Comparative Adjectives in English

Comparative adjectives are an essential part of the language that enables you to compare two or more things. In this reference, you will explore the concept of comparative adjectives, their various types, and how they can be used effectively in writing and speech. So, embark on a journey into the world of comparative adjectives and discover how they can elevate your language.

Forming Comparative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives help you compare two things or show change. They show how one thing differs from another. You use comparative forms of adjectives to make these comparisons.

One-Syllable Adjectives

1. Add -er to the end of one-syllable adjectives:
   • old – older
   • clean – cleaner
   • slow – slower
2. If the adjective ends in -e, add -r:
   • safe – safer
   • nice – nicer
3. For adjectives ending in a vowel followed by a consonant, double the consonant before adding -er:
   • big – bigger
   • hot – hotter

Two-syllable Adjectives

1. Form the comparative with more or less:
   • honest – more honest
   • famous – more famous
2. If the adjective ends in –y, change the y to i and add -er:
   • happy – happier
   • crazy – crazier
3. Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, –le, or –ow take -er:
   • narrow – narrower
   • gentle – gentler

Adjectives with Three or More Syllables

For adjectives with three or more syllables, use more or less:

• expensive – more expensive
• difficult – less difficult

Irregular Comparative Adjectives

Irregular adjectives do not follow the usual pattern. Here are some examples:

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

Note: Use “THAN” after the adjective when making comparisons.

Common Errors in Comparative Adjectives

Incorrect Formation

One common error with comparative adjectives is the incorrect formation of the comparative form. To form a comparative adjective, add “-er” for one-syllable adjectives and use “more” or “less” before multi-syllable adjectives. For example, “fast” becomes “faster” and “beautiful” becomes “more beautiful.” Mixing these two forms may result in errors like “fastest” instead of “more fast” or “beautifuler” instead of “more beautiful.”

Double Comparisons

Another issue is double comparisons, where both “-er” and “more” are used in the same adjective. Examples of this error include “more faster” or “more easier.”

To correct this error, use either “-er” or “more” but not both.

Misuse of Irregular Comparative Adjectives

Misuse of irregular comparative adjectives is another common mistake. Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms, like “good” which becomes “better” and “bad” which becomes “worse.” Using regular comparative forms for these irregular adjectives can lead to errors like “gooder” instead of “better” or “badder” instead of “worse.”

Additional Errors

Additional errors may include:

• Not using “than” when comparing two items: Correct usage is “This car is faster than the other one,” not “This car is faster the other one.”
• Using the wrong form of an adjective for comparison: Use the comparative form when comparing two items, not the base or superlative form. For example, avoid saying “This car is fastest than the other one” or “This car is fast than the other one.”
• Comparing non-quantifiable adjectives: Some adjectives cannot be compared, such as “unique” or “perfect.” Attempting to create comparative forms for these words can lead to errors like “more unique” or “more perfect.”

Examples of Comparative Adjectives

Examples in Context

• This autumn has been colder than any other one I can remember!
• That dress is nicer than mine!
• Bigger isn’t always better – my new phone fits perfectly in my pocket even though it’s smaller than my previous one!
• Tom’s decision-making skills were much quicker than mine!
• This dessert tastes sweeter than I thought it would!

List of Comparative Adjectives

List of affirmative and comparative adjectives in English.

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An experienced English grammar teacher since 2015, with a dedication to helping students improve their language skills.

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