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

1. angry – angrier
2. good – better
   
3. big – bigger
   
4. blue – bluer
   
5. brave – braver
   
6. busy – busier
   
7. clever – cleverer
   
8. clever – more clever
9. cold – colder
   
10. dry – drier
    
11. easy- easier
    
12. fast – faster
    
13. fat – fatter
14. funny – funnier
    
15. gentle – gentler
    
16. happy – happier
    
17. healthy – healthier
    
18. high – higher
    
19. hot – hotter
    
20. kind – kinder
    
21. large – larger
    
22. late – later
    
23. long – longer
    
24. loud – louder
    
25. lucky – luckier
    
26. mean – meaner
    
27. nice – nicer
    
28. old – older
    
29. pretty – prettier
    
30. quick – quicker
    
31. quiet – quieter
    
32. rich – richer
    
33. sad – sadder
    
34. safe – safer
    
35. short – shorter
    
36. simple – simpler
    
37. simple – more simple
38. small – smaller
    
39. smart – smarter
    
40. strange – stranger
    
41. strong – stronger
    
42. tall – taller
    
43. thin – thinner
    
44. weak – weaker
    
45. weird – weirder
46. wet – wetter
    
47. wise – wiser
    
48. bad – worse
    
49. young – younger
    
50. admirable – more admirable
51. athletic – more athletic
52. attractive – more attractive
53. amusing – more amusing
54. awesome – more awesome
55. beautiful – more beautiful
56. boring – more boring
57. careful – more careful
58. caring – more caring
59. charming – more charming
60. clever – more clever
61. comfortable – more comfortable
62. complicated – more complicated
63. crowded – more crowded
64. daring – more daring
65. dependable – more dependable
66. difficult – more difficult
67. economical – more economical
68. efficient – more efficient
69. embarrassing – more embarrassing
70. exciting – more exciting
71. expensive – more expensive
72. extraordinary – more extraordinary
73. extroverted – more extroverted
74. famous – more famous
75. forgetful – more forgetful
76. fragrant – more fragrant
77. funny – more funny
78. generous – more generous
79. gentle – more gentle
80. graceful – more graceful
81. grateful – more grateful
82. important – more important
83. inspirational – more inspirational
84. intelligent – more intelligent
85. interesting – more interesting
86. introverted – more introverted
87. irritating – more irritating
88. modern – more modern
89. musical – more musical
90. organized – more organized
91. original – more original
92. peaceful – more peaceful
93. photogenic – more photogenic
94. pleasant – more pleasant
95. popular – more popular
96. talented – more talented
97. talkative – more talkative
98. thoughtful – more thoughtful
99. trustworthy – more trustworthy
100. 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