LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 16:1 January 2016
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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The Acquisition of the Comparative and Superlative Adjectives by Jordanian EFL Students

Alaa Al-Maani, M.A., Ph.D. Scholar

Abstract

This study examines the acquisition of the comparative and superlative adjectives by Jordanian EFL students. The data were collected from two groups of Jordanian EFL students, i.e. 30 tenth graders and 30 second year university students. Each group consists of 15 males and 15 females. The participants were given a questionnaire of 20 sentences which cover the regular rules for forming the comparative and the superlative forms using novel nonsense adjectives. According to the findings of the study, university students showed that they master the rules to some extent more than the tenth graders. The overall performance of both groups is better when it comes to monosyllabic adjectives; however, when adjectives are polysyllabic, students’ performance becomes worse. On the other hand, slight difference in favor of female was found in terms of students' gender.

Key words: Jordanian EFL, comparative and superlative adjectives, female and male difference

1. Introduction

English comparative and superlative adjectives formation are phonological processes that follow specific morphological rules which must be applied in order to form the correct adjective form. Comparatives are used to differentiate between two persons, objects, or places. In order to provide the correct comparative form, specific rules must be followed. First, if the adjective is monosyllabic, one adds (–er) at the end of the adjective, e.g. “small-smaller”. Second, if the monosyllabic adjective consists of a (consonant, vowel, and consonant) form, one must double the last consonant and add (-er), as in “fat-fatter”. Third, if the adjective ends with (-y), one needs to omit the (-y) and add (-ier), as in “funny-funnier”. Fourth, if the adjective is polysyllabic; consisting of more than two syllables; whether it ends with (-y) or not; one must add "more" before the adjective, as in “expensive- more expensive” and “satisfactory-more satisfactory”. Nevertheless “than” is the most important word to be included when comparing between two entities. For example: The elephant is bigger than the ant.

On the other hand, the use of the superlative is significant when showing the differences between three or more persons, objects, or places where one entity is superior to the others. The superlative formation process follows a certain set of rules somehow similar to those followed for comparatives. First, if the adjective is a monosyllabic adjective; consists of no more than two syllables, one must add (-est) to the end of the adjective as in “small- the smallest”. Second, if the adjective is formed of CVC the last consonant is doubled and (-est) is added at the end, as in “big-the biggest”. Third, if the adjective ends with (-y), one must delete it and add (-iest). Fourth, if the adjective is polysyllabic, whether it ends with (-y) or not, the expression “most” must be used before the adjective. For example: “The lion is the most courageous animal in the jungle”. Besides, “the” must precedes the desired superlative form. However, there are exceptions for the comparative and superlative adjectives. As for comparatives, we have “good-better than” and “far-farther than”, etc. and for superlatives, e.g. “good-the best” and “far- the farthest", etc.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Alaa I. Al-Maani, M.A., Ph.D. Scholar
English language Instructor
Language Center
Hashemite University
Zarqa
Jordan
alaa.maani@yahoo.com
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