What does comparative mean?
Word: Comparative
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Comparative means measured or judged by comparing with something else; in grammar, the form of an adjective or adverb that compares two things, such as taller or happier.
Synonyms: relative
How do you spell comparative?
Syllables: com - par - a - tive
Tricky part: After par comes an a, not an i: comparitive is a very common slip.
Watch out for: comparitive, comperative, comparetive
Memory tip: Say comparative with the stress on par, then listen for the a after it.
Comparative in a sentence
Example 1: Taller is the comparative form of tall.
Example 2: We did a comparative study of rainfall in Cherrapunji and Jaisalmer.
Example 3: After the noisy city, the village offered comparative peace.
Fun Fact
Comparative literature is a university subject in which students read books from different countries and languages side by side.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. adverb 2. comparativ 3. superlative 4. adjective
a) a word that describes a noun
b) a word that tells how, when or where something happens
c) the form of a word showing the highest degree, such as tallest
d) the form that sets one thing against another, as in bigger
Show answer
d) the form that sets one thing against another, as in bigger. Comparativ has lost the e that ends the word; superlative, adjective and adverb are all spelt correctly.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to comparative as used in the sentence:
Living in the hostel gave Kabir comparative freedom after years of strict rules at home.
a) conditional
b) partial
c) absolute
d) limited
Show answer
c) absolute. Comparative freedom is freedom only when set against something else; absolute freedom is complete.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Even a oraceatmivp beginner can win a medal in a small school contest.
a) imperative
b) comparatively
c) comparative
d) comparable
Show answer
c) comparative. A beginner counts as new only when set against others, so comparative fits; the jumble has no l or b for comparable and no y for comparatively.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
comparrative
a) t
b) a
c) r
d) p
Show answer
c) r. One r follows the first a; the second r is extra.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which pair shows an adjective and its comparative form?
a) faster, fastest
b) good, goodness
c) fast, faster
d) quick, quickly
Show answer
c) fast, faster
2. A comparative newcomer to a team is someone who ____.
a) plays better than the others
b) has joined fairly recently
c) has never played before
d) left the team last year
Show answer
b) has joined fairly recently
