Comparative Adjectives

What Are Comparative Adjectives?

Comparative adjectives compare two nouns by expressing differences in quality, size, degree, or other characteristics.

• Example: This book is longer than that one.

How to Form Comparative Adjectives 🛠️

1. Adding “-er” for Short Adjectives

💡 For most one‑syllable and some two‑syllable adjectives, add “-er” to form the comparative.

✅ Examples of Short Comparatives:

• 🏃‍♂️ Fast → Faster:
• He runs faster than his friend. 🏃‍♂️💨
• 📚 Smart → Smarter:
• She is smarter than her brother. 🧠✨
• 🛏️ Short → Shorter:
• This bed is shorter than that one. 🛏️➡️🛏️
• 💪 Strong → Stronger:
• He is stronger after exercising. 💪🏋️
• 🐶 Cute → Cuter:
• Puppies are cuter than kittens. 🐶💕🐱
• 🌬️ Cold → Colder:
• The nights are colder in winter. ❄️🧣
• 🎨 Bright → Brighter:
• The sun is brighter today. 🌞😎
• 🏞️ Wide → Wider:
• The river is wider here. 🌊↔️
• 🕊️ Fine → Finer:
• Silk is finer than cotton. 🕊️✨
• 🏃‍♀️ Quick → Quicker:
• She finished the race quicker than anyone else. 🏃‍♀️💨
• 📈 High → Higher:
• The price is higher this year. 💰📈
• 📉 Low → Lower:
• Temperatures are lower tonight. 🌡️⬇️
• 🌳 Tall → Taller:
• The tree is taller than the house. 🌳🏠
• 🐇 Quick → Quicker:
• Rabbits are quicker than turtles. 🐇➡️🐢
• 🐢 Slow → Slower:
• The old computer is slower than the new one. 🖥️🐌
• 👶 Young → Younger:
• My sister is younger than me. 👧👦
• 👴 Old → Older:
• He is older than he looks. 👴🕰️
• 💼 Light → Lighter:
• This bag is lighter than my suitcase. 🎒✨
• 🚴‍♂️ Weak → Weaker:
• After being sick, he felt weaker. 🤒💤
• 🏡 Safe → Safer:
• This neighborhood is safer than that one. 🏡🔒
• 📏 Thin → Thinner:
• The new tablet is thinner than the old model. 📱✨
• ⚖️ Fair → Fairer:
• The new rules are fairer for everyone. 📜✔️
• 💵 Cheap → Cheaper:
• This store is cheaper than the mall. 🛍️💲
• 🌍 Large → Larger:
• Africa is larger than Europe. 🌍🌎
• 🍓 Sweet → Sweeter:
• Strawberries are sweeter in the summer. 🍓🍯
• 🌊 Deep → Deeper:
• The ocean is deeper here. 🌊⬇️
• 🌳 Green → Greener:
• The grass is greener after the rain. 🌿🌧️
• 🌃 Dark → Darker:
• The sky is darker at night. 🌌✨

For Adjectives Ending in “-y”

💡 Change the “-y” to “-ier” to form the comparative.

✅ Examples of “-y” Comparatives:

• 🌈 Happy → Happier:
• She feels happier than yesterday. 😊🌞
• 🎂 Funny → Funnier:
• That joke is funnier than the last one. 😂🎭
• 🍁 Lazy → Lazier:
• He’s lazier during weekends. 😴🛌
• 🍴 Tasty → Tastier:
• This dish is tastier than the previous one. 🍽️😋
• 🌳 Lovely → Lovelier:
• The garden looks lovelier in spring. 🌷🌼
• ☀️ Sunny → Sunnier:
• Today is sunnier than yesterday. ☀️😎
• 🍎 Healthy → Healthier:
• Fresh food is healthier than fast food. 🍏🥗
• 🌟 Shiny → Shinier:
• Her ring is shinier than mine. 💍✨
• 🌌 Pretty → Prettier:
• This view is prettier than I imagined. 🌅😍
• 🐦 Noisy → Noisier:
• The birds are noisier in the morning. 🐦🎶
• 🎩 Tricky → Trickier:
• The puzzle is trickier than it seems. 🧩🤔
• 🌧️ Rainy → Rainier:
• It’s rainier this season. 🌧️☔
• 🌊 Windy → Windier:
• The beach is windier today. 🌬️🏖️
• 🌠 Shady → Shadier:
• This spot is shadier under the tree. 🌳🌤️

Using “More” or “Less” for Long Adjectives

💡 For adjectives with two or more syllables (except those ending in “-y”), use “more” or “less” before the adjective.

✅ Examples of Long Comparatives:

• 📖 Interesting → More Interesting:
• This book is more interesting than the one I read before. 📖✨
• 🍽️ Delicious → More Delicious:
• This cake is more delicious than the last one. 🍰😋
• 👗 Beautiful → More Beautiful:
• This dress is more beautiful than that one. 👗✨
• 🧠 Intelligent → More Intelligent:
• She is more intelligent than her peers. 🧠📚
• 💵 Expensive → More Expensive:
• This car is more expensive than my house! 🚗💰
• 🌍 Famous → More Famous:
• He is more famous than any other actor. 🌟🎭
• 🎓 Qualified → More Qualified:
• She is more qualified than the other candidates. 🎓👍
• 🚗 Efficient → More Efficient:
• Electric cars are more efficient than petrol cars. 🚗⚡
• 📝 Difficult → More Difficult:
• This exam is more difficult than the last one. 📝🤔
• 📱 Advanced → More Advanced:
• The new smartphone is more advanced than the old model. 📱🚀
• 💡 Creative → More Creative:
• His ideas are more creative than mine. 💡🎨
• 🔒 Secure → More Secure:
• This system is more secure than the previous one. 🔒✅
• 💪 Powerful → More Powerful:
• The engine is more powerful than before. 🏎️💪
• 🌠 Amazing → More Amazing:
• The show was more amazing than we expected. 🎆👏
• 📈 Successful → More Successful:
• The campaign was more successful than anticipated. 📈🎯
• 👨‍💼 Professional → More Professional:
• She appears more professional in her new role. 👩‍💼💼
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Important → More Important:
• Family is more important than work. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️
• 🕰️ Precious → More Precious:
• Time is more precious than money. ⏳💎
• 🔬 Complex → More Complex:
• The new design is more complex than the old one. 🔬⚙️
• 🎢 Exciting → More Exciting:
• This ride is more exciting than the last one. 🎢😃
• 💼 Responsible → More Responsible:
• He has become more responsible over the years. 💼👍
• 🚴‍♂️ Active → More Active:
• She is more active than before. 🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️
• 📺 Popular → More Popular:
• This show is more popular than ever. 📺🌟
• 🏡 Comfortable → More Comfortable:
• Our new sofa is more comfortable than the old one. 🛋️😊
• 🔭 Curious → More Curious:
• Children are often more curious than adults. 👶🔎
• 🌋 Dangerous → More Dangerous:
• Climbing the mountain was more dangerous than we thought. 🏔️⚠️
• 👑 Powerful → More Powerful:
• Knowledge is more powerful than wealth. 📚💡
• 🎯 Accurate → More Accurate:
• The new measurements are more accurate. 🎯✔️
• 🌎 Significant → More Significant:
• This discovery is more significant than the last one. 🌎✨
• 👥 Social → More Sociable:
• He’s become more sociable lately. 👥😊
• 📜 Valuable → More Valuable:
• Experience is more valuable than money. 💼💎
• 🚀 Innovative → More Innovative:
• Their approach is more innovative than ours. 🚀🔧

5. Irregular Comparative Adjectives

💡 Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms that do not follow the standard rules. Memorize these exceptions:

✅ Examples of Irregular Comparatives:

• 💪 Good → Better: He is a better swimmer than me. 🏊‍♂️💦
• 😞 Bad → Worse: The situation is getting worse. 😕⬇️
• 👫 Far → Farther/Further: My house is farther than yours. 🏠➡️🏡
• 🕰️ Little → Less: She has less time than before. ⏳⌛️
• 🌟 Well → Better: She sings better than anyone. 🎤🎶

6. Two-Form Comparatives

💡 Some adjectives allow both the “-er” form and the “more/less” form. Use whichever sounds more natural.

✅ Examples of Two-Form Comparatives:

• 🏡 Narrow → Narrower / More Narrow:
  This path is narrower (or more narrow) than the other one. 🚶‍♂️➡️🚶‍♀️
• 📖 Simple → Simpler / More Simple:
  These instructions are simpler (or more simple) to follow. 📚📝
• 💡 Polite → Politer / More Polite:
  She is politer (or more polite) than her brother. 😊🙏
• 🎨 Quiet → Quieter / More Quiet:
  This place is quieter (or more quiet) than the city center. 📚🤫
• 🌟 Gentle → Gentler / More Gentle:
  He is gentler (or more gentle) with children. 👨‍👧💕
• 🧱 Common → Commoner / More Common:
  This error is commoner (or more common) than you’d think. ❌⚠️
• 🤝 Friendly → Friendlier / More Friendly:
  Our neighbors are friendlier (or more friendly) than we expected. 🏡😊
• 🌞 Sunny → Sunnier / More Sunny:
  Today is sunnier (or more sunny) than yesterday. ☀️😎
• 🎭 Quiet → Quieter / More Quiet:
  The library is quieter (or more quiet) than the café. 📚🤫
• 🐒 Clever → Cleverer / More Clever:
  Monkeys are cleverer (or more clever) than many animals. 🐒🧠
• 🎈 Simple → Simpler / More Simple:
  The new design is simpler (or more simple). 🎈✨
• 👗 Pretty → Prettier / More Pretty:
  She looks prettier (or more pretty) in that dress. 👗💃
• 🌲 Noble → Nobler / More Noble:
  His intentions are nobler (or more noble) than we thought. 👑✨

Using Modifiers with Comparatives

💡 Modifiers like “much,” “far,” “slightly,” “a little” add emphasis or precision to comparisons.

✅ Examples of Adjectives with Modifiers:

• 🌞 Much Hotter: It’s much hotter today than yesterday. ☀️🔥
• 🚗 Far Faster: This car is far faster than that one. 🚗💨
• 📚 A Lot Smarter: She is a lot smarter than her classmates. 🧠📚
• 🍎 Slightly Tastier: This apple is slightly tastier than the other one. 🍎😋
• 🏡 A Little Bigger: This house is a little bigger than mine. 🏠➡️🏡
• 🌧️ Much Colder: It’s much colder today than it was last week. ❄️🧥
• 🎈 Far Higher: The balloon flew far higher than expected. 🎈⬆️
• 📺 A Lot More Interesting: This show is a lot more interesting than the last one. 📺✨
• 🍰 Slightly Sweeter: This cake is slightly sweeter than the previous one. 🍰🍯
• 👕 A Little Cheaper: This shirt is a little cheaper than that one. 👕💲
• 🏃‍♂️ Much Quicker: He completed the race much quicker this time. 🏃‍♂️💨
• 📱 Far More Advanced: The new phone is far more advanced than the old model. 📱🚀
• 🎨 A Lot More Creative: Her artwork is a lot more creative now. 🎨🌟
• 🍹 Slightly Colder: The drink is slightly colder with ice. 🍹🧊
• 🚲 A Little Lighter: This bike is a little lighter than mine. 🚲✨
• 💼 Much More Important: This task is much more important than the others. 💼⭐
• 🎧 Far Better: These headphones sound far better than the old ones. 🎧🎶
• 📖 A Lot Longer: The book is a lot longer than I thought. 📖📚
• 🍔 Slightly Bigger: This burger is slightly bigger than that one. 🍔🍔
• 🛌 A Little More Comfortable: The new mattress is a little more comfortable. 🛌😴
• 🚶‍♀️ Much Slower: She walks much slower than her brother. 🚶‍♀️🐢
• 🌟 Far Brighter: The stars are far brighter tonight. 🌟✨
• 🗣️ A Lot Louder: The speaker is a lot louder now. 🗣️🔊

Common Mistakes with Comparatives

🚫 Avoid adding “more” before adjectives that already end in “-er.”

• ❌ Incorrect: This is more better than that. 😕
  ✅ Correct: This is better than that. 😊
• ❌ Incorrect: He is more faster than me. 🏃‍♂️❌
  ✅ Correct: He is faster than me. 🏃‍♂️✅
• ❌ Incorrect: These shoes are more cheaper. 👟💲❌
  ✅ Correct: These shoes are cheaper. 👟💲✅
• ❌ Incorrect: She is more taller than her sister. 👩⬆️❌
  ✅ Correct: She is taller than her sister. 👩⬆️✅
• ❌ Incorrect: This puzzle is more easier than that one. 🧩❌
  ✅ Correct: This puzzle is easier than that one. 🧩✅
• ❌ Incorrect: The movie was more worse than I thought. 🎬😞❌
  ✅ Correct: The movie was worse than I thought. 🎬😞✅
• ❌ Incorrect: Today is more hotter than yesterday. ☀️🔥❌
  ✅ Correct: Today is hotter than yesterday. ☀️🔥✅
• ❌ Incorrect: Your idea is more cleverer. 💡🤔❌
  ✅ Correct: Your idea is cleverer. 💡🤔✅
• ❌ Incorrect: This road is more narrower than that one. 🛣️↔️❌
  ✅ Correct: This road is narrower than that one. 🛣️↔️✅
• ❌ Incorrect: The test was more harder than expected. 📝😓❌
  ✅ Correct: The test was harder than expected. 📝😓✅
• ❌ Incorrect: She is more happier now. 😊❌
  ✅ Correct: She is happier now. 😊✅
• ❌ Incorrect: The book is more longer than the movie. 📖🎥❌
  ✅ Correct: The book is longer than the movie. 📖🎥✅
• ❌ Incorrect: My cat is more cuter than yours. 🐱💕❌
  ✅ Correct: My cat is cuter than yours. 🐱💕✅
• ❌ Incorrect: This path is more narrower. 🚶‍♂️❌
  ✅ Correct: This path is narrower. 🚶‍♂️✅
• ❌ Incorrect: He became more wiser with age. 👴📚❌
  ✅ Correct: He became wiser with age. 👴📚✅

📚 Summary of Comparative Adjectives 📝

1. Short Adjectives: Add “-er” (e.g., taller, faster).
2. Adjectives Ending in “-e”: Add “-r” (e.g., nicer, closer).
3. Adjectives Ending in “-y”: Change “-y” to “-ier” (e.g., happier, funnier).
4. Long Adjectives: Use “more” or “less” (e.g., more creative, less expensive).
5. Irregular Forms: Memorize exceptions (e.g., better, worse, farther).
6. Use Modifiers: Add precision with modifiers like “much,” “far,” “slightly,” etc.
7. Avoid Double Comparatives: Don’t use “more” with adjectives already ending in “-er.”

© 2025 English Hawk. All rights reserved.