Comparative Adjectives

Finding the better option between two choices is a common experience that we all go through. Whether choosing between two cars, two restaurants, or two vacation spots, we often need to compare and select the superior option. To make an informed decision, canvassing, researching, and reviewing are essential activities. Comparative adjectives are a way to express the differences between two items. For example, Car A is cheaper than Car B, but Car B is more reliable. In this case, “cheaper” and “more reliable” are comparative adjectives that describe the differences between the two cars.

What is a comparative adjective?

A comparative adjective is a word used to compare two items. It is used to describe the differences between two things, such as size, shape, color, or quality. Comparative adjectives are usually formed by adding the suffixes “-er” or “more” to an adjective.

Here are five examples of comparative adjectives used in sentences:

1. The new car is faster than the old one.

2. This restaurant has better food than that one.

3. My vacation spot was more expensive than yours.

4. His laptop is lighter than mine.

5. Her painting is more beautiful than mine.

Positive Adjective vs. Comparative Adjective

Positive adjectives are considered the “base form” of the adjectives. It is because there is only one thing being considered or described. Therefore, it doesn’t use any suffixes or comparative words.

Comparative adjectives, on the other hand, are used to compare two things. It is formed by adding the suffixes “-er” or “more” to an adjective.

Observe the sentences below using positive and comparative adjectives:

Adjective	Positive Adjective	Comparative Adjective
friendly	Dogs are friendly animals.	Dogs are friendlier than cats.
meticulous	My mother is meticulous when it comes to picking produce.	My mother is more meticulous than my father when it comes to picking produce.
good	Exercising is good for your health.	Exercising and eating healthy is better than just exercising alone.
small	Nauru is a small country.	Monaco is smaller than Nauru.
new	Miki’s bag is new. She bought it last week.	Priyanka bought her bag today, so it is newer than Miki’s.

Comparative Adjective Rules

As observed above, comparative adjectives are formed by adding the suffixes “-er” or “more” to an adjective. However, there are some rules that need to be followed when using comparative adjectives.

Regular Adjectives 

Regular adjectives follow the convention of converting positive adjectives into their comparative form. Study the table below for the rules for forming regular comparative adjectives.

Rule	Examples
Add the suffix “-er” for one-syllable adjectives.	calm – calmer; soft – softer; loud – louder; harsh – harsher; long – longer; tall – taller; low -lower; quick – quicker; rich – richer; new- newer
If a short adjective ends with “e,” just add “-r.”	brave – braver; wide – wider; nice – nicer; wise – wiser; simple – simpler; pale – paler; gentle – gentler; fake – faker; ripe – riper; *fine – finer (*when speaking of texture); large -larger
For adjectives with consonant – vowel – consonant spelling, double the last letter and add “-er.” Adjectives ending with “w” are an exception to this rule (e.g. new – newer and low – lower).	big – bigger; mad – madder; sad – sadder; thin- thinner; hot – hotter; fat – fatter; red- redder
If the adjective ends with “y,” convert the last letter into “i” and add “-er.”	happy – happier; lovely – lovelier; pretty – prettier; lucky – luckier; angry – angrier; early – earlier; hungry – hungrier; lonely – lonelier; noisy – noisier; creamy – creamier; easy – easier; wealthy -wealthier
Use the preposition “more” for long adjectives or adjectives that don’t end in “y”. The formula would be “more + adjective.” Long adjectives refer to those which has two or more syllables.	generous – more generous; beautiful – more beautiful; serious- more serious; exciting – more exciting; intelligent – more intelligent; dangerous – more dangerous; complicated – more complicated; brilliant – more brilliant

Regular Comparative Adjectives Used in Sentences

1. Teacher Paulene’s students are noisier than Teacher Eva’s.
2. I need redder paint than this one. Think of wine red instead of candy apple red.
3. Staying near the beach feels calmer than living in the city.
4. Peter is more generous than his brother.
5. Your pillow is softer than mine.
6. We are running out of time. I need you to run faster.
7. Politicians who commit crimes should have harsher punishments.
8. The white sand on this beach is finer than the other beach.
9. Dr. Mike’s suitcase is heavier than mine.
10. She feels happier when she is with her family.
11. My grandmother’s carbonara recipe is tastier than my mother’s.
12. Physics is more complicated than Chemistry.
13. The train arrived earlier than expected.
14. Ashley is 6 inches taller than her cousin.
15. He needs a larger room to store his expensive collection.

Irregular Adjectives

In contrast with regular adjectives, irregular adjectives do not follow the convention of converting positive adjectives into their comparative form. Instead, they have their own unique comparative forms.

Here are common adjectives with irregular form comparative degree conversion:

Positive	Comparative	Example Sentence
little	less	You have twenty dollars, and I have only five. My money is less than yours.
bad / sick / evil	worse	The situation in the airport is worse than last month.
good	better	Ulysses is a better writer than his friend.
many	more	The apartment you are renting is more expensive than mine.
far	farther (physical distance)	If you turn at Lime St., you will be farther from the city center.
far	further (figurative distance)	He was further annoyed by his neighbor’s loud music.

Comparative Adjectives Exercises with Answers

Convert the adjective inside the parentheses into a comparative degree to complete the sentences below.

1. The weather today is (gloomy) than yesterday. It makes me want to sleep. 

2. I can’t hear you! Come (close).

3. He was boastful because I didn’t tell him I owned (many) properties than him.

4. The new model of the phone is (expensive) than the old one.

5. I can’t believe it! This dress is (pretty) than I expected.

6. Andrew felt (bad) after he heard the news.

7. The new restaurant is (popular) than the old one.

8. This dress is (loose) than the other one I tried on a while ago.

9. Don’t raise your voice and speak any (loud).

10. After going on a hike every weekend, Casandra felt (healthy) than before.

Answers:

1. The weather today is gloomier than yesterday. It makes me want to sleep.

2. I can’t hear you! Come closer.

3. He was boastful because I didn’t tell him I owned more properties than him.

4. The new model of the phone is more expensive than the old one.

5. I can’t believe it! This dress is prettier than I expected.

6. Andrew felt worse after he heard the news.

7. The new restaurant is more popular than the old one.

8. This dress is looser than the other one I tried on a while ago.

9. Don’t raise your voice and speak any louder.

10. After going on a hike every weekend, Casandra felt healthier than before.

Comparative Adjectives List

Comparative Adjectives List
fresher	gloomier	poorer	thicker	broader
duller	more bitter	fancier	tanner	bluer
more tired	higher	warmer	closer	darker
deeper	clearer	more complicated	weaker	clumsier
nearer	milder	dimmer	heavier	greedier
coarser	more accurate	juicier	neater	fiercer
firmer	oilier	messier	more difficult	more interesting

Advice for ESL Students & English Language Learners

Learning a new language can be quite challenging, but with dedication and hard work, it is possible to become proficient. Immerse yourself in the language by reading books, watching movies or TV shows in the target language, and speaking with native speakers. Additionally, it is beneficial to use online resources, flashcards, textbooks, and quizzes to help you learn and practice comparative adjectives. Finally, don’t be afraid to make mistakes – it is part of the learning process! Additionally, it is important for learners to properly understand Superlative Adjectives and degrees of adjectives.

Common Mistakes Made by English Learners

Common Mistake	Why it Happens	Correction and Best Practices	Examples
Using the superlative degree instead of the comparative degree when comparing two things	Non-standard: The purple dress fits you betterer than the white one. Standard: The purple dress fits you better than the white ones. Non-standard: I need a thickerer mattress. Standard: I need a thicker mattress. “Importanter” is considered by grammarians as incorrect. Hence, use the standard form: “Daisy have more important things to do.”	When using a comparative degree, it’s better to always use the standard version. As a learner, adhering to the grammar rule would make your learning process easier. Once you have mastered the standard rules, you can explore the colloquial use of English.	Incorrect: Between maple syrup and honey, the former is the sweetest. Correct: Between maple syrup and honey, the former is sweeter.  Use the comparative degree since there are two nouns being compared.
Non-standard formation of comparative adjectives	As language evolves, more colloquial versions of words emerge.  Examples are “betterer,” “thickerer,” and “importanter.”  While those words may be acceptable in informal conversations, they are not the standard comparative adjective.	When using comparative degree, it’s better to always use the standard version. As a learner, adhering to the grammar rule would make your learning process easier. Once you have mastered the standard rules, you can explore the colloquial use of English.	Non-standard: The purple dress fits you betterer than the white one. Standard: The purple dress fits you better than the white one. Non-standard: I need a thickerer mattress. Standard: I need a thicker mattress. “Importanter” is considered by grammarians as incorrect. Hence, use the standard form: “Daisy has more important things to do.”
Forgetting the preposition “than”	“Than” is an identifying word for comparative adjectives. In some cases, it can be omitted, as when the second thing being compared is implied. However, when two things were specified in the sentence, always use the preposition “than.”	Sentence formation in comparative adjectives usually follows this formula: “subject + verb + comparative adjective + than + object.” For example: The cheetah runs faster than the horse. When starting your learning journey, it is simpler if you follow the formula above before exploring sentence constructions wherein “than” may be omitted.	Comparative with “than”: Pharmacy A is nearer to us than Pharmacy B. Notice that two objects are being compared here. Hence, “than” must be used. Comparative omitting “than”: Ben needs to find a nearer pharmacy. (than the one he usually goes to / knows) In this example, the second object being compared is implied. The sentence conveys that Ben needs to find a nearer pharmacy than the one he already knows. Hence, “than” is omitted. Incorrect Comparative:  The lights in this room are dimmer the other room. Correct Comparative: The lights in this room are dimmer than the other room.

Comparative Adjective Frequently Asked Questions