Comparatives
Compare two things: bigger, more comfortable, better — and use than, much and a bit.
In this lesson you will
- Form comparatives of short and long adjectives
- Use than correctly
- Make comparisons stronger or softer
Learn
One syllable: + -er: cheap → cheaper, tall → taller. One vowel + one consonant: double it: big → bigger, hot → hotter. Ending in -e: + -r: nice → nicer.
Two syllables ending in -y: -ier: easy → easier, busy → busier. Two or more syllables: more + adjective: more expensive, more interesting.
Irregular: good → better, bad → worse, far → further/farther.
Use than: Trains are faster than buses. Stronger: much / a lot / far + comparative; softer: a bit / slightly: It’s a bit colder today.
| Adjective | Comparative |
|---|---|
| small | smaller |
| hot | hotter |
| happy | happier |
| modern | more modern |
| good | better |
| bad | worse |
Examples
- My new flat is bigger than my old one.
- This phone is more expensive than that one.
- I feel much better today.
- The test was a bit easier than I expected.
Vocabulary
than
used to compare
“taller than me”
much
a lot (with comparatives)
“much faster”
a bit
a little
“a bit colder”
expensive
costing a lot
comfortable
pleasant to sit or be in
Practice
Complete the sentence.
Speaking
Compare two cities, two jobs or two phones you know. Make six sentences with comparatives, using much and a bit.
Writing
Compare life in the city and life in the countryside (60–80 words).
Lesson quiz
Cats are ___ than dogs.
Review
Key points
- -er for short adjectives (bigger, happier).
- more + long adjectives.
- better, worse, further.
- than; much/a lot/a bit.
What you learned
- ✓ I can form comparatives.
- ✓ I can compare two things.
- ✓ I can say how big the difference is.
Grammar reference: Comparatives and superlatives