Comparative adjectives

Let’s compare the following pictures and analyse the comparisons.

We use
the comparative when comparing one object to another (one group or group of objects/people to
another).

Examples:

 A camel is bigger than a bear.

 A Lamborghini car is more expensive than a Toyota car.

How can you form the Comparative form? Pay attention to the adjective you are using. Follow
the rules below:

1st rule : For adjectives of SYLLABLE, we add “er” + than :

- short  shorter than - young  younger than

- small  smaller than

Example: A mouse is smaller than a cat.

2nd rule : adjectives ending in CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) , we double the last consonant
and add ‘ER’ + than.

- hot  hotter than - fat  fatter than

- sad  sadder than

Example: A hippo is fatter than a coat.

3rd rule : syllable adjectives ending in ‘consonant + y’, have the ‘y’ changed into ‘I’ and add ‘ER’.

- happy happier than - busy  busier than

- dirty  dirtier than

Example: A pig is dirtier than a dog.

4th rule : for adjetives of more two syllables, we add “more” before the adjective

- intelligent  more intelligent than - beautiful  more beautiful than

- interesting  more interesting than
 Example : Dolphins are more intelligent than crabs.
5th rule : Irregular adjectives.

• good  better
• bad  worse

Example: I am better at English than Math.

Exercises

a) Write the comparative form of the following verbs.

1. short ________________ 11.fat __________________

2. noisy ________________ 12.light __________________
3. cheap ________________ 13.easy __________________
4. clever ________________ 14.smart __________________
5. poor _________________ 15.useful __________________
6. wise _________________ 16.hot __________________
7. cold _________________ 17.heavy __________________
8. nice _________________ 18.poor __________________
9. rich _________________ 19. Good __________________
10. dangerous _____________ 20. Full __________________

b) Use the comparative of the adjectives in brackets to complete the sentences:

1. Tigers are much ________________________ wolves. (big)

2. Trains are ______________________________ airplanes. (slow)
3. The cinema is ___________________________ the supermarket. (close)
4. The temperature in Brazil is ______________________________ in Alaska. (high)
5. My brother is ________________________________ yours. (fat)
6. It is _________________________ in Rio de Janeiro than it is in São Paulo. (sunny)
7. Britney Spears is ___________________________________ Beyoncé. (young)
8. The afternoon is usually ______________________________ the evening. (hot)
9. I am _______________________________ Mike Tyson. (weak)
10. An elephant can be ________________________________ a car. (heavy)

Write sentences as in the example:

(Britain – cool, Egypt) Britain is cooler than Egypt.

( an octopus – long – a fish)

......................................................................................................
(Venice – beautiful - Paris)
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(an elephant – big - a mouse)
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(a shark – dangerous – a whale)
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