Comparative Adjectives: Definition, Rules and Useful Examples

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Comparative Adjectives

Comparative Definition

Comparatives are used to compare and clarify the difference between two nouns. In other words, comparative adjectives are used when two persons or objects being compared.

Forming Comparative Adjectives

Learn how to use and form comparatives in English with useful grammar rules, ESL pictures, and example sentences.

One-syllable Adjectives

1. Form the comparative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er.

Examples:

• long – longer
• tall – taller

2. If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form.

Examples:

• cute – cuter
• large – larger

3. Add –er to adjectives that end in consonant-vowel-consonant and double the last consonant.

Examples:

• big – bigger
• hot – hotter

Two-syllable Adjectives

1. With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more.

Examples:

• honest – more honest
• famous – more famous

2. If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative form.

Examples:

• happy – happier
• crazy – crazier

3. Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, –le, or –ow take –er to form the comparative forms.

Examples:

• narrow – narrower
• gentle – gentler

Adjectives with Three or More Syllables

Add more to adjectives that has 3 or more syllables.

Examples:

• expensive – more expensive
• difficult – more difficult

Irregular Adjectives

• good – better
• bad – worse
• far – farther
• little – less
• many – more

NOTE: When comparative adjectives are used, the word “THAN” appears after the adjective.

Comparative Examples

List of affirmative and comparative adjectives in English.

Examples of Comparative Adjectives
Affirmative	Comparative
slow	slower
fast	faster
cheap	cheaper
clear	clearer
loud	louder
new	newer
rich	richer
short	shorter
thick	thicker
old	older
tall	taller
large	larger
wide	wider
wise	wiser
nice	nicer
big	bigger than
fat	fatter than
fit	fitter than
polite	more polite than
helpful	more helpful than
useful	more useful than
obscure	more obscure
hungry	hungrier than
happy	happier than
pretty	prettier than
heavy	heavier than
angry	angrier than
dirty	dirtier than
funny	funnier than
narrow	narrower than
shallow	shallower than
humble	humbler than
gentle	gentler than
clever	cleverer than
interesting	more interesting than
comfortable	more comfortable than
beautiful	more beautiful than
difficult	more difficult than
dangerous	more dangerous than
expensive	more expensive than
popular	more popular than
complicated	more complicated than
confident	more confident than
good	better than
bad	worse than
far	farther than
little	less than
much/many	more than
stupid	less stupid than

 

Forming Comparatives | Images