ENGLISH GRAMMAR - PREPARED BY DARSHANI DAULAGALA

Use of English: Comparative Adjectives

Adjectives
o An ADJECTIVE is a word that describes a noun.
o It gives us more information about a person, place, thing, animal, or idea.
o Examples of adjectives are short, beautiful, and expensive.

o In English, the adjective is usually placed before the noun. For example:
 They live in a big house.
 We sat on the warm beach.
 He bought a red car.

o However, in some cases, the adjective is placed after the noun. This happens when
the sentence uses the verb “to be”.
 This show is wonderful.
 English is easy.
 Your cat is friendly.

1|Page
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR - PREPARED BY DARSHANI DAULAGALA

Comparative Adjectives

A B C

A is tall. B is taller than A. C is the tallest.

Basic adjective Comparative adjective Superlative adjective

2|Page
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR - PREPARED BY DARSHANI DAULAGALA

Comparative Form

o When two objects or people are being compared, the comparative form of
the adjective is used.
 Today is cold, but yesterday was colder.
 We need a bigger garden.
 Jane’s house is modern, but Michael’s house is more modern.

o The word “than” is often used after the comparative form.

 The first test was easier than the second test.
 France is a bigger country than Britain.
 He is a better player than Ronaldo.
Superlative Form
The superlative is used to
say what thing or person
has the most of a particular
quality within a group or
of its kind.

o To make comparative adjectives, add (e) r to the adjective or use more in

front of the adjective.
o close - closer
o cold - colder
o beautiful - more beautiful

3|Page
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR - PREPARED BY DARSHANI DAULAGALA

Comparative Adjectives – Structure

o For most one-syllable adjectives ending in –e, add r.

o close - closer
o For other one-syllable adjectives, add –er.
o long - longer
Basic Adjective Comparative Superlative
Cold Colder The coldest
Large Larger The largest
Hot Hotter The hottest

o For two-syllable adjectives ending in –y, change the y to i and add er.
o easy - easier

Basic Adjective Comparative Superlative

Happy Happier The happiest
Busy Busier The busiest
Easy Easier The easiest

o For other two-syllable adjectives, use more in front of the adjective.

o useful - more useful
Basic Adjective Comparative Superlative
Useful More useful The most useful
Helpful More helpful The most helpful

o For longer adjectives, use more in front of the adjective.

o interesting - more interesting
Basic Adjective Comparative Superlative
Modern More modern The most modern
Intelligent More intelligent The most intelligent

4|Page
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR - PREPARED BY DARSHANI DAULAGALA

o However, there are few exceptions as well.

Basic Adjective Comparative Superlative

Good Better The best
Bad Worse The worst
Old Older The oldest
- Elder The eldest
Far Farther Farthest
- Further Furthest
Little Less The least
Much/Many/Some More The most

o When an adjective end in a single vowel and a single consonant, double

the consonant before adding –er.

Basic Adjective Comparative

Big Bigger

B i g

Consonant Vowel Consonant

Big + g er = Bigger

Consonant

5|Page
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR - PREPARED BY DARSHANI DAULAGALA

o Word - Hot
H o t

Consonant Vowel Consonant

Hot + t er= Hotter

Consonant

Word – Small Word - Cold

Sm a l l C o l d

V C C V C C

Small + er= Smaller Cold + er=Colder

o To make negative comparisons use less in front of the adjectives.

o I’m less shy now than I was when I was younger.
o We go to the market because it’s less expensive than the
supermarket.

6|Page
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR - PREPARED BY DARSHANI DAULAGALA

Making Comparative Adjectives Stronger

 There are several different ways to compare things in English. We can also
modify comparisons to show big and small differences.
 To make comparisons stronger, you can use phrases such as:

 Much
 You’re much neater than I am.
 You’re much more helpful at home than me.
 Far…than
 The kitchen is far bigger than the dining room.
 You’re far tidier than me.
 A lot less… than
 The new dishwasher is a lot less noisy than the old one.
 I’m a lot less helpful than you.
 Nowhere near as…as
 My room’s nowhere near as colourful as yours.
 I’m nowhere near as practical as you.
 To make comparisons stronger between things that are equal,
use just as… as.
 You’re just as untidy as me!
 My room is just as messy as your room.
 To make comparisons between things that are equal, use as…as:
 Your garden’s as big as a football pitch!

7|Page
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR - PREPARED BY DARSHANI DAULAGALA

 To make negative comparisons use less in front of the adjectives.

 I’m less shy now than I was when I was younger.
 We go to the market because it’s less expensive than the
supermarket.

 To make negative comparisons use less…. than or not as…as (one thing
is less than another):
 The blender is less expensive than the food processor.
 The blender isn’t (is not) as expensive as the food processor.
 It’s not as sunny as yesterday.

8|Page