Korean Job Discussion Forums

[poet13]

hello all.
I promised a class i would find out what the rule was for smoething and forgot.
comparatives and superlatives. What is the rule for when to use -er, -est, or more and most? thats it.
Any help would be appreciated. I told then i would do it, and forgot, so i'm feeling a bit like a bad teacher.

[jay-shi]

Taken from this site: http://www.bartleby.com/64/pages/page2.html

comparison of adjectives

We often use adjectives—words that modify nouns—to make comparisons. We say That building is bigger than this one, She is the most intelligent student in the class, and so on. Some adjectives add -er and -est to form the comparative and superlative degrees. Others cannot do this, but must be preceded by more and most. How can you know which is which? Fortunately, there are some simple rules you can follow. Adjectives that have one syllable usually take -er and -est. Adjectives that have two syllables and end in y (early), ow (narrow), and le (gentle), can also take -er and -est. Almost all other adjectives with two or more syllables require the use of more and most. The rules are indicated in the chart below:


Number of Syllables Unchanged Comparative Superlative
1 fast faster fastest
2 happy happier happiest
complex more complex most complex
3 or more beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

[J.B. Clamence]

You might also want to point out that some 2-syllable adjectives can go either way; most notably "friendly". Grammatically you might argue that only one way is correct, but the fact is that both are in common use.

And don't forget to mention that there is an 'irregular' group; most commonly listed as "good", "bad", and "far".

[tzechuk]

Yup... I go with what Jay-shi has written.

1 syllable = you add -er and -est
2 syllables can be either way, I think it depends on how it sounds
3 syllables and more definitely use more and most.

[Goro-chan]

I had to type this up for the grammar part of the TEFL Certificate course I ran last year. Hope it helps a bit.

Comparatives and Superlatives

Rule 1 - one syllable adjectives or adverbs: Simply add -er ("the -est")
Examples:
smart = smarter - the smartest
young = younger - the youngest
fast = faster - the fastest


Rule 1B - One syllable adjectives with a Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Pattern:
If the adjective has a CVC pattern, double the consonant and add -er (-est).
wet = wetter - the wettest
big = bigger - the biggest
sad = sadder - the saddest


Rule 2 - two syllable adjectives ending in Y
Change the Y to I and add -er
pretty = prettier - the prettiest
happy = happier - the happiest
busy = busier - the busiest


Rule 3 - Adjectives or adverbs with two or more syllables (not ending in Y):
Use MORE ("the most ---")
famous = more famous - the most famous
interesting = more interesting - the most interesting
carefully = more carefully - the most carefully


Rule 4 - IRREGULAR WORDS

good = better - the best
bad = worse - the worst

far = farther (further) - the farthest (furthest)
Note: Further / farther, furthest / farthest are all used for distance.
Only Further / furthest are used to mean ��additional�� or ��more advanced��.


NOTE: The opposites of "more" and "most" are "less" and "least".

[poet13]

thank you ladies and gentlemen. great responses, and I'm a little surprised that there were no flames....

i wonder if there is a forum just for teachers and grammar questions.

hmm...?

[buymybook]

[poet13]

i will go to the stuff for teachers in the future.
and yes, i received more, better, and faster replies than i thought i would. great to have knowledge share forums like this.

[ddeubel]

THE RULE IS --- THERE IS NO RULE.

If you really have to teach a rule (because you haven't the freedom to teach right, let students learn in context), keep it simple. Short words er/est (let's not regiment the students more, with talk of "sillybles")

long breathed words more/most....

But remember and drill this into your students if you have to teach rules....

THE RULE IS --- THERE IS NO RULE.

DD

[poet13]

thanks for the KISS advice (keep it simple stupid). I do fall into the technical trap sometimes and I'm rewarded with blank looks. However, syllables..... yup, i teach them. I had to start, because for a word like "president", they would only say presdent, two syllables, no "i". So, no, i dont preach and hammer syllables into them, but where necessary, i divert some class time to it. I have found it also is necessary to understand syllables for the rhythm (sppeeling?) of reading both prose and poetry. The rhythm of a poem gets lost without the syllables.
I do have the freedom to teach right, which i am grateful for. One of the few bright spots in my work environment....