In brief
Superiority: short adjective + -er + than / more + long adjective + than
Inferiority: less + adjective + than / not as + adjective + as
Equality: as + adjective + as
Short adjectives: 1 syllable or 2 syllables ending in -y | Long adjectives: 2 syllables or more
Comparison allows us to compare two elements by highlighting their differences or similarities. In English, there are three types of comparatives: the comparative of superiority, inferiority, and equality.
Distinguishing short and long adjectives
Short adjectives: composed of one syllable (tall, big, fast) or two syllables ending in -y (happy, easy, crazy) Long adjectives: composed of two syllables or more (expensive, intelligent, beautiful)1. Comparative of superiority
With short adjectives
Structure: Subject + verb + adjective + -er + than + complement- tall → taller: She is taller than her brother.
- fast → faster: This car is faster than mine.
- old → older: My father is older than my mother.
With long adjectives
Structure: Subject + verb + more + adjective + than + complement- expensive: This phone is more expensive than that one.
- interesting: The book is more interesting than the film.
- beautiful: Paris is more beautiful than London.
Special spelling rules
Adjectives ending in -y: replace -y with -ier- easy → easier: English is easier than Chinese.
- happy → happier: He is happier than before.
- big → bigger: The elephant is bigger than the horse.
- fat → fatter: This cat is fatter than mine.
- sad → sadder: She was sadder than him.
2. Comparative of inferiority
With “less… than”
Structure: Subject + verb + less + adjective + than + complement- This exercise is less difficult than the previous one.
- He is less tall than his sister.
- The red dress is less expensive than the blue one.
With “not as… as”
Structure: Subject + verb + not as + adjective + as + complement- This car is not as fast as the old one.
- Tom is not as intelligent as Mary.
- The weather is not as cold as yesterday.
3. Comparative of equality
Structure: Subject + verb + as + adjective + as + complement- I am as tall as my mother.
- This book is as interesting as that one.
- She is as clever as her brother.
- My car is as fast as his.
Irregular adjectives
Some adjectives don’t follow the usual rules and have irregular comparative forms:| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | This pizza is better than the other one. |
| bad | worse | The weather is worse than yesterday. |
| far | farther / further | London is farther than Oxford. |
| little | less | I have less money than you. |
| much / many | more | She has more experience than him. |
Practice exercise
Complete the sentences with the appropriate comparative form of the adjective in parentheses:
1. My house is (big) than yours.
2. This book is (interesting) than the movie.
3. She runs (fast) than her sister.
4. Today is (bad) than yesterday.
5. My car is (expensive) than his.
6. English is (easy) than German.
7. This coffee is (good) than the other one.
8. The tiger is (dangerous) than the cat.
9. He is (tall) than me.
10. This exercise is (difficult) than the previous one.
