Adjectives and adverbs in English have three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and excellent. In comparative, they indicate the gradation of the attribute by appending '-er'. If the ending is '-e', then they only have to append '-r'. In excellent, they point to the "apogee" of the sign, its maximum manifestation, in comparison with a group of similar objects, adding '-est'. Or, as in the previous case, if there is already an '-e' at the end, only '-st' is added. If the word ends with '-y', it changes to '-i'.
When the last letter of a single syllable with a single vowel of an adjective or adverb appears to be consonant, when the degree is formed using the affixes '-er' and '-est', it doubles. To polysyllabic adjectives and adverbs, instead of the ending, prefixes are added: more for comparison and most for excellence.
Some words form degrees of comparison using different roots, for example, good-> better-> the best, while others can accept both the ending and the prefix (not simultaneously): simple-> simpler-> simplest; simple-> more simple-> the most simple.
The rules by which the degree of comparison is formed between the adverb and the adjective in English (table).
View | Comparative Art. | Excellent art. |
One syllable light | ... + '-er' | ... + '-est' |
One syllable, with '-e' at the end close | ... + '-r' | ... + '-st' |
One syllable, with single vowels and consonants at the end hot | ... + acc.-Take + '-er' | ... + acc.-Take + '- est' |
Two syllables, with '-y' at the end heavy | ... ('-y' -> '-i') + '-er' | ... ('-y' -> '-i') + '-est' |
Two or more syllables, adverbs in '-ly' seriously | more + ... | most + ... |
Two syllables, polymorphic pleasant | ... + '-er' or more + ... | ... + '-est' or most + ... |
A positive degree is just a sign. Although there are words that in themselves mean something small, for example, short / short, or large - long / long. In a comparative degree, they will describe, respectively, something less or more, and in an excellent one, they will describe as little as possible or as large as possible.
Other comparison methods
The comparative adjective in English is not the only way to compare things. There are various turns with which you can not only compare objects (abstract concepts), but also relate them to each other. In addition, comparison of adjectives in English for the most part indicates differences. How can we emphasize the similarity?
As ... as
To correlate objects or characters that have some common features, you can use the as ... as revolution. After the first as, it is told exactly on which basis they are similar. A sign is expressed either by an adjective (degrees of adjectives in English are not used with this turnover), or an adverb, standing in a positive degree. After the second as, an object or group of objects with which similarity is noted is revealed. It can be either a physical subject or an abstract concept. An object (several objects) is expressed using a group of nouns, circumstances or subordinate clauses.
You're as bad as your sister. / You are as bad as your sister.
The airport was as crowded as ever. / The airport was as crowded as ever.
I am as good as she is. / I'm as good as her.
Let's check it as carefully as we can. / Let us check it as carefully as we can.
Accordingly, if you need to draw the opposite parallel, that is, to say that some objects (groups of objects) do not have in common, you can also take the turn as ... as, or so ... as, to which the not particle is added.
The food wasn't as good as yesterday. / The food was not as good as yesterday.
They are not as clever as they appear to be. / They are not as smart as they might seem.
He is not so old as I thought. / He is not as old as I thought.
To clarify the degree of coincidence or mismatch, an adverb can be placed before the turn (this does not mean that the adjective is used to a comparative degree). In English, there are many dialects that can appear before as ... as, for example, almost, just, nearly and quite.
She is almost as fast as her sister. / She's almost as fast as her sister.
Jack was just as pale as one minute ago. / Jack was exactly as pale as a minute ago.
She was nearly as tall as he was. / She was almost as tall as he.
Similarly to the previous scheme, to make a negative comparison, the negative particle not is substituted for the added adverb.
The thing is not nearly as complicated as it sounds. / It's not at all as complicated as it sounds.
The room was not quite as neat as they expected. / The room was generally not as tidy as they expected.
The same
If you are talking about an object that has a very great resemblance to some other object or is identical to it, you can use the same as revolution, after which there is either a group of nouns, or circumstances, or an accessory clause.
Her dress is the same as mine. / Her dress is the same as mine.
Oh, of course, they had said the same as a week ago. / Oh, of course, they said the same thing as a week ago.
She looked the same as she did yesterday. / She looked the same as yesterday.
If you talk about similar or identical things at the same time, you can use them as a subject and omit as, getting the same.
Kid fashions are the same all over the country. / Children's styles are the same throughout the country.
The initial stage of learning language usually is the same for many students. / The initial stage of language learning is usually the same for many students.
Before the same as, and before the same it is permissible to use adverbs such as almost, exactly, just.
She did exactly the same as Miriam did. / She did exactly the same thing, and Miriam.
You both look almost the same. / You both look pretty much the same.
In the case when a group of nouns goes immediately after the same turn, the substitution as is not essential, it can be omitted.
We reached just the same height. / We have reached the same height.
The was painted the same color as the stairs. / The walls were painted in the same color as the stairs.
Like
To compare similar concepts, the adjective is not suitable in a comparative degree. In English, there is another way of comparison for this case - to combine such verbs-connectives, like be, feel, look or seem with the word like at the beginning of the phrase.
It was like a dream. / It was like a dream.
But we still feels like a children. / But we still feel like children.
She looked like an actress. / She looked like an actress.
All houses in the village seemed like mansions. / All the houses in the settlement looked like mansions.
In this case, like adverts are allowed to put some adverbs. For example, a bit, a little, exactly, very.
It looks just like another turn. / It looked like another twist.
Of all students, he was the one most like me. / Of all the students, he is most like me.
When the object of revolutions with as or like is a pronoun, it must be used in the object or possessive case.
He was a clever as Jane. / He was as smart as Jane.
That car is the same as in the park. / This is the same car as in the park.
Less and least
There is also a comparative structure, which is the opposite in meaning to the power particles more and most, which express the degrees of adjectives in the English language. These separate consoles are used in the original only with multi-part adjectives and adverbs and show gradation, or an absolute advantage. Accordingly, less inverts the adjective to a comparative degree in English, and at least in excellent.
Maby, he was less fortunate than me. / Perhaps he was less fortunate than me.
So what if she was the least skilled of the employed? / And what if she was the least trained of those employed?
Michael saw her less frequently than he used to. / Michael saw her less often than usual.
Thus, in English you can:
1) characterize the object or action with the help of a sign;
2) compare;
3) to isolate from a number of similar ones.
In addition, we can say about their relative identity / non-identity, using such turns as as ... as, the same and like.