G Positive Comparative Superlative little (German wenig, gering) less the least little (German klein) smaller the smallest few (German wenige) fewer the fewest much more the most many more the most d) How to spell of comparatives and superlatives Positive Comparative Superlative Spelling pretty prettier the prettiest • -y -ier/-iest big hot bigger hotter the biggest the hottest • Consonants in short syllables are doubled, e.g.: -g -gg- -t -tt- … e) Phrases to make comparisons Phrases Examples as … as Your brother is as old as my sister. not as … as It was not as cold as in winter. than The tree was higher than the garage. less … than The car was less expensive than I thought. fewer … than (for countable nouns) She makes fewer mistakes than me. more … than I won because I had been training for more hours than the others. f) Modifiers for comparatives and superlatives Phrases Examples much/a lot/far/a little/a bit/slightly … than My aunt was much/a lot/far/a little/a bit/slightly nicer than her friend. by far, easily, nearly He was by far/easily/nearly the youngest in our group. Modal verbs Page 67 With the modal verbs can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must, mustn’t, needn’t and ought to you can describe actions in varying degrees. a) Characteristics of modal verbs • Modal verbs have no -s in the third person singular. • They do not normally have past forms (exception: can could). To form other tenses, substitutes like to be able to, to be allowed to or to have to are used. • Questions and negatives are formed without the do-phrase. To negate modal verbs add not. Be careful: must = müssen, must not = nicht dürfen! • Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive without to of the main verb (exception: ought to). G 5 158 Grammar Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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