Comparatives & Superlatives
المقارنة والتفضيل
1. Basic Rules: Short & Long Adjectives
Definition: We use Comparatives to compare two things (A vs B). We use Superlatives to compare one thing against a whole group (A vs All).
نستخدم المقارنة (Comparative) للمقارنة بين شيئين. ونستخدم التفضيل (Superlative) لمقارنة شيء واحد بمجموعة كاملة.A. Short Adjectives (One Syllable)
Rule: Add -er + than | The + -est
B. Long Adjectives (2+ Syllables)
Rule: more … than | the most …
Examples:
- The Nile River is the longest one in the world.
- My car is more expensive than yours.
Quick Quiz:
Reason: Comparison between two cities + “than”.
2. Equality: As…as / The same…as
A. As … As (Uses Adjectives)
Rule: as + Adjective (Base Form) + as
نستخدم الصفة المجردة (بدون أي إضافات) بين as و as.✅ Physics is as difficult as Mathematics.
❌ Physics is as more difficult as Mathematics.
B. The same … as (Uses Nouns)
Rule: The same + NOUN + as
هنا يجب استخدام الاسم (Noun) وليس الصفة.Examples:
- My sister is the same height as me.
- These two wells are the same depth.
Quick Quiz:
Reason: “The same” is followed by a Noun.
3. Double Comparatives
Type A: Continuous Change
Use: To show something is increasing/decreasing.
Structure: Comparative + and + Comparative
تستخدم لإظهار التغيير المستمر (مثل: أسرع فأسرع).- Work harder and harder.
- The road is getting steeper and steeper.
Type B: Cause & Effect
Structure: The + Comparative …, the + Comparative …
قاعدة (كلما … كلما …).Quick Quiz:
Reason: Double comparative structure (The… The…).
4. Irregular Adjectives
Memorize these! They don’t follow rules.
هذه الصفات شاذة ويجب حفظها.Example:
- The weather is worse than yesterday.
Quick Quiz:
Reason: Comparative of ‘bad’.
Adjective Rules & Notes
ملاحظات هامة عن الصفات
1. No “S” for Plural Adjectives
Rule: The form of the adjective is the same for singular and plural nouns.
شكل الصفة لا يتغير أبداً سواء كان الاسم مفرداً أو جمعاً (لا نضيف s للصفة).Examples:
-
Jane is holding a red apple.
(Singular / مفرد) - There are some red apples. There are some reds apples.
Adjectives never take “s”.
2. Used ONLY Before Noun
Rule: Some adjectives can only be used before a noun (Attributive).
بعض الصفات لا تأتي إلا قبل الاسم مباشرة، ولا تأتي بعد أفعال الكينونة (Is/Are).Correct Usage:
- My elder sister is a teacher.
- I crossed the main road.
- There is a live fish.
3. Used ONLY After Verb
Rule: Some adjectives are used only after linking verbs (be, seem, feel).
بعض الصفات لا تأتي إلا بعد الفعل، ولا يمكن استخدامها قبل الاسم مباشرة.Correct Usage:
- The baby is asleep.
- He seems afraid.
- She is alone.
4. “The” + Adjective (Collective)
Rule: When we use “The + Adjective”, it refers to a group of people. It is always Plural.
عبارة (The + الصفة) تشير لمجموعة من الناس بصفة عامة، وتعامل دائماً معاملة الجمع.The rich = Rich people
The blind = Blind people
The unemployed = Unemployed people
Grammar Check:
-
The unemployed think the government is ignoring them.
(Note: “think” not “thinks” because it is plural).
Quick Quiz:
“The rich” implies a plural group (Rich people).