ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Forming Comparative Adjectives

One-syllable Adjectives
1. Form the comparative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er.
Examples:
 long – longer
 tall – taller
2. If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form.
Examples:
 cute – cuter
 large – larger
3. Add –er to adjectives that end in consonant-vowel-consonant and double the
last consonant.
Examples:
 big – bigger
 hot – hotter

Two-syllable Adjectives
1. With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more.
Examples:
 honest – more honest
 famous – more famous
2. If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the
comparative form.
Examples:
 happy – happier
 crazy – crazier
3. Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, –le, or –ow take –er to form the comparative
forms.
Examples:
 narrow – narrower
 gentle – gentler

Adjectives with Three or More Syllables

Add more to adjectives that has 3 or more syllables.
Examples:
 expensive – more expensive
 difficult – more difficult
 Irregular Adjectives
 good – better
 bad – worse
 far – farther
 little – less
 many – more
NOTE: When comparative adjectives are used, the word “THAN” appears after the
adjective.

List of comparative adjectives

ADJECTIVES COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES COMPARATIVE

slow slower than funny funnier than
fast faster than narrow narrower than
cheap cheaper than shallow shallower than
clear clearer than humble humbler than
loud louder than gentle gentler than
new newer than clever cleverer than
rich richer than polite more polite than
short shorter than helpful more helpful than
thick thicker than useful more useful than
old older than obscure more obscure
tall taller than interesting more interesting than
large larger than comfortable more comfortable than
wide wider than beautiful more beautiful than
nice nicer than difficult more difficult than
big bigger than dangerous more dangerous than
fat fatter than expensive more expensive than
fit fitter than popular more popular than
hungry hungrier than complicated more complicated than
happy happier than confident more confident than
pretty prettier than good better than
heavy heavier than bad worse than
angry angrier than far farther than
dirty dirtier than little less than
slow slower than much/many more than
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES