12

The
Comparative

The Grass is Always

Greener on the
Other Side
Focus on Grammar 2
Part XII, Unit 40
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Work
Work Talk
Talk 11
Well, my old job
was much better
than this job.

So,
Oh,how
really?
was
your
Whatfirst
wasday
your
at
your
old job
newlike?
job?

Work
Work Talk
Talk 22
My old
was
than Oh,
my
My office
at boss
my old
jobnicer
was more
comfortable.
Inew
see.boss.
Well, I

My old job was easier than this

guess the grass is
job.
the old the old
the
new
the new
always greener
on
office boss
boss
the otheroffice
side.
the old
job

the new job

Comparative
Comparative Adjectives
Adjectives
Use the comparative form of an adjective +
than to compare two people, places, or things.
My dad is
stronger than
your dad.

my dad

his dad

Form
Form 11
To form the comparative of most short (one-syllable)
adjectives, add er to the adjective. Add only r if the
adjective ends in e.

large
old

++

-r-er

==

Sergiys car
Olgasishouse is
largerthan
than
older
my
myhouse.
car.

older
larger

Form
Form 22
To form the comparative of adjectives that end in
consonant + y, change the y to i and add er.

busy

-ier

Sarah is
busier than
John.

busier

Form
Form 33
To form the comparative of most adjectives of two or
more syllables, add more before the adjective.

more + intelligent =

more intelligent

The student is
more intelligent
than the teacher.

Practice 1
Example: tall

Write the comparative form of

the adjectives. Then compare
yourself to a friend.

taller than

I am
taller than
1. friendly
George.
2. smart

friendlier than

3. popular

more popular than

4. funny

funnier than

5. loud

louder than

6. outgoing

more outgoing than

smarter than

Steve is
taller than
I am.

Exceptions
Exceptions 11
Tired, bored, and fun are one-syllable adjectives that
follow the pattern of long adjectives.
tired
than
bored
fun
more
more tired
bored
than
fun
than
I am
more bored than
he is.

This is
more fun than
that is.

I am
more tired than
he is.

Exceptions
Exceptions 22
Quiet and simple are two-syllable adjectives that follow
the pattern of one-syllable adjectives.
quiet
simple
than
quieter
simpler
than

Our old neighbors were

quieter than
these new neighbors.

French was
simpler than
English.

E
n
gl
is
h

Less
Less and
and More
More
Less is the opposite of more.

Liliana
Sandraisis
more
less famous
famousthan
than
Sandra.
Liliana.

Liliana

Sandra

Irregular
Irregular Forms
Forms
The adjectives good, bad, and far have
irregular comparative forms.
good
bad
far
better
farther
worse
My customers
hairstyle is bad.
Denver, Colorado, is
far from
San Francisco.

My popcorn
is
My customers
good,
but his
hairstyle
is worse.
popcorn is
Chicago,
better.Illinois, is
even farther from
San
Francisco.

Much
Much
Use much to make comparisons stronger.

My new boyfriend is much

more handsome than my
old boyfriend.
the old
boyfriend

the new
boyfriend

Practice 2
strict
old

nice
popular

Teacher A

Use the adjectives to compare

the two teachers. Try to use
much, not as, and less.

good

interesting
angry

Teacher B

Teacher
TeacherABisisnot
stricter
as strict
than
asTeacher
TeacherA.B.

References
References
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education and
its licensors. All rights reserved.