Comparative Adjectives: Definition, Rules & Useful Examples

Comparative Adjectives! Learn how to use and form comparatives in English with useful grammar rules, ESL pictures and example sentences.

Comparative Adjectives

Comparative Definition

Comparatives are used to compare and clarify the difference between two nouns. In other words, comparative adjectives are used when two persons or objects being compared.

Forming Comparative Adjectives

One-syllable Adjectives

1. Form the comparative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er.

Examples:

• long – longer
• tall – taller

2. If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form.

Examples:

• cute – cuter
• large – larger

3. Add –er to adjectives that end in consonant-vowel-consonant and double the last consonant.

Examples:

• big – bigger
• hot – hotter

Two-syllable Adjectives

1. With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more.

Examples:

• honest – more honest
• famous – more famous

2. If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative form.

Examples:

• happy – happier
• crazy – crazier

3. Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, –le, or –ow take –er to form the comparative forms.

Examples:

• narrow – narrower
• gentle – gentler

Adjectives with Three or More Syllables

Add more to adjectives that has 3 or more syllables.

Examples:

• expensive – more expensive
• difficult – more difficult

Irregular Adjectives

• good – better
• bad – worse
• far – farther
• little – less
• many – more

NOTE: When comparative adjectives are used, the word “THAN” appears after the adjective.

Comparative Examples

List of affirmative and comparative adjectives in English.

Forming Comparatives | Images

Adjectives in English Grammar

List of useful lessons about adjectives in English.

• List of adjectives
• Types of adjectives in English
• Possessive adjectives
• Demonstrative adjectives
• Comparison of adjectives
  • Comparative adjectives
  • Superlative adjectives
• Order of adjectives
• Compound adjectives
• Adjectives ending in -ED and -ING
• Adjective suffixes
• Adjective preposition collocations.