Chapter 10 — Comparatives and superlatives

The essentials in four points:

• Comparative: -er or more + than; superlative: the -est or the most — never both (more better is wrong).
• Two items → comparative with the: the more detailed of the two proposals.
• Equality: as + adjective + as: not as efficient as the old one.
• Double comparative: The higher the altitude, the thinner the air.

Comparing means applying three templates: the comparative (-er / more… than), the superlative (the -est / the most…) and equality (as… as). ITP questions mix the templates up — never all three at once.

1. The right template at the right time. Two items → comparative (larger than, and for a choice of two: the more detailed of the two); three or more → superlative (the highest mountain); equality or its negation → (not) as… as.
✔ not as efficient as the old one — never as efficient than.

2. Never a double mark. ✘ more clearer, ✘ most highest, ✘ more better. Irregulars already carry the mark: good → better → best; bad → worse → worst; far → farther/further.

3. Two academic structures. The double comparative: The higher the altitude, the thinner the air. And one of the + superlative + plural: one of the rarest mammals.