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[B-A] More on comparatives and more about superlatives

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the passage below then answer the questions being asked.

DOLPHINS

More on comparatives and more about superlatives


Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times. The more we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their society is more complex than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill, care for pregnant mothers and protect the weakest in the community, as we do. Some scientists have suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much more probable that they communicate with each other without needing words. Could any of these mammals be more intelligent than man? Certainly the most common argument in favor of man's superiority over them that we can kill them more easily than they can kill us is the least satisfactory. On the contrary, the more we discover about these remarkable creatures, the less we appear superior when we destroy them.

QUESTIONS

1. What are some examples of caring behaviors exhibited by dolphins?

2. How does the discovery about dolphins affect the argument of human superiority?

LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚

More on Comparatives

1. We can use double comparatives to say that things are changing.

    Example:

  • We went more and more slowly. NOT more slowly and more slowly...

  • It's getting colder and colder.

2. We can use the... the with comparatives to say that things change or vary together. Note the word order.

    Example:

  • The older I get, the happier I am. NOT Older I get, more I am happy.

  • The more dangerous it is, the more I like it. NOT The more it is dangerous...

  • The more money he has, the more useless things he buys. NOT The more he has money...

  • "Can I invite some friends over?" "Sure. The more the better."

3. Before comparatives, we can use much, far, very much, a little, a bit (informal), a lot/lots (informal), any, no, and even.

    Example:

  • He's much/far older than than her. NOT He's very older...

  • I feel a little/a bit better.

  • The train's no quicker than the bus.

  • She's very much happier in the new job.

  • These grapes are a lot sweeter than the others.

  • You look even more beautiful than usual.

More on Superlatives

1. After superlatives, we often use "of".

    Example:

  • It was the most successful of his early plays.

  • The nicest moment of the day..

  • She's the best player of us all..

But we do not use of with a singular word for a place or group.

    Example:

  • I'm the happiest man in the world. NOT ...of the world.

  • She's the best in the team.

2. We normally use the before a superlative when we are comparing one person/thing/group with others.

    Example:

  • It's the longest day of the year.

  • This winter is the coldest in living memory.

But we do not use the when we are comparing somebody or something with him/her/itself in other situations.

    Example:

  • He's nicer when he's had a few drinks. NOT He's the nicest when...

  • England is best in spring.

LET'S PRACTICE! 📝

A. Direction: Describe two different modes of transportation (e.g., cars and bicycles) and explain which one you find to be more convenient and efficient for your daily commute. Remember to use the comparatives and superlatives as you speak.


Let's Practice