Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Comparatives compare two things, while superlatives compare three or more. TOEIC tests the correct formation of these adjectives and the structures used with them (e.g., 'as...as', 'the...the').
Rules
- Comparatives: add -er for short words, use 'more' for long words. Followed by 'than'.
- Superlatives: add -est for short words, use 'most' for long words. Preceded by 'the'.
- Equality: use 'as + adjective + as'.
- Irregular forms: good/better/best, bad/worse/worst.
Examples
"This year's sales figures are much better than last year's."
Comparative form 'better' is used with 'than' to compare two years.
"The newly released software is the most efficient on the market."
Superlative form 'most efficient' is used to compare the software to all others.
"The presentation was not as detailed as we expected."
'As...as' is used to show a negative comparison.
What TOEIC specifically tests
- Double comparatives (e.g., 'more easier').
- Forgetting 'the' before a superlative.
- Using a comparative when comparing more than two items.
Common questions
Can we use modifiers with comparatives?
Yes, words like 'much', 'far', 'slightly', and 'even' can modify comparatives (e.g., 'much better').
How does TOEIC test 'as...as'?
Often, the blank is between 'as' and 'as', and you must choose the base form of the adjective or adverb, not the comparative form.
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