Simple explanation
What are comparative adjectives? We use comparative adjectives when we compare two people, places, things, or situations. For example, in My room is bigger than yours, we compare the size of two rooms. The word bigger tells us that one room has more size than the other. Using -er with short adjectives Most short adjectives form the comparative by adding -er. Tall becomes taller, small becomes smaller, and fast becomes faster. When we say what the first person or thing is compared with, we usually use than: My brother is taller than me. Important spelling changes Some adjectives change their spelling when we add -er. If an adjective already ends in e, we normally add only -r: nice → nicer. With some short adjectives, the final consonant doubles: big → bigger and hot → hotter. When an adjective ends in consonant + y, the y usually changes to i: easy → easier and busy → busier. Using more with longer adjectives Many longer adjectives form the comparative with more instead of -er. For example, we say more expensive, more interesting, and more comfortable. We do not normally say expensiver or interestinger. At A2 level, it is useful to learn common adjectives together with their comparative forms. Using than in comparisons When we mention the second person or thing in a comparison, we normally use than. A common pattern is A + be + comparative adjective + than + B: This bag is cheaper than that one. If the second part of the comparison is already clear, we can leave it out: This bag is cheaper. Irregular comparative adjectives Some common adjectives do not follow the normal -er or more patterns. Good becomes better, bad becomes worse, and far can become farther or further. These forms need to be learned separately. Negative sentences and questions Comparatives can also appear in negative sentences and questions. With be, the comparative form does not change: My car isn't faster than yours. In questions, be comes before the subject: Is your car faster than mine? We can also use which to compare two choices: Which is cheaper, the bus or the train?
Grammar formula
Short adjective
subject + be + adjective-er + than + noun/pronounTom is taller than Ben.
Longer adjective
subject + be + more + adjective + than + noun/pronounThis hotel is more comfortable than that one.
Negative comparison
subject + be + not + comparative adjective + than + noun/pronounMy phone isn't newer than yours.
Yes/no question
be + subject + comparative adjective + than + noun/pronoun?Is this train faster than the bus?
Which question
Which + be + comparative adjective, A or B?Which is cheaper, the bus or the train?
Core rules
- 1
Add -er to most short adjectives
Many short adjectives form the comparative by adding -er: old → older, tall → taller, cheap → cheaper.
- 2
Adjectives ending in -e
If an adjective already ends in e, normally add only -r: nice → nicer, large → larger.
- 3
Double the final consonant
With some short adjectives, the final consonant is doubled before -er: big → bigger, hot → hotter.
- 4
Change -y to -i
When an adjective ends in consonant + y, change y to i and add -er: easy → easier, busy → busier.
- 5
Use more with many longer adjectives
Many longer adjectives use more before the adjective: more expensive, more difficult, more comfortable.
- 6
Use than to introduce the second comparison
Use than when you name the person or thing being compared with: My car is faster than yours.
- 7
Learn irregular forms
Some common adjectives have irregular comparative forms: good → better, bad → worse, far → farther/further.
- 8
Do not use two comparative markers together
Do not normally combine more with an -er comparative. Say faster, not more faster; say more comfortable, not more comfortabler.
Useful examples
My brother is taller than me.
My brother has more height than I do.
Tall is a short adjective, so we add -er.
This apartment is smaller than our old one.
Our old apartment was bigger than this apartment.
Small forms its comparative regularly with -er.
Today is hotter than yesterday.
The temperature today is higher than it was yesterday.
The final t in hot is doubled before -er.
This exercise is easier than the last one.
The last exercise was more difficult than this one.
Easy changes to easier: y becomes i before -er.
The blue jacket is nicer than the black one.
I think the blue jacket is more attractive than the black jacket.
Nice already ends in e, so we add only -r.
Taking the train is more comfortable than taking the bus.
Travelling by train gives you more comfort than travelling by bus.
Comfortable uses more to form the comparative.
This restaurant is more expensive than the café next door.
You need to pay more at this restaurant than at the nearby café.
Expensive forms its comparative with more.
Your English is better than last year.
Your English has improved since last year.
Better is the irregular comparative form of good.
The traffic is worse in the morning.
The traffic is more difficult or unpleasant in the morning.
Worse is the irregular comparative form of bad.
Is your new job better than your old job?
Do you think your new job is an improvement on your old one?
A comparative adjective can be used in a question.
My laptop isn't faster than yours.
My laptop does not have more speed than your laptop.
In a negative sentence, not is used with be and the comparative form stays the same.
Which city is cheaper, Berlin or Munich?
Between Berlin and Munich, which city costs less?
Which can be used to ask directly about two choices.
Common mistakes
- ❌ My car is more faster than yours. ✅ My car is faster than yours. Fast takes -er. Do not use more and -er together.
- ❌ This book is interestinger than that one. ✅ This book is more interesting than that one. Interesting normally forms the comparative with more, not -er.
- ❌ My house is bigger that yours. ✅ My house is bigger than yours. Use than to introduce the second part of a comparison. That cannot replace than here.
- ❌ This box is biger than that one. ✅ This box is bigger than that one. The final g in big is doubled before adding -er.
- ❌ This test is more easy than the first one. ✅ This test is easier than the first one. Easy changes to easier: y becomes i and -er is added.
- ❌ This restaurant is more better than the other one. ✅ This restaurant is better than the other one. Better is already the comparative form of good, so it does not need more.
Learning tips
- First identify the adjective, then decide whether it needs -er, more, or an irregular form.
- Learn common adjectives together with their comparative forms: cheap → cheaper, easy → easier, expensive → more expensive.
- Do not use more and -er together for the same comparison.
- Do not confuse than and then. Than is used for comparisons; then is commonly connected with time or sequence.
- Learn good → better and bad → worse as complete forms because they do not follow the regular pattern.
- You do not need than when the second part of the comparison is already clear from the context.
Practise this topic
Interactive exercises for this topic are coming soon.
PlannedRelated grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
When should I use -er and when should I use more?
Many short adjectives use -er, such as small → smaller and fast → faster. Many longer adjectives use more, such as more expensive and more comfortable. It is helpful to learn common adjectives together with their comparative forms.
Do I always need than after a comparative adjective?
No. Use than when you mention the second person or thing in the comparison: This car is cheaper than mine. If the comparison is already clear, you can simply say This car is cheaper.
Why is it bigger and not biger?
Big is a short adjective in which the final consonant is doubled before -er is added. That gives us big → bigger.
Can I say more better?
No. Better is already the irregular comparative form of good, so you should say better, not more better.
What is the difference between than and then?
Than is used in comparisons, as in older than me. Then usually refers to time or order, as in We ate dinner and then went home.
Why does easy become easier?
Easy ends in consonant + y. In this pattern, y changes to i before -er is added: easy → easier.