We often describe something by comparing it to something else. Comparative adjectives are used to compare two different people or things to each other. Some examples of comparative adjectives include words, such as larger, smaller, faster, and more expensive.

• These earrings are more expensive than those.
• Whales are larger than dolphins.
• This fireplace is bigger than the last one
• My brother is clumsier than me.
• You might be tall, but I am taller.

Comparative adjectives that add “–er”:

• Bold – Bolder
• Calm – Calmer
• Fast – Faster
• High – Higher
• Quick – Quicker
• Soft – Softer
• Weak – Weaker
• Young – Younger
• Rich – Richer
• Mean – Meaner

In some cases, we have to double the last letter before adding ‘–er’ in the ending.

For example:

• Dim – Dimmer
• Fat – Fatter
• Mad – Madder
• Sad – Sadder
• Fit – Fitter

Exception rules

In some cases, with two –syllable words ending in ‘–y’, ‘y’ is changed to ‘i’ before adding ‘–er’.

For example:

• Happy – Happier
• Clumsy – Clumsier
• Guilt – Guiltier
• Pretty – Prettier
• Tasty – Tastier

Comparative Adjectives that add “More” or “Less”

In case of root adjectives that are two or three syllables, we use “more” or “less” before the adjective in place of –er ending. For example:

• Clever – More (or less) clever
• Modern – More (or less) modern
• Polite – More (or less) polite
• Beautiful – More (or less) beautiful
• Important – More (or less) important

Irregular Comparative Adjectives

In case of irregular comparative adjectives, while comparing two items, they take on an entirely new word form:

• Bad – Worse
• Good – Better
• Far – Further

Rules for Using Comparative Adjectives

While using comparative adjectives the following rule is followed:

Subject (Noun) + Verb + Comparative Adjective + Than + Direct Object (Noun)

However, comparison is also possible without using the word ”than”.

For example:

• Salinsa is faster than Nagbe.
• Whales are larger than dolphins.
• That box is heavier than this one.
• You might be tall, but I am taller.
• I love to live much closer to the beach now.