Comparatives

What is a comparative?

We use comparatives to compare an attribute of two people, places, or things. For example: Which animal is bigger, a hippo or a cow?

We form a comparative sentence using an "adjective" and "than". The structure to write a sentence is: 

Object 1 + adjective + "than" + object 2 

John is taller than Mike.

Let's study some rules to learn how we form comparatives.

Rule # 1:

Short adjectives add "er" for the comparative form (one-syllable adjectives)

- cute - cuter

- short - shorter

- tall - taller

Which is cuter?

Rule # 2:

If the last syllable of the adjective ends with (consonant - vowel - consonant) we "double" the last consonant and add "er"

- big - bigger

- fat - fatter

- hot - hotter

Which is bigger?

The hippopotamus is bigger than the lizard.

Rule # 3:

For adjectives ending in "consonant + y" we delete "y" and add "ier"

- pretty - prettier

- ugly - uglier

- happy - happier

Which is prettier?

The butterfly is prettier than the beetle

Rule # 4:

For other adjectives of two or more syllables, add "more"

- colorful - more colorful

- beautiful - more beautiful

- important - more important

Which is more colorful?

The butterfly is more colorful than the eel.

Rule # 5:

Irregular adjectives change completely to form the comparative.

- good - better

- bad - worse

- far - farther / further

You can practice the "comparatives" with the next list of adjectives: