2. Comparatives and Superlatives as Modifiers

Comparatives and superlatives can act as modifiers as they are either adjectives or adverbs. The comparative form is restricted to comparing two things while the superlative form compares more than two things.

Examples:

  • Abu's older camel died last week.

    (This sentence says that Abu has two camels, one of which died last week. Older  modifies the camel that died.)

  • Abu has the oldest camel in the desert.

    (Here the superlative oldest  is used, as there are more than two camels in the desert. Oldest  modifies camel  in the sentence.)

The word very  can be an adjective or an adverb. We use it here as an adverb to modify an adjective or an adverb, but we cannot use it to modify comparatives and superlatives.

Examples:

  • Correct : Abu's camel is very old .

    ( Very  modifies adjective old .)

  • Correct : Abu rides his camel very slowly .

    ( Very  modifies adverb slowly .)

  • Incorrect : Abu's camel is very older  than his uncle's camel.

    ( Very  cannot modify comparative adjective older .)

  • Incorrect : Abu rides his camel very more slowly .

    ( Very  cannot modify a comparative adverb [ more ].)