di uguaglianza in
negativo.

My mother is less old than you think.

My mother is younger than you think./ My mother is not so old as you think.
Alice is less tall than carol.
Alice is shorter than Carol. or Alice is not so tall as Carol.
C. Superlative (the highest degree in absolute)
If someone or something is so good, bad or exhibits any quality in the highest
degree such that no comparison would really be worth it or valid, you
need the “absolute superlative”.
Il superlativo assoluto indica una qualità nel grado più alto senza il bisogno
di un paragone.

Very/extremely Adjective/adverb

Carol is very tall. Alice is very intelligent. Ted is extremely skillful.

*Interactive Exercises
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.comp.p.htm
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/comp2.htm
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-
6657.php
http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/compare1.html
http://claweb.cla.unipd.it/home/scloke/grammar/comparatives_07.html
http://www.quia.com/jq/16583.html

*Please note the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLE5yPZa_Ow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fleok757P90&feature=fvsr