What a Comparative Adjective Is
A comparative looks at two people or things and says which one is taller, more expensive or better. The adjective (a describing word, like tall, cheap or good) changes its form, and than comes before the other person or thing.
SHORT ADJECTIVE + -ERtall → taller
tall + -er + than
My brother is taller than me.
Tall is a short word, so it adds -er.
LONG ADJECTIVE + MOREexpensive → more expensive
This phone is more expensive than that one.
Expensive is a long word, so more goes in front.
IRREGULARgood → better
The film is better than the book.
Good has its own form: better.
A comparative has two parts: -er or more on the adjective, and than before the thing you compare it with. The sentence still needs be: My sister is shorter than me. When it is clear what you compare with, you can leave out than: This book is more interesting.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Lan is her sister."
- Question 2
"Taxis are than buses."
The three forms
An adjective takes -er or more because of its number of syllables. A syllable is one beat when you say the word: tall has one, hap-py two, ex-pen-sive three.
SHORT ADJECTIVE
Sbeadj + -erthan…
Hà Nội is colder than Huế in winter.
One syllable takes -er. So does a two-syllable adjective ending in -y: easy → easier.
LONG ADJECTIVE
Sbemoreadjthan…
My new job is more interesting than my old one.
Most adjectives with two or more syllables (not ending in -y) take more in front.
IRREGULAR
Sbebetter / worsethan…
The traffic was worse than last week.
good → better · bad → worse · far → farther / further. Learn these three.
-ER AT A GLANCE
- talltaller
- nicenicer
- bigbigger
- happyhappier
add -er · ends in -e → add only -r · one syllable ending in one vowel + one consonant → double the consonant (not w: new → newer) · consonant + y → -ier
More cheaper and more better say "more" twice.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"The river is today than yesterday."
- Question 2
"The second test was than the first."
- Question 3
"Is the new menu than the old one?"
When you need a comparative
Choosing between two
The blue shirt is cheaper. Let's buy it.
Shopping, picking a place to eat, choosing a way to go.
Signal words: cheaper · closer · nicer · more comfortable
Talking about change
Our town is busier than before.
Comparing a person or a place with how it was before.
Signal words: bigger now · older · than before · than last year
Weather and health
It's warmer in the south.
Hotter or colder weather. Feeling better or worse.
Signal words: hotter · wetter · better · worse
Asking for an opinion
Which is easier, maths or English?
Asking a person to pick one of two.
Signal words: Which is cheaper? · Who is older?
Much taller vs. very tall
Very goes with a plain adjective, when you are not comparing. To say how big the difference is, put much (a lot) or a bit (a little) in front of the comparative.
| VERY + ADJECTIVE | MUCH / A BIT + COMPARATIVE | |
|---|---|---|
| a big difference | This hotel is very big. | This hotel is much bigger than the old one. |
| a small difference | The chair is very comfortable. | The chair is a bit more comfortable. |
| the wrong mix | very cheaper | much cheaper · a bit cheaper |
TRY IT
- Question 1
"The new road is shorter than the old one."
- Question 2
"My coffee is . Can I have some milk?"
Common mistakes
Incorrect:Nam is more taller than his brother.
Correct:Nam is taller than his brother.
Taller already has -er, so adding more says it twice.
Incorrect:Bus tickets are more cheap than train tickets.
Correct:Bus tickets are cheaper than train tickets.
Cheap has one syllable, so it takes -er. More is for long adjectives.
Incorrect:Huế is hotter Đà Lạt.
Correct:Huế is hotter than Đà Lạt.
The comparative is there, but than is missing before the place it is compared with.
Incorrect:This week is very busier than last week.
Correct:This week is much busier than last week.
Very cannot go in front of a comparative. Use much to say the difference is big.
Incorrect:My English is gooder now.
Correct:My English is better now.
Good is irregular, so its comparative is better, not good with -er.
Incorrect:The exam was more easy than I thought.
Correct:The exam was easier than I thought.
Easy has two syllables but ends in -y, so the y becomes i and -er is added.
Quick check · 6 questions
Choose the correct words:
The kitchen is smaller than the living room.
- A. smaller than — Correct
- B. smaller
- C. small than
Answer: A. smaller than
The living room comes after the gap, so the sentence needs than. Without -er, it only says the kitchen is small.
Choose the correct form:
The red dress is more beautiful than the black one.
- A. more beautiful — Correct
- B. beautifuler
- C. beautiful
Answer: A. more beautiful
Beautiful has three syllables (beau-ti-ful), so more goes in front of it.
Choose the correct spelling:
You look thinner. Are you OK?
- A. thinner — Correct
- B. thiner
- C. more thin
Answer: A. thinner
Thin has one syllable and ends in one vowel and one consonant (i + n), so the n doubles before -er.
Choose the correct form:
The film was bad, and the ending was worse than the start.
- A. worse — Correct
- B. badder
- C. more bad
Answer: A. worse
The comparative of bad is worse. Badder and more bad are wrong.
Which sentence is correct?
The sea is cleaner here.
- A. The sea is cleaner here. — Correct
- B. The sea is more cleaner here.
- C. The sea is more clean here.
Answer: A. The sea is cleaner here.
Cleaner already has the -er, so adding more says it twice. More clean is wrong because clean is a short adjective.
Choose the correct words:
Flights to Đà Nẵng are much cheaper in May than in July.
- A. much cheaper — Correct
- B. very cheaper
- C. very cheap
Answer: A. much cheaper
The sentence has than, so it needs the comparative. To say the difference is big, use much, not very.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions