Grammar Reference

4.1 ■ Comparative and superlative adjectives

Spelling rules

• For short adjectives, add -er to form the comparative and the + -est for the superlative.
  small → smaller → the smallest
  young → younger → the youngest
• For short adjectives ending in -e, add -r or the + -st.
  large → larger → the largest
  cute → cuter → the cutest
• For short adjectives ending in vowel + consonant (except -w), double the consonant and add -er or the + -est.
  hot → hotter → the hottest
  wet → wetter → the wettest
• For adjectives ending in consonant + -y, remove the -y and add -ier or the + -iest.
  early → earlier → the earliest
  busy → busier → the busiest
• For adjectives of two or more syllables (except adjectives ending in -y), add more or the most before the adjective.
  modern → more modern → the most modern
  delicious → more delicious → the most delicious
• Some adjectives are irregular, for example:
  good → better → the best
  bad → worse → the worst
  far → farther / further → the farthest / furthest

Use

We use comparative adjectives to compare two people or things. Comparative adjectives are often followed by than.

In the past, houses were darker than they are now.

I think my sister is more intelligent than my brother.

We use superlative adjectives to compare a person or thing with the whole group. We do not use than after superlatives.

The bathroom is the smallest room in our house.

This old castle is the most popular tourist attraction in our town.

4.2 (not) as as, too, enough

(not) as … as

We can use (not) as + adjective + as to compare two people or things. The adjective doesn't change and it always comes between as and as.

• as … as shows that two people or things are the same or equal
• not as … as shows that two people or things are not the same or equal

  Our dog is as old as yours. (The two dogs are the same age.)

  Danny isn't as funny as Ben. (One of the two boys is funnier than the other.)

  Is this necklace as expensive as that bracelet?

too + adjective

We use too + adjective to describe something that is more than is necessary, or is not acceptable.

They didn't buy the house because it was too expensive.

(It cost more money than they wanted to pay.)

The adjective always comes after too.

The infinitive form of the verb can also follow too + adjective.

We were too tired to run.

(not +) adjective + enough

We use adjective + enough to describe something that is as good, big, fast, etc. as is necessary.

Is your room warm enough? (= Do you need more heating?)

The adjective always comes before enough.

NOT enough warm

We can add not before adjective + enough to make a negative.

I can't get to sleep. I'm not tired enough.

The infinitive form of the verb can also follow adjective + enough.

Is he old enough to go to university?

4.3 ■ Verb + infinitive or -ing form

When two verbs appear together in a sentence, the first one can be followed by the infinitive or the -ing form of the second.

When I'm older, I want to be a historian. (want + infinitive)

I enjoyed reading this book. (enjoy + -ing form)

It is important to remember the pattern for each verb.

Below are some of the most common.

Verb + infinitive	Verb + -ing form
agree decide hope need promise pretend try want would like	avoid can't stand don't mind enjoy hate like look forward to love

Note the difference between like and would like:

Do you like swimming? (= Do you enjoy it in general?)

Would you like to go swimming today? (= Do you want to do it now, or at a specific time?)