Comparative adjectives are essential for expressing differences between two nouns, adding depth and clarity to your English communication. Understanding how to form and use them correctly is a key step in mastering English grammar. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive overview of comparative adjectives, complete with clear examples and usage rules to help you confidently use them in your writing and speaking.
What are Comparative Adjectives?
Comparative adjectives do exactly what their name suggests: they compare. They highlight the difference in a particular quality between two things. Whether you’re discussing size, speed, or any other attribute, comparative adjectives allow you to show how one noun measures up against another.
The basic structure for using comparative adjectives in a sentence is:
Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object)
Let’s break down some examples to illustrate this structure and how comparative adjectives work in practice:
- My car is faster than my bicycle.
- This book is more interesting than the last one I read.
- The blue shirt is cheaper than the red shirt.
- She is taller than her brother.
In each of these sentences, the comparative adjective (faster, more interesting, cheaper, taller) clearly shows the difference between the two nouns being compared. The word “than” is crucial as it connects the two items and establishes the comparison.
Sometimes, the second noun in the comparison (“than noun (object)”) can be omitted if the context is already clear.
- I like coffee better. (than tea – understood from context)
- Is your new apartment bigger? (than your old apartment – understood from context)
Forming Comparative Adjectives: Regular Forms
The way you form a comparative adjective depends mainly on the number of syllables in the base adjective. Here’s a breakdown of the regular forms:
One-Syllable Adjectives
For most adjectives with only one syllable, you simply add “-er” to create the comparative form.
Rule: Add -er
| Adjective | Comparative | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| tall | taller | John is taller than his father. |
| short | shorter | This road is shorter than the highway. |
| fast | faster | A cheetah is faster than a lion. |
| slow | slower | A snail is slower than a turtle. |
| big | bigger | An elephant is bigger than a horse. |
| small | smaller | A mouse is smaller than a cat. |
| old | older | My brother is older than me. |
| young | younger | She is younger than her cousin. |
| hard | harder | Steel is harder than wood. |
| soft | softer | Cotton is softer than wool. |
| bright | brighter | The sun is brighter than the moon. |
| dark | darker | Winter nights are darker than summer nights. |
| strong | stronger | He is stronger than he looks. |
| weak | weaker | After being sick, I felt weaker than usual. |
| cheap | cheaper | This store is cheaper than the one downtown. |
| expensive | more expensive | (Note: “expensive” is generally considered two+ syllables for comparative, using “more”) |
Special Case: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant
If a one-syllable adjective ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern (except for w, x, y), double the final consonant before adding “-er”.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | This box is bigger than that one. |
| hot | hotter | The desert is hotter than the forest. |
| fat | fatter | Bears are fatter in the autumn. |
| thin | thinner | Paper is thinner than cardboard. |
| sad | sadder | Saying goodbye is sadder than saying hello. |
Two-Syllable Adjectives
For two-syllable adjectives, the rules are a bit more flexible.
Rule 1 (Ending in -y): If a two-syllable adjective ends in “-y”, change the “y” to “i” and add “-er”.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| happy | happier | She is happier now than she was before. |
| easy | easier | This test is easier than the last one. |
| busy | busier | Cities are busier than villages. |
| funny | funnier | This movie is funnier than the one we saw last week. |
| pretty | prettier | She is prettier than her sister. |
Rule 2 (General Two-Syllable): For many other two-syllable adjectives, you can use either “-er” or “more” to form the comparative. However, using “more” is often considered safer, especially if you’re unsure. For some two-syllable adjectives, “more” is the preferred or only correct option (like “modern”, “recent”, “tiring”).
Using “-er” or “more”:
| Adjective | Comparative (-er) | Comparative (more) | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| simple | simpler | more simple | This explanation is simpler/more simple than the first one. |
| quiet | quieter | more quiet | The countryside is quieter/more quiet than the city. |
| gentle | gentler | more gentle | This fabric is gentler/more gentle on the skin. |
Using “more” (Generally Preferred or Only Option for Some):
| Adjective | Comparative (more) | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| modern | more modern | This building is more modern than that one. |
| recent | more recent | This news is more recent than the old reports. |
| tiring | more tiring | Walking uphill is more tiring than walking downhill. |
| careful | more careful | You need to be more careful with fragile items. |
General Guideline for Two Syllables: When in doubt with two-syllable adjectives, using “more + adjective” is generally a safe and grammatically correct choice.
Three or More Syllable Adjectives
For adjectives with three or more syllables, you always use “more” to form the comparative.
Rule: Use more + adjective
| Adjective | Comparative | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| important | more important | Education is more important than entertainment. |
| expensive | more expensive | Traveling by plane is more expensive than traveling by bus. |
| beautiful | more beautiful | A rose is more beautiful than a dandelion. |
| intelligent | more intelligent | Dolphins are considered more intelligent than sharks. |
| interesting | more interesting | History is more interesting than I thought. |
| comfortable | more comfortable | This chair is more comfortable than that stool. |
| significant | more significant | This discovery is more significant than previous findings. |
| responsible | more responsible | Adults are generally more responsible than children. |
| complicated | more complicated | Physics can be more complicated than biology. |
| advantageous | more advantageous | Investing early is more advantageous than waiting. |
Irregular Comparative Adjectives
Some common adjectives have irregular comparative forms that don’t follow the standard rules. It’s essential to memorize these as they are frequently used.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | My health is better now than last year. |
| bad | worse | The weather today is worse than yesterday. |
| far | farther/further | Los Angeles is farther/further from New York than Chicago. |
| little | less | I drink less coffee now than I used to. |
| much/many | more | I have more free time this week. |
Note on “farther” vs. “further”: While both “farther” and “further” are comparatives of “far,” “farther” is typically used for physical distance, while “further” can be used for metaphorical distance or to mean “additional.” In many contexts, they are interchangeable, but it’s good to be aware of this subtle distinction.
- Physical distance: My house is farther down the road.
- Metaphorical distance/additional: Let’s discuss this further.
Understanding and practicing with these comparative adjective examples will significantly improve your English grammar and allow you to express comparisons naturally and accurately. Keep practicing and you’ll master them in no time!
