Skill 18 Use the Comparative and Superlative Correctly

Another problem with the comparative and superlative on the TOEFL is that they can be used incorrectly. The comparative and superlative have different uses, and you should understand these different uses to answer such questions correctly. The comparative is used to compare two things.

 

The English class is larger than the math class.

Mary is more intelligent than Sue.

Exercise 17

Each of the following sentences contains a comparative or superlative. Circle the comparative or superlative. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1.     Oxygen is abundanter than nitrogen. (...)

2.     The directions to the exercise say to choose the most appropriate response. (...)

3.     The lesson you are studying now is the most importantest lesson you will leave. (...)

4.     Fashions this year are shorter and more colorful than they were last year.

Skill 17 Form Comparative and Superlative Correctly

The problem with some of the comparative and superlative sentences on the TOEFL is that the comparative or superlative is formed incorrectly. You should therefore understand how to form the comparative and superlative to answer such question correctly.

The comparative is formed with either -er or more and than. In the comparative, -er is used with short adjectives such as tall, and more is used with longer adjectives such as beautiful