1. What are Comparative Adjectives?
We use Comparative Adjectives for comparing 2 things.
e.g. adjectives comparing age, features, quality, size, etc.
Example Sentence
1. Pat is 10 years younger than Tony.
2. Is it faster to get there by subway or taxi?
3. This park is more beautiful than the one in our neighbourhood.
4. My T-shirt is less expensive than yours.
5. Our new apartment is as big as the old one.
2. Story: The Tale of the Two Gardens
Before we go on let's read the short story below. Look out for the Comparatives Adjectives used. How many can you spot?
Once upon a time in a small village, there were two neighbours, Mr. Green and Mrs. Bloom. Both loved gardening, and their gardens were the pride of the village. However, they had a friendly rivalry, always comparing whose garden was more beautiful.
One sunny morning, Mr. Green looked out his window and noticed that Mrs.
Bloom’s roses were so bright like the morning sun.
He sighed and thought, “My roses are beautiful, but they are not as bright as Mrs. Bloom’s.” He decided to plant some new roses that would hopefully be brighter.
After weeks of hard work, Mr. Green’s roses bloomed. “These are definitely brighter than before,” he said proudly. “But are they as bright as Mrs. Bloom’s?” He wasn’t sure.
Mrs. Bloom noticed Mr. Green’s new roses. She admired them but thought, “My tulips are still more beautiful.” However, when she saw how colourful Mr. Green’s garden had become, she began to worry. “His garden is looking more beautiful every day!”
Determined not to be outdone, Mrs. Bloom decided to focus on her tulips. “They are quite tall, but what if Mr. Green’s sunflowers grow taller?” She started watering and caring for her tulips even more.
As the days passed, the villagers began to talk. “Mr. Green’s garden is definitely brighter than before,” they said, “but Mrs. Bloom’s tulips are taller and more beautiful.”
One day, Mr. Green walked over to Mrs. Bloom’s garden and said, “Your tulips are quite tall now, but my sunflowers aren’t as tall as your tulips yet.
However, I think my roses are brighter than they were last year.”
Mrs. Bloom smiled and replied, “Yes, they are brighter! But look at your garden now—it’s more beautiful than ever. Maybe our gardens are as beautiful as each other in different ways.”
From that day on, Mr. Green and Mrs. Bloom stopped comparing whose garden was better. Instead, they shared tips and enjoyed their equally beautiful and unique gardens. The villagers agreed that their gardens were both lovely, with each having its own charm.
Examples from the story using Comparative Adjectives:
more beautiful
not as bright as Mrs. Bloom’s
brighter
brighter than before
as bright as Mrs. Bloom’s
taller
aren’t as tall as your tulips
as beautiful as each other
better
3. 6 Ways to form & use the Comparative Adjectives - Example Sentence
A Quick Look!
i) Here's how we change the adjective to the comparative:
1. add > suffix '-er' to 'short adjective'
2. add > 'more / less' before 'long adjective'
3. adjectives that can take both forms
4. irregular adjectives
5. 'as...as' form
6. modifiers - to make strong or weak comparison
ii) 6 ways & Example uses of the Comparative adjectives
a) Comparative with 'short adjectives'
- add > '-er'
e.g.
young > younger
short > shorter
tall > taller
Vocabulary Check!
1. Meaning: syllable = sound/beat
e.g. chair (1 syllable) , table (2 syllable)
2. Meaning: vowel = a, e, i, o, u
3. Meaning: consonant = b, c, d, f, ... z
b) 1-syllable adjective ending with > (consonant-vowel-consonant)
e.g. b i g
> b (consonant) i (vowel) g (consonant)
b i g
1. double the final letter >gg
2. add '-er'
e.g. big > bigger
Example (1-syllable word):
Adjective Comparative
hot hotter
slim slimmer
thin thinner
Example Sentence
1. Wow! Your apartment is bigger than mine.
2. This summer is hotter than last year's.
3. She looks slimmer in that pink dress.
c) some adjectives ending '-y'
e.g. busy
1. remove > -y
2. add > -ier
e.g. busy > busier
Example Sentence
- Today is much busier than yesterday.
Example (Adjectives ending '-y'):
Adjective Comparative
tidy tidier
crazy crazier
easy easier
Example Sentence
1. Anna's room is tidier than her little brother's.
2. Stan's got a crazier idea than before.
3. This week's test is easier than the previous one.
d. Irregular Comparatives
(Irregular Adjectives)
Adjective Comparative
good better
bad worse
many more
little less
Example Sentence:
1. Your grades are better than last year's.
2. Our company's sales results were much worse than before.
3. Please add less salt but more pepper to the soup.
e) Comparatives with 'long adjectives' - (2,3 or more syllable words)
Vocabulary Check!
- 'less' = opposite of 'more'
i) 2 syllable adjectives
- add > 'more' or 'less' + adjective
e.g. boring > more boring
> less boring
(2 syllable Adjectives)
Adjective Comparative
tiring more / less tiring
stressful more / less stressful
famous more / less famous
Sentence Example
1. I find shopping more tiring than doing housework.
2. Working from home is more stressful than going to the office.
3. Going to the office is less stressful than working from home.
Grammar Point!
Comparative form using 'more' for words ending in:
-ful, -less, -ing
e.g
i. careful > more careful
ii. careless > more careless
iii.caring > more caring
ii) (3 - 4 syllable adjectives)
- add > 'more' or 'less' + adjective
e.g. exciting > more exciting
> less exciting
(3 - 4 syllable Adjectives)
Adjective Comparative
colourful more / less colourful
beautiful more / less beautiful
important more / less important
intelligent more / less intelligent
fascinating more / less fascinating
complicated more / less complicated
Example Sentence
1. The TV actress Aoi, is more beautiful than that famous model.
2. The other street is more colourful than this one.
3. This street is less colourful than the other one.
4. Who is more intelligent? Ed or his sister?
5. Last night's exhibit is even more fascinating than before.
6. This lesson's grammar rule is more complicated than yesterday's.
Note!
f. Some 2 syllable adjectives can be used both ways:
e.g. quiet > quieter or more quiet
Adjective Comparative
quiet quieter / more quiet
friendly friendlier / more friendly
handsome handsomer / more handsome
Example Sentence
1. This place is quieter in the evenings.
2. The children in the next class are more quiet.
3. The staff at the cafe are friendlier than the team at the bookstore.
g. Comparatives - Making a stronger or weaker comparison
We can add a modifier to make the comparison stronger or weaker:
Example
a lot, much, a bit, slightly
Form - modifier + Comparative adjective
e.g. a lot / much + more exciting
e.g. slightly / a bit + bigger
Example Sentence
1. These vegetables are a lot / much fresher than the ones we saw earlier.
2. The children are feeling slightly / a bit better now.
3. This actor looks far / much more gorgeous in person.
Incorrect!
1. X These vegetables are more fresher than the ones we saw earlier.X
'fresher' is a comparative so we don't say 'more' fresher.
h. 'As... as' Comparatives - to compare similar things
- as + adjective + as
e.g.
as cold as
as tall as
as exciting as
as important as
(Positive form)
1. Today is as cold as yesterday. (both days the same temperature)
2. This building is as tall as that one. (both buildings the same height)
3. Disneyland is as exciting as Universal Studios. (both theme parks are exciting)
(Negative form)
1.Today is not / isn't as cold as yesterday.
Same meaning - (yesterday was colder. / today is warmer.)
2. This building is not / isn't as tall as that one.
Same meaning - (this building is shorter. / that one is taller.)
3. Disneyland is not / isn't as exciting as Universal Studios.
Same meaning - (Disneyland is less exciting. / US is more exciting.)
Noe!
We can also add a modifier to make the comparison more specific:
Example
just, almost, not quite
1. Today is just as busy as yesterday. (equally busy)
2. The live-action movie is almost as good as the anime series. (comparing the similarity)
Vocabulary Check!
Meaning:
1. live action movie = film with real actors, animals
2. anime = Japanese film characters drawn, not real actors
3. My mobile phone is not quite as expensive as Linda's. (comparing the difference)
Vocabulary Check!
(UK English) - mobile phone
(US English) - cell phone
Quick recap!
A. How many ways can we use the Comparative Form for Adjectives?
1. add > suffix '-er' to 'short adjective'
there are spelling changes for adj.
- 1 syllable e.g. flat > flatter
- '-y' e.g. pretty > prettier
2. add > 'more / less' before 'long adjective'
3. some 2 syllable adjectives can use both '-er' & 'more'
4. some are 'irregular' adjectives
5. we can also use 'as...as' form
6. we can add modifiers to make strong, weak or specific comparison
B. Comparative Adjectives - Conversation Example
Brenda has just moved to a new apartment. She really misses her old home.
She's comparing the pros and cons of the two apartments.
Vocabulary Check!
Meaning:
pros and cons (phrase) = advantage & disadvantage
This new place isn't as bright as her previous one.
There aren't as many windows as the old apartment.
Travelling by train is less convenient.
Buses are not as regular.
Her previous neighbours are more friendly.
But her kitchen is now much bigger and cosier.
The neighbourhood park is nearer.
It's a lot quieter in the evenings.
The view from her room is almost as good as her old room.
C. Over to You!
i. Try practising the Comparative above in a similar way.
ii. Make your own comparative sentences.
Look around you, maybe compare the people, your belongings, your home... anything. Write it down or say it out loud.
We hope you've enjoyed practising using Comparative Adjectives 6 Ways Use With Example Sentence.
Thanks so much for reading and Happy Speaking!
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