4. Planes are safer than cars (comparatives and superlatives)

As we now know, adjectives are used not only to describe things, people and places, but also to compare them. Remember that we make comparisons by adding suffix -er to short adjectives and using the adverb more in front of longer ones (and there are 3 irregulars). We will study it in depth later in the unit. Now, just have a look at the following chart to make sure you recognize the comparative sentences that appear in the text in Section 1.
 
By Vicente Alfonso. C. Commons
   By Vicente Alfonso. C. Commons

 

Comparative Conjunction

older

 

newer

 

longer

 

shorter

 than

more interesting

more expensive

 than

 

Have a look at the photos above. We could say, for example: The photo on the left is older than the photo on the right or The picture on the right is more recent than the picture on the left.

Important

Remember that comparison is a property not only of adjectives but also of adverbs. It describes the degree to which the modifier (adjective or adverb) modifies its complement (nouns in the case of adjectives and nouns, other adjectives and even other adverbs in the case of adverbs).

We will study two degrees of adjectives and adverbs:

Comparative Superlative
safer / more interesting safest / most interesting
more friendly most friendly

Solved exercise

By Elsie esq. C. Commons
By VOD Cars. C. Commons

 

Remember that there are several degrees of comparison. So, apart form comparisons of superiority, we can also find comparisons of equality and inferiority. In them, we use the positive adjective or adverb to make or draw the comparison (e.g. Coaches are as fast as cars, Paco speaks English less fluently than Sonia).

 

Find all the comparisons in the text in Section one. Pay attention to all kinds of comparisons.

Read the paragraph below and fill in the missing words using the comparatives of the words in the box.

rich - big -  expensive - fast - great - safe
By Jake Bouma. C. Commons
By Estherase. C. Commons

There are lots of means* of transport. The car is probably the one that most people use. However it is not the safest way of travelling. In fact, road traffic accidents are one of the most common sources of personal injury. And everybody knows that the the car's engine, the the chance of car accidents. That being so, excessive speed is one of the most common contributory factors in fatal accidents. Undoutedly, the plane is fewer accidents) and (compare the time it would take to drive from LA to New York with the equivalent in flying) , but it is also than any other mode of transport. When people travel long distances, they frequently take airplanes, and this is what Paco has done to travel from the United States to South Africa. He isn't worried about how expensive flying is. He has won the lottery! So, he is now than he had ever imagined!

 

NB: means of transport is invariable in singular and plural. This is a means of transport. There are different means of transport.

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Further knowledge

There are far more means of transport than the ones mentioned up to now. Click here to get a good list of them. And here you'll be able to get another list and print exercises to improve your vocabulary on the subject. Finally more vocabulary and naturally speaking useful phrases may be learnt by clicking here.

Curiosity

Driving on the wrong side?
 
By Thomas Hawk. C. Commons

Surely you've  wondered why in the United Kingdom and other countries such as Japan, Australia or New Zealand people drive on the left. Over the centuries, several explanations have been provided, the most frequent being that the British driving pattern derives from days of horses and horsemen. Taking into account that most people are right-handed, it seemed reasonable that a horseman who would meet another horseman would be in the most advantageous position if he would need to draw his sword quickly to defend himself against the on-coming horseman. It seems that Pope Benedict issued a Papal Edict in the year 1300 A.D. requiring all people to keep to the left on roadways.

 

Under King George III, the Government also issued a Highway Act (1773) which recommended people keep to the left on public roadways and streets.

Countries that became part of the British Empire adopted this keep-left rule.

That's all about Topic 1 in this Unit, now go on to topic 2 where we will study all the points seen in this first topic in depth. Come on! Let's go on to topic 2!