noun 1 + be + adjective + -er + than + noun 2Use this pattern with many short adjectives: tall → taller, small → smaller, fast → faster.
Comparative Adjectives
A2Use comparative adjectives to compare two things: taller, cheaper, more expensive. Short adjectives often take -er; longer ones use more.
What you'll learn
- Build comparisons with -er for short adjectives.
- Use more with longer adjectives.
- Spell comparative forms correctly: bigger, happier.
- Complete the comparison with than.
- Use common irregular forms like better and worse.
Structure
noun 1 + be + more + adjective + than + noun 2Use more with many longer adjectives: more expensive, more comfortable, more interesting.
noun 1 + be + better/worse/farther + than + noun 2Some common adjectives have special comparative forms. Learn them as complete words.
Build a sentence
Subject
Adjective
Compared with
AnnaistallerthanMaria
Anna is taller than Maria.
Short adjective: add -er.
When to use
Two things
Compare one thing with another: a car and a bike, this year and last year, Anna and Maria. Use a comparative form to show the difference.
Choosing options
Use comparatives when you weigh two options in daily life: cheaper flights, faster trains, quieter rooms, more comfortable shoes.
Markers
thanmoretwo thingsdifferentcompare
Spelling
short stressed vowel + final consonant
→ double consonant + erbig → biggerconsonant + y
→ y → ierhappy → happiermany short adjectives
→ + ertall → tallerCommon mistakes
Wrong
Tom is more tall than Alex.
Correct
Tom is taller than Alex.
With many short adjectives, use -er, not more.
Wrong
This sofa is comfortabler than that one.
Correct
This sofa is more comfortable than that one.
Longer adjectives normally use more, not -er.
Wrong
The second exercise is more easier.
Correct
The second exercise is easier.
Do not use more and -er together. Choose one comparative form.
Wrong
Maria is taller then Lisa.
Correct
Maria is taller than Lisa.
Use than after a comparative adjective, not then.
Wrong
Today is gooder than yesterday.
Correct
Today is better than yesterday.
Good has an irregular comparative form: better.
Wrong
My room is biger than yours.
Correct
My room is bigger than yours.
Big doubles the final consonant before -er.
Common misconceptions
❝ Every adjective can take -er if the sentence compares two things. ❞
Many short adjectives take -er, but many longer adjectives use more. You must choose the right pattern for the adjective length.
❝ Than is optional because the listener can guess the second thing. ❞
When both sides are stated, than completes the comparison and makes the sentence correct and clear.
Skills in this rule (6)
USE_ER_FOR_SHORT_ADJECTIVESw5Add -er to short adjectives to compare two things
Use the -er form with many short adjectives when one thing has more of a quality than another. The comparison is between two people, things, places, or situations.
USE_MORE_FOR_LONG_ADJECTIVESw5Use more with longer adjectives
Use more before many longer adjectives to compare two things. Do not add -er to these adjectives.
SPELL_DOUBLE_DROP_Yw4Change spelling correctly in comparative forms
Double the final consonant in short stressed words like big → bigger, and change consonant + y to -ier like happy → happier. Keep the spelling change when you add -er.
USE_THAN_TO_COMPLETE_COMPARISONw4Use than after a comparative adjective
When both sides of the comparison are named, put than after the comparative form. This links the two items clearly.
USE_COMPARATIVES_TO_COMPARE_TWOw4Use comparative adjectives to compare two things
Choose a comparative form when you compare one person or thing with another. Look for two items in the sentence and a meaning of difference.
IRREGULAR_BETTER_WORSE_FARTHERw4Use common irregular comparative forms
Some common adjectives do not follow the regular patterns: good → better, bad → worse, far → farther. Learn these as complete forms.