Comparative adjectives compare two people, places, or things. They show that one has more of a quality than the other. In the sentence Ana is taller than Maya, taller compares two people and shows a difference in height. In This road is quieter than that street, quieter compares two places.

A comparative does not compare a whole group by itself. For a group, English uses a superlative, as in the tallest or the quietest. A comparative always points to a choice between two sides, often with than after it. Remove the comparative adjective, and the sentence loses the comparison: Ana is Maya does not show difference, but Ana is taller than Maya does.

Comparing two things in English

Usage	Explanation
Two item comparison	Use a comparative adjective when you want to compare two people, places, or things.
Difference in amount	Use a comparative adjective to show one thing has more of a quality than another.
Direct contrast	Use a comparative adjective when you want to make a clear contrast between two options.

Many short adjectives form the comparative by adding -er. With one-syllable adjectives, the pattern is usually adjective + -er. Small becomes smaller, fast becomes faster, and young becomes younger.

Use this form when the adjective is short and simple. The comparative comes from the base adjective, not from a new word. Cheaper, warmer, and stronger all follow the same pattern. The word keeps its basic meaning, but now it compares two things. In This jacket is cheaper than that one, cheaper compares prices. In My brother is stronger than me, stronger compares physical strength.

Forming comparatives with shorter adjectives

Idea
Add -er to a short adjective to make the comparative form.
Use -er with many one syllable adjectives.
Keep the base meaning and show a higher degree of the same quality.

Some adjectives change spelling before -er is added. Adjectives ending in -y change y to i and then add -er: happy becomes happier, and easy becomes easier. The y change appears in the comparative form itself.

One short adjective with a single vowel followed by a single consonant usually doubles the final consonant before -er: big becomes bigger, hot becomes hotter, and thin becomes thinner. The double consonant keeps the short vowel sound. When the adjective already ends in e, English usually adds only -r: large becomes larger, and nice becomes nicer. The spelling changes show the comparative form clearly while keeping the same basic adjective meaning.

Spelling changes when adding comparatives

Idea
Change final y to i before adding er.
Double the final consonant after a short vowel plus consonant pattern.
Keep the final silent e and add r.

Longer adjectives usually form the comparative with more before the adjective. The pattern is more + adjective. Use it with adjectives like beautiful, careful, expensive, and interesting. Say more beautiful, more careful, more expensive, and more interesting.

This pattern is the normal choice when the adjective has several syllables or sounds awkward with -er. In The new apartment is more expensive than the old one, more carries the comparison and expensive stays in its base form. In Her idea is more interesting than mine, more marks the comparison, not a change in the adjective ending.

Using more with longer adjectives

Idea
Use more before many two syllable and longer adjectives.
Do not add er to most long adjectives in standard English.
Use more to compare qualities with longer words.

A comparative adjective can come before a noun or after a be-verb. Before a noun, it appears in the pattern a + comparative adjective + noun: a better plan, a longer trip, a more comfortable chair. Here the comparative describes the noun directly.

After a be-verb, it follows be: is taller, was cheaper, are more useful. In this position, the sentence often compares the subject with something else. English also uses the pattern comparative adjective + than + noun or pronoun: The blue shirt is better than the red one. The comparative stays in the same form whether it comes before a noun or after be. What changes is its place in the sentence.

Where comparative adjectives appear in sentences

Usage	Explanation
Before a noun	Put the comparative adjective before a noun when it describes that noun directly.
After be verbs	Put the comparative adjective after a be verb when it describes the subject.
With than phrases	Use a comparative adjective with than to show what you are comparing.

A few common adjectives do not take the regular comparative endings. Good becomes better, bad becomes worse, and far becomes farther or further. These forms must be learned as whole words because they do not follow the usual -er or more patterns.

Use better for a higher quality: This book is better than the last one. Use worse for a lower quality: The weather is worse today. For distance, English uses farther and further: The bus stop is farther away or The office is further down the street. These comparatives behave like other comparative adjectives in a sentence, but their forms are irregular.

worsefurtherbetterfarther

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This comparative usually refers to physical distanceThis word can also mean a greater distance or additional degreeThis is the comparative form of goodThis is the comparative form of bad

Common irregular comparative forms

Word	Definition
better	This is the comparative form of good.
worse	This is the comparative form of bad.
farther	This comparative usually refers to physical distance.
further	This word can also mean a greater distance or additional degree.

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