Comparative Adjectives

We use comparative adjectives to describe and compare two nouns or pronouns. We use superlative adjectives to describe and compare three or more nouns or pronouns.

In this lesson, we will learn the rules to make an adjective into a comparative adjective.

Related Topics: Superlative Adjectives, More English Lessons

Rules for Comparative Adjectives

Rule 1: When an adjective consists of one syllable add er to the end to make it a comparative adjective.

Examples:

 

Comparative

clean

cleaner

dark

darker

thick

thicker

soft

softer

warm

warmer

neat

neater

broad

broader

tall

taller

old

older


Exception to Rule 1: If the one syllable adjective ends with a consonant-vowel-consonant we need to double the last consonant before adding the er. However, if the last consonant is a w then we follow rule 1 instead.

Examples:

 

Comparative

big

bigger

dim

dimmer

fat

fatter

fit

fitter

flat

flatter

few

fewer

slow

slower

low

lower




Rule 2: When a two syllable adjective ends with y we need to replace the y with an i and then add the er.

Examples:

 

Comparative

busy

busier

dirty

dirtier

easy

easier

funny

funnier

noisy

noisier

happy

happier

heavy

heavier

lovely

lovelier


Rule 3: For an adjective with two or more syllabus (that does not end with y), we use add the word more or less in front of the adjective.

Examples:

 

Comparative

active

more active, less active

careless

more careless. less careless

famous

more famous. Less famous

cheerful

more cheerful, less cheerful

beautiful

more beautiful, less beautiful

generous

more generous, less generous

intelligent

more intelligent, less intelligent

valuable

more valuable, less valuable


Exceptions: There are some adjectives that have irregular comparative forms.

Examples:

 

Comparative

good

better

bad

worse

many

more

much

more

little

less

far

farther





The following video explains how to use comparative adjectives.



How to compare two things in English, using adjectives.
The following video cover the rules of comparative adjectives






This video shows the following:
For one syllable words we form the compartive and the superlative by adding "er" and "est" to the end of the word.

For two syllable words ending in "y" we change the "y" to "i" before adding "er" and "est".

For other adjectives with two or more syllables we put "more" before the comparative and "most" before the superlative. We use the word "than" for the comparative and the definite article for the superlative.

There are a few exceptions to these rules. Good and well have the same comparative and superlative forms. The comparison for bad is worse and the superlative is worst. Much and many have the same comparative and superlative forms. 






Forming And Spelling Comparative Adjectives



Popular Ways We Use Comparative Adjectives
Learn several important and popular ways to use comparative adjectives in English.




Superlative Adjectives

This is a grammar lesson on superlative adjectives. It covers comparison of 3 or more people or things.



This is a lesson on comparative and superlative adjectives. It focuses on exceptions to the regular grammatical rules.






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