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USING MODIFIERS CORRECTLY March 21st, 2022
DEGREES OF COMPARISON • The degree of comparison in English grammar are made with the adjective and adverb words to show how big or small, high or low, more or less, many or few etc. of the qualities, numbers and positions of the noun (persons, things and places) in comparison to the others mentioned in the other parts of a sentence or expression.
Most adjectives and adverbs have three degrees of comparison: the positive, or base, form; the comparative form; and the superlative form. The positive form of a modifier cannot be used to make a comparison. (This form appears as the entry word in a dictionary.) The comparative form of a modifier shows two things being compared. The superlative form of a modifier shows three or more things being compared.
Identify and write in your notebook the comparative adjectives and adverbs in the following sentences on your paper. Then indicate the degree of comparison by writing comparative or superlative after each one. The ancient Egyptians believed that their leaders would rule more wisely than other rulers. One of the most capable rulers was Hatshepsut, the first woman leader in history and a strong leader. Hatshepsut’s successor, Thutmose III, was more aggressive and set out on a harsh policy of conquest. Pharaoh Amenhotep IV tried even harder than Thutmose to strengthen the powers of the throne, but Amenhotep worked hardest at changing religion. One of her more daring acts was wearing full pharaonic regalia, including a false beard.
In general, for one-syllable modifiers add -er to form the comparative and -estto form the superlative. sweet, sweeter, sweetest This is the sweetest apple I have ever tasted. • For some words, spelling changes occur when you add -er and -est. sad, sadder, saddest blue, bluer, bluest easy, easier, easiest
For most two-syllable adjectives, add -er to form the comparative and -est to form the superlative. • gentle, gentler, gentlest • The black dog is gentler than the brown one. • happy, happier, happiest • My dog is the happiest one in the neighborhood. • Use more and most if -er and -est sound awkward. • helpful, more helpful, most helpful • No one was more helpful than Rita.
Less and least, the opposite of more and most, can also be used with most modifiers to show comparison. • Rosa is less talkative than Daryl. • Bea is the least talkative person I know. • For modifiers of three or more syllables, always use more and most to form the comparative and superlative degrees. • delicious, more delicious, most delicious • I think pears are more delicious than apples. • For adverbs ending in -ly, always use more and most to form the comparative and superlative degrees. • quickly, more quickly, most quickly • I am able to run more quickly in cold weather.
Panorama competitivo • Your turn to practice. In pairs solve the following worksheet.
"Every time you ask me not to hum, I’ll hum more louder.“DOUBLE COMPARATIVES… Double comparatives are adjectives with more than one comparative marker. For example, the comparative word more and the comparative suffix -er are both applied to the adjective loud in the phrase more louder in the sentence above. Like comparatives, superlatives (most, -est) may also be doubled.
DOUBLE COMPARATIVES… Double comparatives may also involve two instances of the suffix -er, as in the word louderer, though the double usage of this suffix might be a distinct phenomenon from the usage of more and -er together. In particular, there is typically no difference in meaning between louder and more louder, while it may be that there is a difference in meaning between louder and louderer.
LET’S PRACTICE Readaloudthecorrectformofthecomparison in eachofthefollowingsentences. Meeting in Yalta in 1945, Churchill and Roosevelt faced one of their most toughest challenges. What was the most fairest way to divide control of postwar Europe? Even more better than his postwar speeches was Churchill’s six-volume series, The Second World War, which won him a Nobel Prize. He loved the rough, active life of a soldier, but he also had a more quieter side, which he expressed in some of his excellent paintings. Today we recognize Sir Winston Churchill as one of the most ablest statesmen in world history. Churchill and President Roosevelt developed the most strongest friendship of any wartime leaders. Physically, Churchill was one of the most fittest leaders of the war. Churchill’s star shone most brightest when he was Great Britain’s prime minister during World War II. No other British leader of the twentieth century is regarded with more higher esteem. The United States was more closer to entering the war than had seemed possible a year before. Churchill was also one of the most liveliest writers of the day. As a schoolboy, however, he had been the least carefulest student in his class.. His courage, eloquence, and faith in victory inspired the British to endure more greater hardships than they had ever before known. One of the most happiest sights during the war was Churchill himself, a cigar in his mouth and two fingers raised in a victory salute. Although he had stuttered as a boy, Churchill gave more clearer speeches than any other leader of his time.
Incomplete comparisons Do not make an incomplete or unclear comparison by omitting “other” or “else” when you compare one member of a group with the group.
Incomplete comparisons When you write and compare something, it’s also important to compare like things.
DOUBLE NEGATIVES In general, avoidusingdouble negative, two negative words in thesameclause. Use onlyone negative wordtoexpress a negative idea.
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Misplaced Modifiers Modifiers that modify the wrong word or seem to modify more than one word in a sentence are called misplaced modifiers. Moving the modifier as close as possible to the word it modifies or revising the sentence will correct this problem. MISPLACED The mountains delight many visitors in their autumn splendor. [prepositional phrase incorrectly modifying visitors] CLEAR The mountains in their autumn splendor delight many visitors. [prepositional phrase correctly modifying mountains] MISPLACED Proceeding with care, we stood at the foot of the mountain and watched the determined mountain climbers. [participial phrase incorrectly modifying we] CLEAR We stood at the foot of the mountain and watched thedetermined mountain climbers proceeding with care. [participial phrase correctly modifying mountain climbers] Place modifiers as close as possible to the words they modify in order to make the meaning of the sentence clear.
DANGLING Digging in the field, a Native American village was found. [participial phrase logically modifying no word in the sentence] CLEAR Digging in the field, archaeologists found a Native American village. [participial phrase modifying archaeologists] DANGLING After digging for months, the find was all the more satisfying. [prepositional phrase logically modifying no word in the sentence] CLEAR After digging for months, the archaeologists deemed the find all the more satisfying. [prepositional phrase modifying archaeologists] DANGLING Feeling proud of our find, our dinner that night was a celebration. [participial phrase logically modifying no word in sentence] CLEAR Feeling proud of our find, we made our dinner a celebration. [rewrite supplies a word for phrase to modify] Dangling Modifiers Dangling modifiers do not modify any word in the sentence. By supplying a word that the dangling phrase can sensibly modify, you can easily correct this error.
Placement of Only The meaning of your sentence may be unclear if only is positioned incorrectly. UNCLEAR Bertinaonly has breakfast on Sunday. [Does she have just one meal on Sunday? Does she skip breakfast every day but Sunday? Is Bertina the only person (in a group) who has breakfast on Sunday?] CLEARBertina has only breakfast on Sunday. [She does not have lunch or dinner.] CLEARBertina has breakfast only on Sunday. [She does not have breakfast on any other day.] CLEAROnly Bertina has breakfast on Sunday. [No one else (in Bertina’s house) has breakfast on Sunday.] Place the adverb only immediately before the word or group of words it modifies.
