Grammar
Comparative adjectives: compare two things clearly
Two buses go to the same station. One is quicker, but the other is more comfortable. Comparative adjectives help you explain the difference.
Use comparative adjectives and than to compare two people, things, or situations, including common spelling changes and selected irregular forms.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
This route is safer than the main road. /ðɪs ruːt ɪz ˈseɪfə ðæn ðə meɪn rəʊd/
The short answer
To compare two things, use an adjective with -er or use more before the adjective. Add than when you say the second thing in the comparison. Choose one pattern only: quieter or more comfortable.
The green jacket is warmer than the gray jacket.
Why it works: Warm is a short adjective, so warmer compares the two jackets. Than introduces the second jacket.
5 more examples
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The first map is clearer than the second map.
Clear is a short adjective, so it takes -er to compare two maps.
Not this:The first map
is clear. What changes: This describes one map without comparing it with another map. -
The evening class is more convenient than the morning class.
Convenient is a longer adjective, so it normally uses more rather than -er.
Not this:The evening class
is convenient. What changes: Convenient describes the class on its own. More convenient compares it with the morning class. -
This puzzle is easier than the last one.
Easy ends in consonant plus y, so change y to i and add -er.
Not this:This puzzle
is easy. What changes: Easy gives a description. Easier compares this puzzle with another one. -
The second report is better than the first report.
Better is the comparative form of good.
Not this:The second report
is good. What changes: Good describes one report. Better compares the two reports. -
Walking there is cheaper than taking a taxi.
Cheap becomes cheaper with -er. Do not add more before cheaper.
Not this:Taking a taxi is
more expensive. What changes: Expensive is a longer adjective, so it uses more instead of an -er ending.
Read the full guide
First, decide which two things you are comparing. Then choose the comparative form that fits the adjective. Short adjectives often take -er, while many longer adjectives use more. A sentence can end after the comparative when the listener already knows the second item, but than makes the comparison clear when you need to name it.
Compare two things
Use a comparative adjective to show how two things differ. You can compare two objects, people, places, activities, or situations. State the quality you want to compare, then name both items if the listener needs that information.
My new desk is wider than my old desk.
Wider compares the width of two desks.
Which word completes the comparison: 'This cup is ___ than that cup: small or smaller'?
Use smaller. The sentence compares two cups.
Add -er to many short adjectives
Many one-syllable adjectives make a comparative with -er. Small becomes smaller, quick becomes quicker, and bright becomes brighter. If the adjective already ends in e, add only r: large becomes larger and safe becomes safer.
The larger table fits six people.
Large already ends in e, so larger needs only r.
Which comparative form fits a fast delivery: faster or more fast?
Use faster. Fast is a short adjective, so it usually takes -er.
Make the common spelling changes
Some short adjectives change spelling before -er. Double the final consonant in a short vowel pattern: big becomes bigger and hot becomes hotter. When an adjective ends in a consonant plus y, change y to i: busy becomes busier and easy becomes easier.
The kitchen is bigger than it looked in the photos.
Big has a short vowel followed by one final consonant, so the g doubles before -er.
Today is busier than Monday.
Busy ends in consonant plus y, so y changes to i in busier.
Choose the correct spelling: easyer or easier?
Use easier. Change y to i before adding -er after a consonant.
Use more with many longer adjectives
Many adjectives with two or more syllables use more before the adjective. Common examples include more useful, more careful, more comfortable, and more expensive. Keep the adjective in its usual form after more.
A printed list is more useful than a message on a small screen.
Useful is a longer adjective, so more useful is the usual comparative form.
Which form compares two chairs: more comfortable or comfortabler?
Use more comfortable. Do not add -er to comfortable.
Use than to name the second item
Use than before the second item when you say what the first item is compared with. The word can introduce a noun, a pronoun, or a longer phrase. You may leave the second item out only when it is already clear from the conversation.
Nadia arrived earlier than her brother.
Than her brother identifies the person Nadia is compared with.
Which word links the two items: 'The train is quieter ___ the bus'?
Use than: The train is quieter than the bus.
Learn selected irregular forms
A few common adjectives do not follow the regular patterns. Good becomes better, bad becomes worse, and far can become farther or further. Farther is often used for physical distance. Further is also common for distance and can mean additional.
The service at this office is better than it was last month.
Better is the comparative form of good. It does not take more or -er.
The new appointment is further away than the first one.
Further compares distance here. It can also mean additional in a phrase such as further information.
Which form compares a bad result with an earlier one: worse or badder?
Use worse. It is the comparative form of bad.
Avoid double comparative forms
Choose one comparative pattern. Use cheaper, not more cheaper. Use more reliable, not reliabler. Before you write a comparison, check whether you have already shown the comparison with -er or with more.
This repair is cheaper than buying a replacement.
Cheaper already contains the comparative ending, so more is unnecessary.
Choose the correct form: more easier or easier?
Use easier. It already has the comparative ending.
Before you go
Remember this
Compare two things with an -er form or more plus an adjective. Use than before the second thing when you name it. Watch the spelling in bigger and easier, learn better and worse as complete forms, and do not write double forms such as more cheaper.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Comparative adjectives: compare two things clearly"
What is a comparative adjective?
A comparative adjective shows how two people, things, places, or situations differ. The first map is clearer than the second map compares the clarity of two maps.
The first map is clearer than the second map.
When do I add -er to an adjective?
Add -er to many short adjectives when you compare two things. Small becomes smaller and quick becomes quicker. Add only r after an adjective ending in e, as in safe and safer.
The first map is clear.
Why do some comparative adjectives change spelling?
Double the last consonant in patterns such as big and bigger. With an adjective ending in a consonant plus y, change y to i before -er: easy becomes easier and busy becomes busier.
The evening class is more convenient than the morning class.
When should I use more before an adjective?
Use more with many longer adjectives, such as more useful, more careful, and more comfortable. Put more before the unchanged adjective instead of adding -er.
The evening class is convenient.
Can I say more cheaper or more easier?
No. Cheaper and easier already show comparison with -er, so more is not needed. Choose one pattern: cheaper or more expensive; easier or more comfortable.
This puzzle is easier than the last one.