The Power of Comparison

Comparative adjectives

• Comparative adjectives are used to compare two or more things.

• They are formed by adding -er to the end of the adjective or by using the word more before the adjective.

• Examples: bigger, more beautiful

• Comparative adjectives help us describe differences and make comparisons.

Comparative adjectives

• Comparative adjectives are used to compare two or more things.
• They are formed by adding -er to the end of the adjective or by using the word more before the adjective.
• Examples: bigger, more beautiful
• Comparative adjectives help us describe differences and make comparisons.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of comparative adjectives?

• To describe differences and make comparisons

• To show superiority over others

• To emphasize the beauty of the adjective

• To indicate the size of the adjective

Forming regular comparatives and superlatives

Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.

One syllable adjectives


Adjective Comparative


tall taller
fat fatter
big bigger
sad sadder

Two syllables

Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceeding the adjective with more. In many cases, both forms are used, although one usage will be more common than the other.
For adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative​

happy happier
simple simpler
busy busier

Three or more syllables

Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front of the adjective.

​Adjective Comparative

important more important
expensive more expensive

Irregular comparatives

These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative forms.

​Adjective Comparative

good better
bad worse
little less
much more
far further / farther

Examples

• Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.

• You play tennis better than I do.

• This is the least expensive sweater in the store.

• This sweater is less expensive than that one.

• I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.