Comparative adjectives are essential for expressing comparisons between two nouns in English. Whether you’re describing differences in age, quality, or interest, understanding how to use comparatives correctly will significantly enhance your English grammar. This guide will break down the rules of comparative adjectives, providing clear explanations and examples to help you master this important aspect of English.
What are Comparative Adjectives?
Comparative adjectives are used to highlight the differences between two things. They allow us to say whether something is bigger, smaller, faster, slower, or more interesting than something else. In essence, they help us compare qualities.
Consider these examples to understand how comparative adjectives function in sentences:
- Learning English grammar is easier than mastering pronunciation for some learners.
- The summer days are longer than the winter nights.
- Traveling by train is often more relaxing than driving a car.
Forming Comparative Adjectives: The Basic Rules
The way we form comparative adjectives depends largely on the number of syllables in the adjective itself. Here’s a breakdown of the rules:
One-Syllable Adjectives
For most adjectives with just one syllable, we simply add “-er” to the end to create the comparative form.
- old → older: This book is older than that magazine.
- fast → faster: A cheetah is faster than a lion.
- bright → brighter: The sun is brighter today than yesterday.
There are slight modifications to this rule depending on the ending of the adjective:
- Adjectives ending in “-e”: Just add “-r”.
- nice → nicer: This coffee is nicer than the one I had earlier.
- safe → safer: Flying is safer than riding a motorcycle.
- Adjectives ending in a vowel followed by a consonant: Double the consonant and add “-er”.
- big → bigger: An elephant is bigger than a horse.
- hot → hotter: July is usually hotter than June.
Two or More Syllable Adjectives
When adjectives have two or more syllables, we generally use “more” before the adjective to form the comparative, instead of adding “-er”.
- interesting → more interesting: This documentary is more interesting than the news report.
- expensive → more expensive: A sports car is more expensive than a bicycle.
- beautiful → more beautiful: The sunset tonight is more beautiful than last night’s.
Exception for Two-Syllable Adjectives ending in “-y”: If a two-syllable adjective ends in “-y”, change the “-y” to “-i” and add “-er”.
- happy → happier: She is happier now that she has a new job.
- easy → easier: This exercise is easier than the last one.
- noisy → noisier: The city center is noisier than the suburbs.
It’s worth noting that some two-syllable adjectives can take either “-er” or “more,” such as common, clever, friendly, gentle, quiet, simple, and stupid. While both forms might be grammatically correct, one might sound more natural than the other depending on context and regional preferences. For example, “friendlier” and “more friendly” are both acceptable.
Irregular Comparative Adjectives
Not all adjectives follow the standard rules. Some common adjectives have irregular comparative forms that you simply need to memorize.
- good → better: My English is better now than it was last year.
- bad → worse: The traffic today is worse than yesterday.
- far → further / farther: London is further from here than Paris. (Both “further” and “farther” are used, with “further” being more common in British English for metaphorical distances as well.)
Using “Than” in Comparisons
The word “than” is crucial when you want to specify what you are comparing something to. It comes after the comparative adjective and introduces the second element of the comparison.
- My car is faster than my bicycle.
- This movie is more exciting than the one we saw last week.
- She is taller than her brother.
Addressing Common Questions about Comparatives
What about adjectives like “friendly”?
As mentioned earlier, “friendly,” like some other two-syllable adjectives, can take either “-er” or “more.” You can say “friendlier” or “more friendly.” Both are generally understood and accepted, though “friendlier” might be slightly more common in everyday speech.
What about adjectives like “bored,” “tired,” and “drunk”?
Adjectives like “bored” and “tired” are past participles used as adjectives. They typically use “more” to form comparatives because they already have a suffix (-ed) and adding “-er” would be unconventional. So, it’s correct to say “more bored” and “more tired.”
For “drunk,” both “drunker” and “more drunk” are acceptable. Similar to “friendly,” it’s a matter of usage and slight nuance, but both forms are understood.
Conclusion
Mastering comparative adjectives is a key step in improving your English fluency. By understanding the rules for forming comparatives and practicing their use, you can express comparisons accurately and effectively. Remember to consider the syllable count of adjectives and be aware of irregular forms. Continue practicing and you’ll find using comparative adjectives becomes increasingly natural in your English communication.
