100 English comparatives

Bigger fish and smaller fish. English comparatives

The fish on the left is bigger than the fish on the right. (© Depositphotos.com/Gunnar3000)

 

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

 

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