Comparatives use
We use comparatives to compare two people, things, places, situations, or actions. They show that one thing has more, less, or the same degree of a quality: taller, more interesting, less expensive, as fast as.
Comparatives are used not only with adjectives but also with adverbs. Adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs describe actions and the way something happens.
My new laptop is lighter than my old one.
This exercise is more difficult than the previous one.
She speaks more clearly than her brother.
Today is less windy than yesterday.
Comparatives Form
Comparatives are formed in different ways depending on the adjective or adverb. Short words usually take -er, longer words usually take more, and lower degree is often expressed with less. Some forms are irregular.
short adjective/adverb → word + -er + than
long adjective/adverb → more + word + than
lower degree → less + word + than
equal comparison → as + word + as
| Type | Base form | Comparative form | Example |
| Short adjective | tall | taller | taller than |
| Ending in -e | nice | nicer | nicer than |
| Short adjective with double consonant | big | bigger | bigger than |
| Ending in consonant + y | busy | busier | busier than |
| Long adjective | interesting | more interesting | more interesting than |
| Adverb ending in -ly | carefully | more carefully | more carefully than |
| Short adverb | fast | faster | faster than |
| Lower degree | expensive / often | less expensive / less often | less expensive than / less often than |
| Irregular | good / well / bad / badly / far / much / many / little | better / better / worse / worse / farther(further) / more / more / less | better than / worse than |
Your bag is heavier than mine.
He arrived earlier than the others.
This road is far less busy at night.
Comparatives Rule
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Use comparative adjectives and adverbs to compare two people, things, or actions, or to show change over time.
This room is brighter than the kitchen.
I feel better today.
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We usually use than after a comparative form.
Her answer was more accurate than mine.
Tom runs faster than Alex.
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Use comparative adjectives to describe nouns, and comparative adverbs to describe actions.
This book is more useful than that one.
She explained the rule more clearly than the video did.
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Use less + adjective/adverb + than to show a lower degree.
This option is less risky than the first one.
We travel less often than we used to.
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Use as + adjective/adverb + as for equal comparison, and not as ... as for inequality. Do not change the adjective or adverb after as.
My phone is as fast as yours.
He doesn't speak English as confidently as his sister.
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Use the pattern the + comparative ..., the + comparative ... to show that one change causes another.
The more you read, the easier this grammar becomes.
The earlier we leave, the sooner we arrive.
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We often strengthen comparatives with words like much, far, a lot, or show a small difference with a bit, a little, slightly.
This version is much better than the old one.
The blue sofa is a little cheaper than the grey one.
- Some two-syllable adjectives can have two correct comparative forms in real usage, for example cleverer / more clever or narrower / more narrow. In learner content, it is better to stay consistent.
Comparatives Common mistakes
❌ He is more taller than his brother.
✅ He is taller than his brother.
❌ English is more easy than Chinese.
✅ English is easier than Chinese.
❌ She drives carefullier than me.
✅ She drives more carefully than me.
❌ Kate learns as faster as Tom.
✅ Kate learns as fast as Tom.
❌ The more you practise, better you get.
✅ The more you practise, the better you get.
❌ My new phone is more better.
✅ My new phone is better.
Comparatives Sentences
My sister is younger than me.
This test is more difficult than the last one.
Winter in the mountains is much colder than winter by the sea.
He works more efficiently than he did last year.
Our new office is less noisy than the old one.
I get up earlier than my parents on weekdays.
This café is as popular as the restaurant across the street.
Your explanation was far clearer than mine.
The more examples you read, the more confident you feel.
Today the traffic is worse than yesterday.