Comparative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives show how one thing differs from another in size, quality, or degree. They help you compare two (or sometimes more) things clearly and precisely.
Formation
Most short adjectives form the comparative by adding -er, and longer adjectives use more before the adjective. Some adjectives change in special ways, so it helps to learn common exceptions.
Adding -er
Short adjectives that end in a single consonant often double the consonant when you add -er. This keeps the pronunciation clear and follows English spelling rules.
| Adjective | Comparative | Adjective | Comparative |
|---|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | sad | sadder |
| hot | hotter | thin | thinner |
| fat | fatter | fit | fitter |
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🦁 The lion is louder than the hyena. | The lion’s roar is louder than the hyena’s laugh. |
| 🐘 The elephant is bigger than the giraffe. | The elephant is bigger than the giraffe. |
| 🦒 The giraffe’s neck is longer than the zebra’s. | The giraffe’s neck is longer than the zebra’s. |
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Using more
Longer adjectives, especially those with two or more syllables, form the comparative with more rather than adding -er. This sounds natural and keeps the adjective intact.
| Adjective | Comparative | Adjective | Comparative |
|---|---|---|---|
| beautiful | more beautiful | interesting | more interesting |
| expensive | more expensive | difficult | more difficult |
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌅 The sunset is more colorful than the morning sky. | The sunset has more colors than the morning sky. |
| 🌴 The jungle is more dense than the savanna. | The jungle is denser than the savanna. |
| 🐍 The snake is more hidden than the chameleon. | The snake is more hidden than the chameleon. |
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Double -er / more exceptions
Some two-syllable adjectives can use either -er or more, depending on style or emphasis. Adjectives ending in -y usually change to -ier, and a few adjectives resist comparatives and use other forms instead.
| Adjective | Comparative | Adjective | Comparative |
|---|---|---|---|
| happy | happier | clever | more clever / cleverer |
| busy | busier | gentle | more gentle / gentler |
| friendly | friendlier | common | more common |
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🐶 The dog is friendlier than the cat. | The dog is more friendly than the cat. |
| 🐰 The rabbit is cuter than the squirrel. | The rabbit is more cute than the squirrel. |
| 🐶 The dog is more playful than the ferret. | The dog is playfuller than the ferret. |
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Irregular Comparatives
A few important adjectives have irregular comparative forms that don’t follow normal rules. These must be memorized because they appear frequently in everyday speech.
| Adjective | Comparative | Adjective | Comparative |
|---|---|---|---|
| good | better | bad | worse |
| far | farther / further | little | less |
| much / many | more | near | nearer |
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🦡 The badger is better at digging than the fox. | The badger is better at digging than the fox. |
| 🦩 The flamingo is more graceful than the pelican. | The flamingo is more graceful than the pelican. |
| 🦥 The sloth is slower than the turtle. | The sloth is slower than the turtle. |
| 🦇 The bat is more alert than the owl. | The bat is more alert than the owl. |
| 🦨 The skunk is worse at hiding than the chameleon. | The skunk is worse at hiding than the chameleon. |
| 🦔 The hedgehog is less loud than the crow. | The hedgehog is less loud than the crow. |
| 🦧 The orangutan is more intelligent than the monkey. | The orangutan is more intelligent than the monkey. |
| 🦪 The oyster is less active than the starfish. | The oyster is less active than the starfish. |
| 🐣 The chick is younger than the lamb. | The chick is younger than the lamb. |
| 🦏 The rhinoceros is older than the elephant. | The rhinoceros is older than the elephant. |
Usage
Comparatives normally compare two things and use than to introduce the second thing. For comparisons involving more than two, use superlatives instead, or phrases like one of the.
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🦁 The lion is louder than the hyena. | The lion’s roar is louder than the hyena’s laugh. |
| 🐘 The elephant is bigger than the giraffe. | The elephant is bigger than the giraffe. |
| 🦒 The giraffe’s neck is longer than the zebra’s. | The giraffe’s neck is longer than the zebra’s. |
| 🌅 The sunset is more colorful than the morning sky. | The sunset has more colors than the morning sky. |
| 🐶 The dog is friendlier than the cat. | The dog is more friendly than the cat. |
| 🦡 The badger is better at digging than the fox. | The badger is better at digging than the fox. |
| 🦨 The skunk is worse at hiding than the chameleon. | The skunk is worse at hiding than the chameleon. |
| 🦧 The orangutan is more intelligent than the monkey. | The orangutan is more intelligent than the monkey. |
Summary
Comparative adjectives let you show differences in quality, size, or degree between two things. Short adjectives usually add -er, longer ones use more, and key irregular forms must be learned. Use than to introduce the thing you’re comparing against.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025