/Adjectives
A2Adjectives

Comparative Adjectives

1

What is it?

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things, people, or groups. We form them by adding -er to short adjectives (tall → taller, fast → faster) or using "more" with longer adjectives (beautiful → more beautiful, expensive → more expensive). Comparatives are always followed by "than" when making direct comparisons: "She is taller than her sister."

2

How to form it

SubjectPositiveNegativeQuestion
Short adjectivestaller thannot taller thanIs it taller than?
Short adjectivesfaster thannot faster thanIs it faster than?
Long adjectivesmore beautiful thannot more beautiful thanIs it more beautiful than?
Long adjectivesmore expensive thannot more expensive thanIs it more expensive than?
Irregularbetter thannot better thanIs it better than?
Irregularworse thannot worse thanIs it worse than?
  • • Short adjectives (1 syllable): add -er → tall → taller, fast → faster, old → older
  • • Short adjectives ending in -e: add -r → nice → nicer, large → larger, late → later
  • • Short adjectives with consonant-vowel-consonant: double final consonant + -er → big → bigger, hot → hotter, thin → thinner
  • • Adjectives ending in -y: change y to i + -er → happy → happier, easy → easier, busy → busier
  • • Long adjectives (2+ syllables): use 'more' → beautiful → more beautiful, expensive → more expensive, difficult → more difficult
  • • Irregular forms: good → better, bad → worse, far → farther/further
  • • Always use 'than' for direct comparisons: taller than, more beautiful than
3

When to use it

  1. 1

    Comparing two things — use comparative + than

    "She is taller than her brother." / "This book is more interesting than that one."

  2. 2

    Short adjectives get -er — one syllable adjectives

    "bigger, faster, older, younger, stronger, weaker"

  3. 3

    Long adjectives get "more" — two or more syllables

    "more beautiful, more expensive, more difficult, more comfortable"

  4. 4

    Irregular comparatives — memorize these special forms

    "good → better, bad → worse, far → farther/further, little → less"

  5. 5

    Without "than" — when comparison is implied or known

    "Which car is faster?" / "I want a bigger size." / "Choose a better option."

4

Common mistakes

She is more tall than him.

She is taller than him.

'Tall' is a short adjective, so add -er, don't use 'more'.

This book is interestinger than that one.

This book is more interesting than that one.

'Interesting' is a long adjective, so use 'more', not -er.

He is more good than his brother.

He is better than his brother.

'Good' is irregular: the comparative is 'better', not 'more good'.

This is more cheap.

This is cheaper.

'Cheap' is short, so add -er. Use 'less expensive' for the opposite meaning.

5

Quick reference

  • Comparatives compare two things: taller, more beautiful, better
  • Short adjectives: add -er (tall → taller, fast → faster)
  • Long adjectives: use 'more' (beautiful → more beautiful)
  • Always use 'than': taller than, more expensive than
  • Irregular: good → better, bad → worse, far → farther
  • Double consonants: big → bigger, hot → hotter, thin → thinner
  • Change -y to -i: happy → happier, easy → easier
6

Natural conversation example

Two friends comparing their new apartments

L

Lisa

How do you like your new apartment?
M

Mark

It's great! It's bigger than my old one and much more modern.
L

Lisa

Is it more expensive than your previous place?
M

Mark

Yes, but it's closer to work, so I save time. What about your place?
L

Lisa

Mine is smaller than yours, but it's cheaper and has better natural light.
M

Mark

That sounds nice! Is it noisier than before?
L

Lisa

Actually, it's quieter. The neighborhood is more peaceful than my old area.

Practice Exercises

Complete with the comparative form.

  1. 1.
    This car is than that one. (fast)
  2. 2.
    She is than her sister. (tall)
  3. 3.
    This book is than that movie. (interesting)
  4. 4.
    Today is than yesterday. (hot)
  5. 5.
    He is a player than me. (good)
  6. 6.
    This test is than the last one. (difficult)
Adjectives and PrepositionsAll TopicsComparatives

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