Use of comparative adjectives
Use 1
We use comparative adjectives to compare 2 or more things, people or places.
We use “than” after the comparative adjective to say what we are comparing something with.
Example:
The cat is smaller than the dog.
Use 2
We also use comparative adjectives to compare 1 thing, person or place at different times.
We use “than” after the comparative adjective to say what time period we are comparing something with.
Example:
Jane is more active than last year.
Form of comparative adjectives
The form of comparative adjectives depends on the number of syllables of the adjective itself. See the grammar rules below with example sentences.
One-syllable adjectives
For most one-syllable adjectives:
We add -er
| Adjective | Comparative adjective |
|---|---|
| hard | harder |
| tall | taller |
| short | shorter |
| small | smaller |
When we use a personal pronoun after a comparative, we use an object personal pronoun. (me, you, her, him, it, us, them)
Example:
Mr Jones is taller than me.
For one-syllable adjectives ending in “e”:
We add -r
| Adjective | Comparative adjective |
|---|---|
| fine | finer |
| nice | nicer |
| rare | rarer |
Example:
Gold is rarer than silver.
For one-syllable adjectives ending in a consonant, vowel and consonant:
We double the last consonant and add -er
| Adjective | Comparative adjective |
|---|---|
| big | bigger |
| fat | fatter |
| hot | hotter |
| thin | thinner |
Example:
The weather in Spain is hotter than in England.
We usually omit the second preposition “in” before “England” to avoid repetition:
The weather in Spain is hotter than England.
Two-syllable adjectives
For most two-syllable adjectives:
We use “more” + adjective
| Adjective | Comparative adjective |
|---|---|
| careful | more careful |
| famous | more famous |
| peaceful | more peaceful |
| pleasant | more pleasant |
| useful | more useful |
Example:
I lost my keys yesterday. I need to be more careful.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in “y”:
We change the “y” to “i” and add -er
| Adjective | Comparative adjective |
|---|---|
| busy | busier |
| easy | easier |
| funny | funnier |
| happy | happier |
Example:
Jane is feeling happier than yesterday.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in “er”, “le” or “ow”:
We usually add -er
| Adjective | Comparative adjective |
|---|---|
| clever | cleverer |
| gentle | gentler |
| narrow | narrower |
Example:
Mark is cleverer than the other students.
Longer adjectives
Adjectives with three or more syllables:
We always use “more” + adjective
| Adjective | Comparative adjective |
|---|---|
| complicated | more complicated |
| enjoyable | more enjoyable |
| interesting | more interesting |
Example:
Jane thinks that skiing is more enjoyable than studying.
Irregular comparative adjectives
Some comparative adjectives are irregular:
| Adjective | Comparative adjective |
|---|---|
| bad | worse |
| far | further or farther |
| good | better |
| old | older or elder |
Examples:
I think that Messi is a better football player than Ronaldo.
He had lots of energy. He ran further than Mark.
My sister is older than me.
Louise is my elder sister.
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