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IntermediateAdjectives

Learn Comparatives in English

Compare two people or things: bigger, more interesting, better.

Learning goal
Recognize and use this pattern in context.
Practice
10 randomized questions with explanations.
Suggested workflow
Study the examples, then take the quiz.

Grammar Focus

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two people, things, places, or ideas. They show that one thing has more or less of a quality than another. Comparatives are one of the most practical grammar structures in English — you use them every time you say something is bigger, cheaper, more interesting, or better than something else.

  • For short adjectives (one syllable), add -er and then the word *than*: *tall → taller than*, *fast → faster than*
  • For long adjectives (two or more syllables), use more before the adjective and *than* after: *more expensive than*, *more beautiful than*
  • Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms that you must memorise: *good → better*, *bad → worse*, *far → farther/further*
  • Always use than to introduce the second item in the comparison: *She is taller than her sister.*

Form & Structure

Short Adjectives

adjective + -er + than
This bag is cheaper than that one.
My apartment is smaller than yours.
Today is hotter than yesterday.

Long Adjectives

more + adjective + than
This film is more interesting than the last one.
Her new job is more stressful than her old one.
The hotel is more comfortable than the hostel.

Irregular Comparatives

good→better, bad→worse, far→farther/further
His English is better than it was last year.
The traffic today is worse than usual.
The new office is farther than the old one.

Common Mistakes

Using 'more' with short adjectives

This box is more big than that one.
This box is bigger than that one.

Tip: One-syllable adjectives take -er, not *more*. Use *bigger*, *taller*, *faster* — not *more big*, *more tall*, *more fast*.

Forgetting 'than' after the comparative

She is smarter her brother.
She is smarter than her brother.

Tip: Always follow the comparative adjective with than when you are naming the second item being compared. Without *than*, the sentence is incomplete.

Using double comparatives

This car is more faster than mine.
This car is faster than mine.

Tip: Never use *more* together with an -er ending. Choose one or the other depending on the length of the adjective. *More faster* is a double comparative and is always wrong.

Why This Grammar Matters

Shopping — comparing prices, quality, or size

“This jacket is more expensive than the other one, but it's better quality.”
“The supermarket on the corner is cheaper than the one downtown.”

Travel — comparing cities, routes, or transport options

“The train is faster than the bus, but it's more expensive.”
“Rome is more crowded than Naples in summer.”

Work and study — comparing jobs, courses, or candidates

“Her new position is more challenging than her previous role.”
“This course is harder than the beginner level, but it's more useful.”

Everyday decisions — choosing between options

“Coffee keeps me more alert than tea in the morning.”
“Walking is healthier than taking the lift.”