Comparatives
Comparatives Exercises with Answers (A1).
What Are Comparative Adjectives?
We use comparative adjectives to compare two people, places or things.
The Comparative Pattern
Add -er to short adjectives, or use more before long adjectives. Then add than before the second thing.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tall | taller | Leo is taller than Sam. |
| old | older | Kate is older than Anna. |
| fast | faster | The train is faster than the bus. |
People, Places and Things
We can use comparative adjectives to compare almost anything.
| What we compare | Example |
|---|---|
| People | Emma is older than her sister. |
| Places | Tokyo is bigger than Lisbon. |
| Things | My phone is newer than your phone. |
Want to compare three or more things, like "the biggest city"? See the superlative adjectives lesson.
How to Form Comparative Adjectives with Short Words
Short adjectives usually add -er before than. There are three spelling rules.
Rule 1: Add -er
Most short adjectives just add -er. If the adjective already ends in e, only add -r.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cheap | cheaper | My scarf is cheaper than your scarf. |
| young | younger | Sam is younger than his brother. |
| nice | nicer | This coffee shop is nicer than that coffee shop. |
Rule 2: Double the Last Letter
One-syllable adjectives that end in one vowel and one consonant double the last letter before -er.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | Tom's car is bigger than Jake's car. |
| hot | hotter | Today is hotter than last week. |
| wet | wetter | This towel is wetter than that towel. |
Rule 3: Change Y to I
Adjectives that end in a consonant plus y change the y to i before -er.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| easy | easier | This exam is easier than the last one. |
| happy | happier | Anna is happier than before. |
| busy | busier | Monday is busier than Sunday. |
These spelling rules only work for short adjectives. Long adjectives use a different rule. See the next section.
How to Form Comparative Adjectives with Long Words
Adjectives with two or more syllables do not add -er. We use more before the adjective instead.
Long Adjectives: Use More
Put more before the adjective, then add than.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| difficult | more difficult | This math problem is more difficult than the last one. |
| expensive | more expensive | This restaurant is more expensive than that one. |
| interesting | more interesting | This book is more interesting than that film. |
Short Words Ending in -ed
A few short adjectives that end in -ed also use more, not -er.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tired | more tired | Maria is more tired than her sister today. |
| bored | more bored | The students are more bored than yesterday. |
Never add both -er and more to the same adjective. Choose one rule, not both.
Irregular Comparative Adjectives
Good, bad and far do not follow the regular rules. Learn these three forms.
| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | This pizza is better than that pizza. |
| bad | worse | The weather today is worse than last week. |
| far | farther / further | My house is farther from school than Tom's house. |
Farther or Further?
Farther usually talks about distance. Further is also common and works in most other sentences.
These three words are irregular. There is no spelling rule, so students need to memorize them.
Comparative Adjective Questions and Negatives
Comparative sentences can also be negative or questions.
Negative Sentences
Use isn't or aren't before the comparative adjective.
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| This jacket is warmer than that one. | This jacket isn't warmer than that one. |
| The blue car is faster than the red car. | The blue car isn't faster than the red car. |
| Leo is taller than his father. | Leo isn't taller than his father. |
Yes/No Questions and Short Answers
Put is or are before the subject to make a question.
| Question | Short Answer |
|---|---|
| Is this bag cheaper than that one? | Yes, it is. |
| Are apples better than candy? | Yes, they are. |
Questions with Which
Use which to ask someone to choose between two things.
Which is bigger, the red bag or the blue bag?
Common Mistakes with Comparative Adjectives
Check your sentences for these common mistakes.
Missing or Double Than
| Not correct | Correct | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| ✗ This car is faster the other car. | ✓ This car is faster than the other car. | Comparative sentences need than before the second thing. |
| ✗ This phone is more cheaper than that one. | ✓ This phone is cheaper than that one. | Use either -er or more, never both together. |
Wrong Adjective Form
| Not correct | Correct | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| ✗ This bag is more big than that one. | ✓ This bag is bigger than that one. | Short adjectives use -er, not more. |
| ✗ This coffee is more good than that one. | ✓ This coffee is better than that one. | Good and bad are irregular. Learn them separately. |