6.1 Comparatives and Parallel Structure

6.1 Comparatives and Parallel Structure

Quick Answer: Form comparatives with -er or more + than, superlatives with -est or most (+ the), and equatives with as…as. Never stack both systems (more better). Keep list items and correlative pairs in the same grammatical form.

Comparison and parallel structure sit near the top of iTEP Grammar difficulty. Fill-in-the-blank stems often need the single correct degree form; error-identification stems hide a mismatched list item or a double comparative. Master the forms below, then practice spotting the mismatch in under twenty seconds.

Degree forms: comparative, superlative, equative

English expresses degree in three main patterns:

One-syllable adjectives usually take -er/-est (fast → faster → fastest; cold → colder → coldest). Most three-or-more-syllable adjectives take more/most (important → more important → most important). Two-syllable adjectives split: many take either pattern or prefer one (simple → simpler; careful → more careful). When unsure on the exam, prefer the form that matches common academic style and reject options that mix systems.

Adverbs follow the same logic: quickly → more quickly → most quickly; short irregular adverbs use special forms (well → better → best; badly → worse → worst).

Equatives keep the base form: as accurate as, not as more accurate as. Negative equatives use not as…as or not so…as: The sample is not as large as last year’s.

Irregular forms you must memorize

Farther/farthest often refer to physical distance; further/furthest often mean “additional” (further research). Both appear on advanced structure tests—choose the sense that fits the sentence.

Never combine irregular forms with more/most: more better, most worst, and more less are always incorrect.

Double comparative and related traps

A double comparative marks degree twice:

• ❌ This method is more easier to apply.
• ✅ This method is easier to apply.
• ❌ She is the most smartest candidate.
• ✅ She is the smartest candidate.

Related traps:

• Incomplete comparison: The new policy is better. (Better than what?) Academic writing usually needs than + a clear second term. On MC items, if only one option supplies a complete than-phrase that fits, prefer it when the stem signals comparison.
• Illogical comparison: Her scores are higher than the other students. → than those of the other students or than the other students’ scores. Compare scores to scores, not scores to people.
• Absolute adjectives: Words like unique, perfect, and complete resist ordinary degree in careful style (more unique is often treated as wrong on tests). Prefer more nearly unique only if an option forces nuance; otherwise choose the form that avoids ranking absolutes.

Parallel structure in lists

Parallel structure means items joined by and, or, or commas share the same grammatical shape: all nouns, all -ing forms, all infinitives, all clauses, and so on.

• ❌ The study required designing a survey, data collection, and to analyze results.
• ✅ The study required designing a survey, collecting data, and analyzing results.
• ✅ The study required the design of a survey, the collection of data, and the analysis of results.

Lists of verbs after a modal or auxiliary keep the same base form:

• ❌ Participants should read the consent form, complete the questionnaire, and returning it promptly.
• ✅ Participants should read the consent form, complete the questionnaire, and return it promptly.

On error-identification items, scan every list of three. The odd item out is often the answer.

Correlative conjunctions and forced parallelism

Correlative pairs lock two parts of a sentence into parallel form:

Classic traps:

• ❌ The paper is both innovative and it is carefully documented. (adjective vs. clause)
• ✅ The paper is both innovative and carefully documented.
• ❌ Not only did she collect the data but also analyzing it.
• ✅ Not only did she collect the data but she also analyzed it. / She not only collected the data but also analyzed it.

Subject–verb agreement after either…or / neither…nor follows the nearer subject: Neither the tutors nor the coordinator is available; Neither the coordinator nor the tutors are available.

Comparative clauses and reduced forms

After than or as, English may use a full clause or a reduced form:

• Full: She finished earlier than her partner finished.
• Reduced: She finished earlier than her partner did. / earlier than her partner.

Keep pronouns in the case that matches the reduced structure. Informal speech uses than me; careful test English often prefers than I (did) when a verb is implied. Choose the option that is clearly grammatical in academic register without inventing missing words.

The…the double comparative expresses linked change: The more carefully students outline, the clearer their drafts become. Both halves need parallel comparative structure.

How these patterns appear on iTEP

Part 1 (fill-in-the-blank): Options may cycle better / more better / best / more good. Pick the single correct degree form for the blank’s slot (comparative with than, superlative with the, equative with as…as).

Part 2 (error identification): Underlined segments often break parallelism in a three-part list or after not only…but also, or they insert a double comparative. Read the whole sentence, name the structure, and test whether each coordinated piece matches.

Mini decision checklist

1. Is the sentence comparing two things, ranking among three+, or equating? Choose comparative, superlative, or equative.
2. Is the adjective/adverb irregular? Use the irregular table; do not add more/most.
3. Is there a list or correlative pair? Force matching forms.
4. Does than compare like with like (scores with scores, methods with methods)?
5. Reject any option that marks degree twice.

Master these five checks and comparison items become mechanical rather than “feel-based.” Parallel structure, once trained, is one of the highest-yield error-identification skills on the Grammar section.