مدونة التربية و التعليم في الجزائر – دروس، فروض، نتائج امتحانات مدونة التربية والتعليم في الجزائر | تحضير الدروس، فروض واختبارات، نتائج البكالوريا وBEM، مسابقات التوظيف، والتوجيه المدرسي للطلاب وأولياء الأمور.
Lesson: Comparatives and Superlatives – English – 3rd Year Secondary School (Bac)
Learning Objectives
- Understand the formation rules for comparative and superlative adjectives.
- Distinguish between short and long adjectives in comparative/superlative forms.
- Master irregular comparative and superlative forms.
- Use comparative structures such as “as…as”, “not as…as”, “the same as”.
- Apply double comparatives and common structures correctly.
- Practice with BAC-style exercises.
Introduction
Comparative and superlative forms are essential structures in English used to compare people, things, places, and ideas. The comparative is used to compare two items, while the superlative is used to compare one item with all others in a group. Understanding these forms is crucial for success in the BAC exam, particularly in writing and grammar sections.
1. Comparative Adjectives: Rules and Forms
1.1. Short Adjectives (One syllable)
For short adjectives (one syllable), add -er to form the comparative.
- tall → taller
- small → smaller
- fast → faster
- short → shorter
- old → older
Spelling rules:
- Adjectives ending in -e: add -r (large → larger, nice → nicer)
- Adjectives ending in consonant + y: change y to i and add -er (happy → happier, easy → easier)
- Adjectives ending in consonant-vowel-consonant: double the last consonant (big → bigger, hot → hotter, thin → thinner)
1.2. Long Adjectives (Two or more syllables)
For long adjectives, use more before the adjective.
- beautiful → more beautiful
- interesting → more interesting
- expensive → more expensive
- comfortable → more comfortable
- important → more important
Note: Some two-syllable adjectives can use either form: clever → cleverer / more clever; quiet → quieter / more quiet; polite → politer / more polite.
1.3. Irregular Comparative Forms
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
| far | farther / further | the farthest / the furthest |
| little | less | the least |
| much / many | more | the most |
| old | older / elder | the oldest / the eldest |
2. Superlative Adjectives: Rules and Forms
2.1. Short Adjectives
Add -est to short adjectives, always preceded by the.
- tall → the tallest
- small → the smallest
- fast → the fastest
- big → the biggest
- happy → the happiest
Use the + superlative + of/in + group: “He is the tallest in the class.” / “She is the best of all.”
2.2. Long Adjectives
Use the most before long adjectives.
- beautiful → the most beautiful
- expensive → the most expensive
- interesting → the most interesting
- important → the most important
3. Comparative Structures
3.1. Equality Structures (as…as)
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| as + adjective + as | Ahmed is as tall as his brother. |
| not as + adjective + as | This book is not as interesting as that one. |
| the same + noun + as | My phone is the same price as yours. |
| different from | This car is different from that one. |
3.2. Inequality Structures
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| adjective-er + than | Algeria is larger than Tunisia. |
| more + adjective + than | This exercise is more difficult than the previous one. |
| less + adjective + than | This route is less dangerous than the other one. |
4. Double Comparatives
Double comparatives show that two things change together. The structure is: the + comparative, the + comparative.
- The more you study, the higher your grades will be.
- The sooner we start, the sooner we will finish.
- The more expensive the hotel, the better the service.
- The longer the journey, the more tired we become.
5. Special Cases and Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Correct |
|---|---|
| more bigger | bigger (double comparatives are incorrect) |
| the most fastest | the fastest (double superlatives are incorrect) |
| more better | better (irregular form already comparative) |
| as big than | as big as |
| the most happy | the happiest (short adjective) |
| more far | farther (irregular) |
6. Practice Exercises (BAC Style)
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the correct form.
- This exercise is _______ (difficult) than the previous one.
- Mount Tahat is _______ (high) mountain in Algeria.
- Physics is _______ (interesting) as mathematics.
- She speaks English _______ (fluently) than her brother.
- This is _______ (bad) film I have ever seen.
- My house is _______ (big) than yours.
- Health is _______ (important) than money.
- He is _______ (good) student in the class.
- The weather today is _______ (bad) than yesterday.
- This is _______ (delicious) meal I’ve ever tasted.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using the given word.
- Tom is taller than Jerry. (as) → Jerry _______ Tom.
- No other city in Algeria is bigger than Algiers. (the) → Algiers _______ in Algeria.
- This book is more interesting than that one. (interesting) → That book _______ this one.
- She sings well. Her sister sings better. (as) → She _______ her sister.
- Ahmed is 18 years old. Karim is 18 too. (same) → Ahmed _______ Karim.
Summary
Comparative and superlative forms are essential grammar tools for expressing comparisons in English. Remember: short adjectives take -er/-est, long adjectives use more/the most, and irregular forms (good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, far/farther/furthest) must be memorised. Use than after comparatives, the before superlatives, and as…as for equality. Avoid double comparatives and practise regularly with BAC-style exercises to master these structures.
Review Questions
- What is the rule for forming comparatives with short adjectives? Give three examples.
- List five irregular adjectives and their comparative and superlative forms.
- When do we use “more” instead of “-er” for comparisons?
- What is the difference between “as…as” and “than” structures?
- How do double comparatives work? Provide two examples.
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