The comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs are used when you want to compare two things in order to show the difference between them. (We use superlatives when we’re comparing more than two things)
For example:
Book A is $20 and Book B is $10.
Book A is more expensive than Book B.
Book B is cheaper than Book A.
Forming comparatives
The comparative is formed by adding ‘-er’ to short (one syllable) words
fast – faster
long – longer
quick – quicker
For one syllable words that end in a vowel and a consonant, double the consonant and add ‘-er’
big – bigger
fat – fatter
hot – hotter
To form the comparative with most two syllable words we add ‘more’
boring – more boring
careful – more careful
Some two syllable words can have ‘-er’ and ‘more’
simple – simpler – more simple
healthy – healthier – more healthy
quiet – quiter – more quiet
For three syllable words we use ‘more’
more musical
more efficient
more important
♦ We need to make our filing system more efficient.
For words that end in ‘y’, change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘-er’
funny – funnier
happy – happier
angry – angrier
For words that end in ‘-e’ just add ‘r’
safe – safer
♦ She’s a much safer driver than her husband.
We use ‘than’ when comparing one thing with another.
♦ I’m taller than you.
♦ He’s shorter than me.
♦ My son is more musical than my daughter.
Irregular forms
good – better
bad – worse
far – farther/further
Example sentences using comparatives
♦ My car is faster than yours.
♦ Apples are healthier than cakes.
♦ This year’s English exam was a lot more difficult than last year’s.
♦ I’m fatter than my sister.
♦ He’s a lot funnier than you.
♦ I think older people are more interesting.
♦ My sore throat is worse today.
♦ I thought my English exam would be harder.
♦ This car is too expensive. Have you got something cheaper?
♦ I feel much healthier since I stopped eating meat.
♦ I’m getting better at English.
♦ I need a more modern phone.
♦ You look cold. You need to buy a warmer coat.
♦ I was more interested in English than maths at school.
100 English comparatives
- angry – angrier
- good – better
- big – bigger
- blue – bluer
- brave – braver
- busy – busier
- clever – cleverer
- clever – more clever
- cold – colder
- dry – drier
- easy- easier
- fast – faster
- fat – fatter
- funny – funnier
- gentle – gentler
- happy – happier
- healthy – healthier
- high – higher
- hot – hotter
- kind – kinder
- large – larger
- late – later
- long – longer
- loud – louder
- lucky – luckier
- mean – meaner
- nice – nicer
- old – older
- pretty – prettier
- quick – quicker
- quiet – quieter
- rich – richer
- sad – sadder
- safe – safer
- short – shorter
- simple – simpler
- simple – more simple
- small – smaller
- smart – smarter
- strange – stranger
- strong – stronger
- tall – taller
- thin – thinner
- weak – weaker
- weird – weirder
- wet – wetter
- wise – wiser
- bad – worse
- young – younger
- admirable – more admirable
- athletic – more athletic
- attractive – more attractive
- amusing – more amusing
- awesome – more awesome
- beautiful – more beautiful
- boring – more boring
- careful – more careful
- caring – more caring
- charming – more charming
- clever – more clever
- comfortable – more comfortable
- complicated – more complicated
- crowded – more crowded
- daring – more daring
- dependable – more dependable
- difficult – more difficult
- economical – more economical
- efficient – more efficient
- embarrassing – more embarrassing
- exciting – more exciting
- expensive – more expensive
- extraordinary – more extraordinary
- extroverted – more extroverted
- famous – more famous
- forgetful – more forgetful
- fragrant – more fragrant
- funny – more funny
- generous – more generous
- gentle – more gentle
- graceful – more graceful
- grateful – more grateful
- important – more important
- inspirational – more inspirational
- intelligent – more intelligent
- interesting – more interesting
- introverted – more introverted
- irritating – more irritating
- modern – more modern
- musical – more musical
- organized – more organized
- original – more original
- peaceful – more peaceful
- photogenic – more photogenic
- pleasant – more pleasant
- popular – more popular
- talented – more talented
- talkative – more talkative
- thoughtful – more thoughtful
- trustworthy – more trustworthy
- valuable – more valuable
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger – Daft Punk
Listen out for the comparatives in this song (some of them are in the extracts below the video).
Extracts
Work it, make it, do it, makes us
Harder, better, faster, stronger
Work it harder, make it better
Do it faster, makes us stronger
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