SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TOPIC: STRUCTURE
SUB-TOPIC: COMPARATIVES
LESSON #3: Sentence Patterns for Making Comparisons
TEACHER: Anthony Simukonde
Introduction
The following patterns are used when comparing two people or things.
a) Adjective/Adverb (Comparative form) + than
(i) Mbewe is shorter than Mweene.
(ii) This book is more interesting than the one I read last week.
b) as + adjective/adverb (Ordinary form) + as
This structure is used to compare two similar people or things.
Examples
i) Nsokolo is as kind as her mother.
ii) This house is as beautiful as the one we saw earlier.
iii) He runs as fast as a hare.
Note: Never use the comparative form when using this pattern.
Examples
i. Wrong: Nsokolo is as kinder as her mother. X
ii. Wrong: This house is as more beautiful as the one we saw earlier. X
c) ‘ not as + …as’
This is the negative form of the ‘as… as’ expression. It is, therefore, used to compare two people or things that are unequal.
Examples
(i) Daka is not as clever as Simpungwe.
(ii) Your house is not as big as mine.
d) less + adjective/adverb (Ordinary form) + than
Examples
(i) Her hair is less long than mine.
(ii) This book is less interesting than the one I read last week.
(iii) He did the exercise less carefully than I did it. e) like/just like
This structure is used to show similarity.
Examples
(i) Chama is a good artist just like her husband.
(ii) That bicycle is like mine. (iii) He behaves like a baby.
f) ‘the same …as’ This expression is also used to show similarity. Examples
(i) Suzan has the same dress as Becky’s.
(ii) Mr. Kasumpa had the same idea as Mr. Banda.
(iii) My birthday is the same as my mother’s.71
Kitwe District English Language Senior Pamphlet
g) (the+) Comparative
This pattern is also another way of comparing two people or things. ‘The’ can sometimes be omitted.
Examples
(i) Jane is the elder of the two sisters.
(ii) Peter and John are intelligent but Peter is (the) more intelligent
h) the + comparative … the comparative This pattern is used to indicate parallel increase or decrease.
Examples
(i) The higher you go, the cooler it becomes.
(ii) The sooner we start off, the better.
(iii) The older he grew, the less intelligent he became.
(iv) The more she practised, the better she played the guitar.
Note: The comma is used to separate the two parallel clauses.
g) comparative + and + comparative
This pattern is used to show gradual increase or decline.
Examples
(i) The day is getting hotter and hotter.
(ii) Life in Zambia is becoming more and more expensive.
(iii) Their singing is getting better and better.
Sentence Patterns with the Superlative.
The superlative is used to compare more than two people or things. The following are the patterns used:
a) the + adverb/adjective (Superlative form) Examples
(i) She is the cleverest pupil in class.
(ii) This is the most interesting movie I have ever watched.
(iii) He is the best singer in the choir.
b) ‘one of’ + the + adjective (superlative form) Examples
(i) This book is one of the most interesting books I have ever read.
(ii) John is one of the most skillful players on the team.
(iii) He bought one of the most expensive suits in the shop.
c) the + least + adjective (superlative form) Examples
(i) His work had the least mistakes of all the books marked.
(ii) Of all the books I have read, this one is the least interesting.
EXAMINATION KIND OF QUESTIONS
1. A. Chisanga’s beauty increases as she grows older B. The older …………………………………………...............
2. A. The rate of success in business increases with the number of risks taken. B The more………………………………………
3. A. As you go higher, it gets cooler. B. The higher……….....................................…
4. A. Women’s clothes are less expensive than men’s clothes. B. Replace than with as ……………………...…
5. A. No guitarist is as good as Matthews in the band. B. Mathews ………………..........................…..
6. A. I am short. My mother is tall. B. My mother …………………........................
7. A. Kuseka is not as charming as Kusekesha. B. Of ……………………………………….. ......
8. A. Secondhand clothes are increasingly getting expensive. Use more in your sentence. B: …………………………………………….....…
9. A. Chileshe is the cleverest pupil in 12A...... B. No pupil …………………............................
10. A. He has not suffered an injury as bad as this one. B. This……………............................................
Answers to Lesson 52
1. The older Chisanga grows, the more beautiful she becomes.
2. The more risks taken in business, the higher the rate of success.
3. The higher you go, the cooler it becomes
4. Women’s clothes are not as expensive as men’s.
5. Matthews is the best guitarist in the band.
6. My mother is taller than I am.
7. Of the two, Kusekesha is more charming than Kuseka.
8. Secondhand clothes are getting more and more expensive.
9. No pupil in 12A is as clever as Chileshe.
10.This is the worst injury he has suffered.