Practice with Comparatives and Superlatives

Ask yourself these questions about comparatives and superlatives.

1. Is the comparative or superlative form correct?

Irregular comparatives and superlatives are as follows:

good adj	better	best
well adv	better	best
bad adj	worse	worst
badly adv	worse	worst
little adj / adv	less	least
many adj	more	most
much adj / adv	more	most
far adj / adv	farther, further	farthest, furthest 6
late adj / adv	later	last (final)
		latest (most recent)
old adj	older, elder	oldest, eldest 7

2. Is the comparative or superlative used correctly?

a. Comparatives and superlatives are used to modify a noun or after a verb.

Could you put it in simpler words for me?

The easiest way to clear up some social concepts and terms is to study social sciences.

A man can grow rich only if he is able to offer better products or services at a lower price than others are able to offer.

b. Before a comparative we can use (very)much, a lot, a little, a bit, rather or far: very much taller, a lot more important, a little cheaper, a bit more expensive, rather colder, far more interesting.

Before a superlative we often use by far or easily: by far the cheapest, easily the most attractive.

c. The superlative is used in the following structures:

After superlatives we use in to show what place we are talking about. Of is not normally used, but it is possible in expressions the happiest day of my life, the hottest day of the year and after a superlative without a noun:

This is the least expensive of all our decisions.

3. Is the parallel comparison used correctly?

When a two-clause sentence begins with a comparative, the second clause also begins with a comparative.

The higher the price is, the fewer goods we buy.

Exercise 1

Underline any comparative that is used incorrectly.

e.g. Northern Mexico generally receives the less rain than does Central Mexico.

1. Wheat bread is the more tasty and popular of all kinds of bread in the shop.

2. The social committee passes the more bills than any other political group.

3. The cheaper of the two suitcases was more suitable for short trips.

4. People spend many more of their development time in the family unit than somewhere else.

5. Outside of family, individuals often have much less stake in any social interaction and the interactions are usually more limited.

6. Evaluating the quality of a product can be difficult for a customer. The higher the quality, the higher the price.

7. Choices are not simpler for citizens because many factors influence voting decisions.

8. More often than not a smart voter makes best voting decisions than an inexperienced one.

Exercise 2

Make sentences using the structure:

the + comparative clause , the + comparative clause

e.g. (small) a purchase is / (easy) it is to adjust the budget.

The smaller a purchase is, the easier it is to adjust the budget.

1. (complicated) the problem / (hard) it is to find a solution.

2. (wide) the choice is / (good) the decision of a person is.

3. (big) a car is / (expensive) it is to run.

4. (bad) the weather / (dangerous) it is to drive on the roads.

5.(old) he gets / (thoughtful) he becomes.

6. (fast) he tried to work / (little) he was able to accomplish.

7. (many) advances and improvements are made in technology, (convenient) the banking transactions become.

8. (much) populated the area becomes, (much) noise one has to contend with.

Exercise 3

Put  for correct sentences; rewrite the incorrect ones.

1. This is one of most expensive restaurants in Milton.

2. Let your citizens choose the most and the least expensive ways to elect President.

3.Only smartest government knows how to overcome this problem of complexity by insuring a context in which people can be assured of certain social regularities

4. The better educated a person is, the less likely is he to be unemployed.

5. I think that was one of the worse days of my life.

6. Today there are less and less jobs which require unskilled labour.

7. My neighbour is one of the boringest people I know.

8. What is the most popular brand of beer in your pub?

9. Tell me if you have any farther problems. (= any more problems)

10.The eldest customer was given a free basket of food.

4	SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

AGENDA

4.1	Lead-in	Section overview
4.2	Language input	Developing vocabulary
4.3	Background information	Social Structure and Social System
4.4	Comprehension	Understanding the reading Scanning
4.5	Practice Skills focus	Fill-in exercises Writing skills Presenting the information
4.6	Dialogue	The Process of Social Stratification
	Supporting materials	Questions on Social Stratification
	Reading for Cross-cultural Associations	Social Stratification in India
4.7	Role play	What Are Socio-economic Issues?
4.8	Grammar Back Up	Practice with Future