Comparisons in English

When we want to compare two things in English, we use comparative adjectives. These adjectives show if one thing has more of a certain quality than another.

There are a few rules for how we form these comparative adjectives:

1. Short Adjectives (One Syllable)

For most adjectives with one syllable, we add -er to the end.

• Tall Taller

  • Example: John is taller than Mike.

• Old ▶️ Older

  • Example: My car is older than yours.

Spelling Rules for Short Adjectives:

• Ending in -e: Just add -r.

  • Nice ▶️ Nicer

  • Example: This room is nicer than the other one.

• Ending in consonant + single vowel + consonant: Double the last consonant and add -er.

  • Big ▶️ Bigger

  • Example: My house is bigger than my apartment.

  • Hot ▶️ Hotter

  • Example: Today is hotter than yesterday.

2. Adjectives Ending in -y (Usually Two Syllables)

For adjectives ending in -y, we change the -y to -i and add -er.

• Happy ▶️ Happier

  • Example: She looks happier today.

• Easy ▶️ Easier

  • Example: This exercise is easier than the last one.

• Busy ▶️ Busier

  • Example: I'm busier this week than last week.

3. Long Adjectives (Two or More Syllables - Not ending in -y)

For most adjectives with two or more syllables (that don't end in -y), we use more before the adjective.

• Beautiful ▶️ More beautiful

  • Example: This flower is more beautiful than that one.

• Expensive ▶️ More expensive

  • Example: The new phone is more expensive than the old one.

• Important ▶️ More important

  • Example: Health is more important than money.

4. Irregular Adjectives

Some common adjectives have special, irregular comparative forms that you need to memorize.

• Good ▶️ Better

  • Example: This food is better than the last time.

• Bad ▶️ Worse

  • Example: The weather is worse today.

• Far ▶️ Farther / Further (both are usually fine, 'farther' often for physical distance, 'further' for abstract or physical)

  • Example: The store is farther than I thought.

Using "Than"

After a comparative adjective, we almost always use the word than to introduce the second item in the comparison.

• My brother is taller than me.

• This book is more interesting than that movie.

Exercise

Question 1: My new car is _____ than my old one. (fast)

• A. faster

• B. more fast

• C. fastest

• D. more faster

Hint: This is a one-syllable adjective. How do we make it comparative?

Question 2: Learning English is _____ than learning Chinese for me. (easy)

• A. easier

• B. more easy

• C. easiest

• D. easyer

Hint: This adjective ends in '-y'. Remember the spelling rule for comparatives.

Question 3: This book is _____ than the movie. (interesting)

• A. more interesting

• B. interestinger

• C. most interesting

• D. more interestinger

Hint: This is a long adjective. How do we make long adjectives comparative?

Question 4: My new apartment is _____ than my old one. (big)

• A. bigger

• B. more big

• C. biggest

• D. bigest

Hint: This is a one-syllable adjective with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern at the end.

Question 5: The weather today is _____ than yesterday. (bad)

• A. badder

• B. worse

• C. more bad

• D. worst

Hint: This is an irregular adjective. Its comparative form is unique.

Question 6: She is _____ at singing than her brother. (good)

• A. gooder

• B. better

• C. more good

• D. best

Hint: This is an irregular adjective. Its comparative form is unique.

Question 7: This dress is _____ than that one. (expensive)

• A. expensiver

• B. more expensive

• C. most expensive

• D. expensivest

Hint: This is a long adjective. How do we make long adjectives comparative?

Question 8: My new job is _____ than my old job. (stressful)

• A. stressfuler

• B. more stressful

• C. most stressful

• D. stressfullest

Hint: This is a long adjective. How do we make long adjectives comparative?

Question 9: The library is _____ than the park from my house. (far)

• A. farer

• B. farther

• C. more far

• D. farthest

Hint: This is an irregular adjective. It has a special comparative form.

Question 10: My little brother is _____ than me. (noisy)

• A. noisyer

• B. more noisy

• C. noisiest

• D. noisier

Hint: This adjective ends in '-y'. Remember the spelling rule for comparatives.