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 |
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 |
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