OOPT Comparative and Superlative Structures — Questions and Answers
Question 1: This exam is _______ I expected.
- more difficult than (Correct answer)
- more difficult as
- the most difficult than
- more difficulter than
Correct answer: more difficult than
Comparative adjectives use 'than' for comparison. 'More difficult than' is the correct two-word comparative form for a three-syllable adjective. 'As' is used in 'as…as' equality structures. 'Most' is a superlative, not comparative. 'Difficulter' is a non-standard double comparative.
Question 2: She is _______ student in the entire school.
- the most hardworking (Correct answer)
- the more hardworking
- most hardworking
- the most hardworkinger
Correct answer: the most hardworking
Superlatives require 'the' before them. 'Most hardworking' is the correct superlative form for a multi-syllable adjective. 'More' is comparative, not superlative. 'Most hardworkinger' adds -er incorrectly to an already superlative form.
Question 3: The _______ he studied, the better his grades became.
- more (Correct answer)
- most
- many
- much
Correct answer: more
The 'the + comparative…the + comparative' structure expresses proportional change. 'The more…the better' is a fixed double comparative pattern. 'Most' is a superlative. 'Many' and 'much' are quantity words and do not fit this structure.
Question 4: Her presentation was _______ impressive _______ his.
- as … as (Correct answer)
- more … than
- so … as
- as … than
Correct answer: as … as
'As…as' expresses equality between two things. 'More…than' is comparative (implying difference). 'So…as' is used only in negative sentences ('not so…as'). 'As…than' mixes two different structures and is grammatically incorrect.
Question 5: This coffee is _______ hot to drink.
- too (Correct answer)
- enough
- very
- so
Correct answer: too
'Too + adjective + to-infinitive' means the degree is excessive and prevents an action. 'Too hot to drink' = it cannot be drunk because it is so hot. 'Enough' follows an adjective ('hot enough') but means sufficiently, not excessively. 'Very' and 'so' do not connect to 'to drink' without additional structure.
Question 6: Rome is one of _______ cities in Europe.
- the oldest (Correct answer)
- the older
- older
- most old
Correct answer: the oldest
The pattern 'one of the + superlative + plural noun' is standard in English. 'The oldest' is correct. 'The older' is comparative, not superlative. 'Older' without 'the' does not fit the 'one of' structure. 'Most old' incorrectly uses 'most' with a one-syllable adjective that forms its superlative with -est.
OOPT Comparative and Superlative Structures
This exam is _______ I expected.