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Module # 4_
I. General Information
Subject: English II CODE: INE-0206
Credit Units: 3 Module Duration: 10 days

Specific Objectives:

-The student will be able to learn how to use Comparative adjectives.

Skills to Develop:

 Practice the correct use of Comparative Adjectives.

Brief Description of the Forum:

After reading the material, the student will be able to participate in the discussion
forum and:
1. Practice the Comparative Adjective and the usage of them in conversation
form in the forum.
Brief Description of Activities:
The student will practice conversations using the vocabulary learned.

Homework Description:
Workbook Activities from your Textbook: Open Mind 1b- Unit 8
Homework Template Module No. 4

II. Content
Comparative Adjectives.

INTRODUCTION
III. Content Development

Comparative Adjectives.

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Why not start with an example? Let’s say you have two trees, an oak tree and a
maple tree. These trees from our example are of two different heights. If you are
curious, you might ask, which tree is taller than the other? In this case, “taller” is a
comparative adjective, which makes sense since we are asking to compare two
nouns. We would reply, hypothetically, that “The oak tree is taller than the maple
tree.”

This means that the oak tree has a greater height than the maple tree. Again,
“taller” is the word we are using to compare the trees and their height. Remember
that comparative adjectives allow us to compare two things to one another.

Building a Comparative Adjective

No matter how long they are words that are adjectives all function in the same
way. “Tall” has one syllable, for example, but “pretty” has two syllables, and
“beautiful” has three, but they all function the same when in their original form.
Building comparative adjectives is a more complex process.

The rules might be confusing, but once you get used to the system, you will realize
that building comparative adjectives is like second nature. The first step to building
a comparative adjective from a regular adjective is thinking about how many
syllables the regular adjective has.

 For an adjective that has one syllable - add the ending – er to the end of
the adjective to create the comparative form. For example, “tall” becomes
“taller.”

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 For an adjective that ends in y and has two syllables - drop the y and add –
ier. For example, “pretty” becomes “prettier,” and “early” becomes “earlier.”
 For an adjective that has two syllables and does not end in y - add the word
“more” before the adjective. For example, “purple” becomes “more purple.”
 For a word with three syllables, we use the word “more” before the
adjective. For example, “beautiful” becomes “more beautiful.”

Doubling the Consonants

If a word ends in the pattern, “consonant – vowel – consonant,” then you follow a
special rule when constructing a comparative adjective. Simply double the last
consonant, and add –er to the word. This might sound confusing, but when seen
in action, it is actually simple to understand. For example, “big” becomes “bigger,”
“fat” becomes “fatter,” and “hot” becomes “hotter.”

Using Comparative Adjectives in a Sentence

When you use comparative adjectives, you usually use the word “than” to
structure your sentence. For example: “The oak tree is taller than the maple tree.”

To use a comparative adjective in a sentence, you structure your sentence as

follows: first, put the subject of the sentence (oak tree), the one that has more of
something than the other noun in the comparison you wish to build. Then, use the
verb that establishes the comparison (is). Next, put the comparative adjective
(taller), followed by the word “than.” Finally, use the second noun (maple tree).

Comparative adjectives are simple: they allow us to use language to describe that
one thing has more of something than another noun. In other words, this kind of
adjective allows us to compare two things.

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Spelling Rules for Comparative Adjectives.

One Syllable Adjectives: For most, add – er: old = older / smart = smarter /
cheap / cheaper.

For adjectives which end in consonant – vowel – consonant, double the final
consonant and –er: thin = thinner / hot = hotter / big = bigger.

Example: This camera is smaller / bigger that that one

Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in – y: Change the y to i and add –er: happy
= happier / funny = funnier, / pretty – prettier.

Example: His photo is funnier than her photo.

Adjectives with two or more Syllables: Use more or less: interesting = more
interesting / compact = less compact / expensive = more expensive or less
expensive.

Example: The Honda CRV is more expensive than the Kia Rio .

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Irregular Adjectives: Bad = worse / good = better

Example: Tom’s camera is worse than this one

Examples of Sentences with the correct comparative form of the

adjective in parentheses + than

1. This laptop is more versatile than (versatile) mine.

2. Your furniture is nicer than (nice) your neighbor`s furniture.

3. Shopping online is easier than (easy) going to the store.

4. These jeans are better than (good) those.

5. Mikes old MP3 player is bigger than (big) his new one.

I. BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Textbook: Open Mind Level 1B, Editorial Macmillan, 2da Edición.

2. Workbook Open Mind Level 1B, Editorial Macmillan, 2da Edición.
3. Diccionario de Ingles / Español o www.dictionary.com
4. Laboratorio de Idiomas - Open Mind :www.macmillanmind.com
5. English Central Website- www.englishcentral.com