COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

When we talk about two things, we can "compare" them. We can see if they are the same or
different. Perhaps they are the same in some ways and different in other ways. We can use
comparative adjectives to describe the differences.

We can use comparative adjectives when talking about two things (not three or more things).

 Formation of Comparative Adjectives

There are two ways to make or to "form" a comparative adjective:

 short adjectives: add "-er"

 long adjectives: use "more"

 Short adjectives: add -er

one-syllable adjectives old, fast

two-syllable adjectives ending in -y happy, easy

RULE: add "-er" old → older


if the adjective ends in -e, just add -r late → later

if the adjective ends in consonant, vowel, consonant, double the last
consonant big → bigger
 if the adjective ends in -y, change the -y to -i, and then add -er happy
→ happier
 Long adjectives: use more

two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y modern, pleasant

all adjectives of three or more syllables expensive, intellectual

RULE: use "more" modern → more modern expensive → more expensive

With some two-syllable adjectives, we can use "-er" OR "more":

quiet → quieter/more quiet

clever → cleverer/more clever

narrow → narrower/more narrow

simple → simpler/more simple

The following adjectives have irregular forms:

good → better

well (healthy) → better

bad → worse

far → farther/further

 Use of Comparative Adjectives

We use comparative adjectives when talking about 2 things (not 3 or 10 or 1,000,000 things,
only 2 things).

Often, the comparative adjective is followed by "than". Look at these examples:

John is 1m80. He is tall. But Chris is 1m85. He is taller than John.

America is big. But Russia is bigger.

I want to have a more powerful computer.

Is French more difficult than English?

 COMPARATIVOS
Se usan los comparativos para comparar dos cosas o personas.

Bob is taller than the English teacher.

Bob es más alto que la profesora de inglés.

 -er

Generalmente formamos el comparativo añadiendo el sufijo -er al adjetivo.

small (pequeño) - smaller (más pequeño)

 -r

Si el adjetivo termina con -e, nada más añadimos -r para formar el comparativo.

large - larger

 y -> ier

Si una palabra termina con una consonante y luego -y, cambiamos la -y a –i, y añadimos -er.

easy - easier

 Doble Consonante

Si una palabra termina con una consonante, una vocal, y luego otra consonante y la sílaba
fuerte es la última, duplica la última letra antes de añadir –er.

big - bigger

 "More" con Palabras Largas

Si la palabra es de dos sílabas o más (una palabra larga) y no termina con -y, usamos la palabra
more, en lugar de –er.

expensive – more expensive

 Superlativos Irregulares

good - the best

bad - the worst

far - the farthest