We use comparative adjectives to show change or make comparisons:
_ I'm feeling better now.
_ A giraffe is taller than a zebra.
How do we form comparative adjectives?
- We usually add -er to one-syllable words to make comparatives:
old-older > This car is old, but mine is older.
long- longer > The River Tajo is longer than the River Miño.
- If and adjective ends in -e, we add -r:
nice-nicer > Harry is nice, but Emma is nicer.
- If an adjective ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant, we double the last consonant and then we add -er:
big-bigger > Elephants are bigger than hippos.
- If an adjective ends in a consonant and -y, we change -y to -i and add -er.
heavy-heavier > My desk is heavy, but the teacher's one is heavier.
- We use more to make comparatives for most two syllables and for all adjectives with three or more syllables:
dangerous-more dangerous > Tigers are more dangerous than cats.
- Some adjectives have irregular comparatives:
good- better
bad- worse
Let's practise!
Now you can practise the use of comparative adjectives with the following activities:
