Lesson Six:  The Comparative Form for Adjectives

Lesson Six: The Comparative Form for Adjectives

Lesson Six:

The Comparative Form for Adjectives

lion
cat

Use “er” at the end of small words. (one syllable)

Use “more” in front of long words (2+ syllables)

A lion is bigger than a cat.

A lion is more dangerous than a cat.

girls
students

The children playing with the blocks are

younger than the students going to school.

Here are some more examples:
  •  Saving money this year has been more difficult than last year.
  •  Japanese cars are much better than most American cars.
  •  Spanish is an easier language to learn than English.

Note: It’s not always necessary to use “than”

  •  Compared to last year, saving money this year has been more difficult.
  • Compared to American cars, Japanese cars are much better.
  • Compared to English, Spanish is an easier language.

Watch this video:

The comparative form is used to show the difference between two things or two people, two groups of things, or two groups of people.

There are rules for using the comparative form. The table below will help you.

The Comparative Form for Adjectives
One-syllable words
two-syllable words    ending in y
    two syllables or more    not ending in y
add er
drop the y and add ier
use more / don’t add er
big arrow bigger
noisyarrow noisier
dangerous arrow more dangerous
old arrow older
busy arrow busier
expensive arrowmore expensive
nice arrow nicer
crazy arrow crazier
comfortable arrow more comfortable
young arrow younger
lazy arrow lazier
humid arrow more humid
fast arrow faster
funny arrow funnier
tired arrow more tired
cheap arrow cheaper
dry arrow drier
acceptable arrow more acceptable
There are some exceptions: good, bad, far, and fun are adjectives that don’t follow the rules when making the comparative form.
good arrow better
bad arrow worse
far arrow farther
      fun arrow more fun

Never use two comparatives together on an adjective:

more cheaper

more noisier

more older

1. I am much __________ ____________ you are. (old)
2. This gold watch is _______ _______________ __________ the silver one. (expensive)
3. China is __________ __________ Japan. (big)
4. It’s _____________ to eat a big breakfast in the morning _________ nothing at all. (good)
5. I felt ___________ today when I woke up _________ I did yesterday. (bad)
6. We have to wake up _____________ tomorrow _________ we ususally do. (early)
7. The air feels _________ ____________ today _______ it did yesterday. (humid)
8. A motorcycle is much ________ _______________ _________ a car. (dangerous)
9. I need a _____________ house because mine is too big. (small)
10. My old shoes are _______ _____________ ________ my new shoes. (comfortable)

Congratulations!!!


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