Comparative
Look at this dialogue.
A: This wine is older than that one
B: Yes but this other one is more expensive.
A: Hmm, which one do you this is better?
B: I don’t know but this one will be easier on my wallet!
Comparative form can be ‘er’ or ‘more’….
‘er’ is used with short adjectives consisting of one syllable.
Fast – Faster Cheap – Cheaper Large – Larger Small – Smaller
Safe – Safer Smart – Smarter Dark – Darker Clean – Cleaner
‘ier’ is used for adjectives ending in ‘y’
easy – easier funny – funnier happy – happier pretty – prettier
‘more’ and ‘less’ is used with adjectives consisting of two syllables or more and
adverbs ending in ‘ly’.
intelligent – more/less intelligent beautiful – more/less beautiful
extravagant – more/less extravagant reliable – more/less reliable
slowly – more/less slowly deeply – more/less deeply
Sometimes ‘er’ or ‘more’ can be used with some two syllable adjectives.
clever narrow quiet shallow simple
To make things a bit more confusing, there are a few irregular adjectives and
adverbs.
good – better well – better bad – worse far – further
Choose the correct comparative below.
1. My suitcase is (large) than your suitcase.
2. This scarf is (beautiful) than the one in the window.
3. The palace Hotel was (expensive) than the Grosvenor.
4. John is a (good) gardener than Stuart.
5. They are not going to the (bad) hotel.
6. The palace is the (expensive) hotel.
7. John is the (good) gardener.
8. These are the (beautiful) colours.
9. Mr.Smith is (bad) today than yesterday.