COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES: A COMPLETE GUIDE
1. What Are Comparative Adjectives?
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two people, places,
things, or ideas. They show differences in quality, size, degree, or
amount.
Basic Rules:
a) Short adjectives (one syllable or some two-syllable
words) → Add “-er”
o tall → taller (John is taller than Mike.)
o fast → faster (This car is faster than that one.)
b) Long adjectives (two or more syllables) → Use “more”
before the adjective
o beautiful → more beautiful (This painting is more beautiful
than that one.)
o expensive → more expensive (This phone is more
expensive than the other one.)
c) Comparative adjectives are used with “than”
o My house is bigger than yours.
o This test is more difficult than the last one.
2. Spelling Rules for Short Adjectives
✅ If the adjective ends in "-e", just add "-r"
nice → nicer (This dress is nicer than that one.)
large → larger (Her house is larger than mine.)
✅ If the adjective ends in a single consonant + single vowel +
consonant, double the last letter
big → bigger (This dog is bigger than my cat.)
hot → hotter (Today is hotter than yesterday.)
✅ If the adjective ends in "-y", change "y" to "i" and add "-er"
happy → happier (She looks happier today than yesterday.)
busy → busier (He is busier than his brother.)
3. Two-Syllable Adjectives: Two Possible Forms
Some two-syllable adjectives can take either "-er" or "more":
simple → simpler / more simple
narrow → narrower / more narrow
quiet → quieter / more quiet
(⚠️ "More" is often preferred in formal writing, but both are
acceptable.)
4. Adjectives That Always Use "More"
For adjectives with three or more syllables, always use "more":
interesting → more interesting (This book is more interesting
than the last one.)
expensive → more expensive (That car is more expensive than
mine.)
5. Irregular Comparatives (Exceptions)
Some adjectives don’t follow the normal rules:
Comparativ
Adjective Example
e
This movie is better than the last
good better
one.
The weather today is worse than
bad worse
yesterday.
farther /
far My house is farther than yours.
further
little less I have less money than before.
many/
more She has more books than me.
much
(⚠️ "Farther" is usually for physical distance, while "further" is for
abstract ideas: "Let's discuss this further.")
6. Double Comparatives: "The ... the ..."
When showing how one thing affects another, use "the" +
comparative:
The taller you are, the easier basketball is.
The more you practice, the better you get.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don’t use "more" and "-er" together
Wrong: more taller
Correct: taller
❌ Use "than" when making comparisons
Wrong: This bag is heavier that mine.
Correct: This bag is heavier than mine.
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8. Games That May Help You Learn This
https://wordwall.net/resource/11735476/english/comparative-
adjectives
https://wordwall.net/resource/5897754/english/comparative-
adjectives
