Making

Comparis
ons
in English

We often use comparisons

because we want to talk about the
differences between people,
places, and things.
Here is an example:
1. Janets house is bigger
than Toms.
2. Toms house is a lot
smaller than Janets.
3. Janets house is
fancier and more
elaborate than Toms
house.

The comparative forms from

the previous example are:
-bigger than
-smaller than
-fancier than
-more elaborate than

So . . . When do we use
er and when do we use
more?

How many syllables are the words:

small?

big and

For 1-syllable adjectives,

JUST add er to the end.
Example: Tom is smarter than Joe.
*If the 1-syllable adjective ends with the letter
e,
JUST add r to the end.
Examples:

nicer

wiser

**If the 1-syllable adjective has a C-V-C pattern,

Double the consonant and add er.
Examples: San Francisco is

wetter

than

For adjectives that end with the letter y,

DROP the y and add
ier.
Examples:
Adjective = fancy
than Toms.
Adjective = pretty
than Toms.
Adjective = friendly
than Susan.

Janets house is fancier

Janets house is prettier
Alison is friendlier

How many syllables is the word:

elaborate?

(more than 1)

For adjectives that are 2 or more syllables,

use more + the adjective to make the
comparative form.
Examples:
Adjective = elaborate
Janets house is more elaborate than Toms.
Adjective = comfortable
This chair is more comfortable than that chair.

Irregular comparatives:
You MUST memorize these!
Examples:
good =
than
bad =

better than

far = farther (further)

worse than

Adjective = good
Saras grades are better than Michaels.

Grammar Rule:
Never use both MORE and ER!

Incorrect:
Lisas job is more better
than mine.

Correct:
Lisas job is better than

Using less than

Sometimes we compare two things by using
less than.
To do this, use LESS + adjective + THAN
When using less than, the adjective DOES NOT
CHANGE

Examples:
He is LESS energetic than my other teacher.
This class is LESS crowded than the other one.
New York City is LESS polluted than Los
Angeles.

Rule . . .

ADJECTIVE

COMPARATIVE

1. Adjectives with one

syllable:
add er

old
big
cheap

older than
bigger than
cheaper than

2. Adjectives that end

in Y:
drop Y, add ier

friendly
busy
easy

friendlier than
busier than
easier than

3. Adjectives with two

or
more syllables:
use more

polite
beautiful
important

more polite than

more beautiful than
more important than

4. Irregular forms:

good
bad
far

better than
worse than
farther/further than

quiet
crowded

less quiet than

less crowded than

(memorize)

5. Less Than

There are a few exceptions with comparative

grammar . . .
These are adjectives that dont follow the
basic rules or that have more than one
acceptable form. To learn these, you must
memorize them.
1.fun

We say:

2. simple
simpler

more fun

funner

We say:

more simple

3. narrow
We say:
OR narrower

more narrow

OR

Try these examples. Use the comparative form.

1.I think Social Studies is _________________
(interesting) than Math.
2. San Diego is a _____________ (pretty) city than
L.A.
3. A dog is usually _______________ (friendly) than
a cat.
4. It is _____________ (hot) today than it was
yesterday.
5. My cousin is ______________ (rich) than I am.

For Additional Explanation and Practice, go to

these websites:
1. Comparative / Superlative Explanation and
Quizzes:
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/reg
com.htm

2. Comparatives Challenge Board Game:

http://www.quia.com/cb/283937.html

If you do these exercises,