Blog about English
Comparing two people, things or situations.
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two people, things or situations.
They express that one noun has more or less of a quality than another.
My new apartment is bigger than my old one.
Моя новая квартира больше старой.
"Bigger" compares the size of two apartments.
This laptop is faster than my old computer.
Этот ноутбук быстрее моего старого компьютера.
"Faster" compares the speed of two computers.
The blue car is more expensive than the red one.
Синяя машина дороже красной.
"More expensive" compares the prices of two cars.
Today is colder than yesterday.
Сегодня холоднее, чем вчера.
"Colder" compares temperatures on two days.
This movie is more interesting than the one we watched last night.
Этот фильм интереснее того, который мы смотрели вчера вечером.
"More interesting" compares the quality of two movies.
Her new job is better than her old one.
Ее новая работа лучше старой.
"Better" is the comparative form of "good".
The train is slower than the bus.
Поезд медленнее автобуса.
"Slower" compares the speed of two forms of transportation.
This neighborhood is quieter than downtown.
Этот район тише центра города.
"Quieter" compares the amount of noise in two places.
Short adjectives usually take -er, while longer adjectives normally use more.
Examples include taller, happier, more interesting and more expensive.
My brother is taller than me.
Мой брат выше меня.
"Tall" forms the comparative "taller" with -er.
This bag is lighter than that one.
Эта сумка легче той.
"Light" forms the comparative "lighter" with -er.
She is happier in her new job.
Она счастливее на новой работе.
"Happy" changes "y" to "i" before adding -er.
This exercise is more difficult than the last one.
Это упражнение сложнее предыдущего.
"Difficult" normally takes "more" rather than -er.
The new office is more comfortable than the old one.
Новый офис удобнее старого.
"Comfortable" normally forms the comparative with "more".
Today is warmer than yesterday.
Сегодня теплее, чем вчера.
"Warm" takes -er in the comparative.
This book is more useful than that one.
Эта книга полезнее той.
"Useful" normally takes "more" in the comparative.
The second route is safer than the first.
Второй маршрут безопаснее первого.
"Safe" forms the comparative "safer".
Comparative adjectives are commonly followed by than.
Than introduces the second element in the comparison.
My car is faster than yours.
Моя машина быстрее твоей.
"Than" introduces the second element of the comparison.
This restaurant is cheaper than the one downtown.
Этот ресторан дешевле того, что в центре.
"Than" introduces the restaurant used as the basis of comparison.
She is more experienced than I am.
Она опытнее меня.
"Than" introduces a clause containing "I am".
The highway is busier than the local road.
На шоссе движение оживленнее, чем на местной дороге.
"Than" identifies the second road in the comparison.
This coffee tastes better than the coffee at the airport.
Этот кофе вкуснее кофе в аэропорту.
"Than" introduces the second coffee being compared.
The new apartment is quieter than our old one.
Новая квартира тише нашей старой.
"Than" introduces the reference point "our old one".
This test is easier than the previous one.
Этот тест легче предыдущего.
"Than" introduces the previous test as the comparison.
He runs faster than his brother does.
Он бегает быстрее, чем его брат.
"Than" introduces a comparative clause with "does".
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms.
Common examples include good → better, bad → worse, far → farther/further and little → less.
This restaurant is better than the one we tried yesterday.
Этот ресторан лучше того, который мы пробовали вчера.
"Better" is the irregular comparative of "good".
The traffic today is worse than usual.
Сегодня движение хуже, чем обычно.
"Worse" is the irregular comparative of "bad".
Chicago is farther from here than Milwaukee.
Чикаго дальше отсюда, чем Милуоки.
"Farther" is commonly used for physical distance.
The problem is further complicated by the delay.
Проблема еще больше осложняется задержкой.
"Further" commonly expresses additional or figurative extent.
I have less time than I expected.
У меня меньше времени, чем я ожидал.
"Less" is the irregular comparative of "little" for uncountable amounts.
We have fewer problems than before.
У нас меньше проблем, чем раньше.
"Fewer" is used with plural countable nouns.
Her new apartment is better located than her old one.
Ее новая квартира расположена лучше старой.
"Better" is the irregular comparative of "good" in a comparative phrase.
This year's winter was worse than last year's.
Зима в этом году была хуже прошлогодней.
"Worse" is the irregular comparative of "bad".
Some adjectives change spelling when forming the comparative.
Examples include big → bigger, happy → happier and thin → thinner.
This box is bigger than that one.
Эта коробка больше той.
"Big" doubles the final consonant before "-er": "bigger".
My new apartment is bigger than my old one.
Моя новая квартира больше старой.
"Big" becomes "bigger" by doubling the final consonant.
She is happier now.
Теперь она счастливее.
"Happy" changes "y" to "i" before adding "-er".
The second shirt is prettier than the first.
Вторая рубашка красивее первой.
"Pretty" changes "y" to "i" before adding "-er".
This mattress is thinner than the other one.
Этот матрас тоньше другого.
"Thin" doubles the final consonant before "-er".
The summer days are hotter here.
Летом здесь дни жарче.
"Hot" doubles the final consonant before "-er".
This road is narrower than the highway.
Эта дорога уже шоссе.
"Narrow" forms the comparative "narrower".
The later flight is cheaper.
Более поздний рейс дешевле.
"Late" forms the comparative "later" without doubling the final consonant.
Words such as much, far, a little and slightly modify comparative adjectives.
They indicate the degree of difference between two things.
This apartment is much larger than our old one.
Эта квартира намного больше нашей старой.
"Much" strengthens the difference expressed by "larger".
The new route is far shorter than the old one.
Новый маршрут намного короче старого.
"Far" emphasizes a substantial difference.
This chair is a little more comfortable than that one.
Этот стул немного удобнее того.
"A little" indicates a small difference.
The second option is slightly cheaper.
Второй вариант немного дешевле.
"Slightly" indicates a small difference.
This neighborhood is much quieter at night.
Этот район ночью намного тише.
"Much" intensifies the comparative "quieter".
The new laptop is a little faster than the old one.
Новый ноутбук немного быстрее старого.
"A little" softens the difference.
This hotel is considerably more expensive than the motel.
Этот отель значительно дороже мотеля.
"Considerably" indicates a fairly large difference.
The updated version is slightly easier to use.
Обновленной версией пользоваться немного легче.
"Slightly" modifies the comparative "easier".
English uses comparative structures to describe continuous change.
Examples include getting colder and colder and more and more popular.
The weather is getting colder and colder.
Погода становится все холоднее и холоднее.
The repeated comparative shows continuous change.
Traffic is getting worse and worse every year.
С каждым годом движение становится все хуже.
Repeated "worse" emphasizes continuing deterioration.
The city is becoming more and more crowded.
Город становится все более и более переполненным.
A repeated "more" structure expresses gradual increase.
Her English is getting better and better.
Ее английский становится все лучше и лучше.
The repeated comparative expresses steady improvement.
The problem is becoming more and more complicated.
Проблема становится все более сложной.
Repeated "more" shows an increasing degree.
Gas prices are getting higher and higher.
Цены на бензин становятся все выше.
The repeated comparative indicates continuing change.
The lines at the airport were getting longer and longer.
Очереди в аэропорту становились все длиннее.
The repeated comparative emphasizes gradual increase.
The company is becoming more and more successful.
Компания становится все более успешной.
The repeated comparative shows a continuing increase in success.
The structure the...the... expresses that one change causes another.
Examples include The harder you work, the easier it becomes.
The harder you work, the more you learn.
Чем усерднее ты работаешь, тем больше узнаешь.
The first comparative change is linked to the second.
The earlier we leave, the easier the drive will be.
Чем раньше мы выедем, тем легче будет дорога.
"The earlier..., the easier..." expresses a proportional relationship.
The more you practice, the better you become.
Чем больше ты практикуешься, тем лучше становишься.
The structure connects increasing practice with improving performance.
The longer we wait, the more expensive the tickets become.
Чем дольше мы ждем, тем дороже становятся билеты.
The two comparative clauses describe linked changes.
The more carefully you drive, the safer you are.
Чем осторожнее ты водишь, тем безопаснее.
The first change affects the degree of the second.
The less you spend, the more money you save.
Чем меньше ты тратишь, тем больше денег сберегаешь.
"Less" and "more" form a correlative comparison.
The bigger the house, the higher the utility bills.
Чем больше дом, тем выше коммунальные счета.
The structure expresses a proportional relationship between size and cost.
The more expensive the car, the higher the insurance cost.
Чем дороже машина, тем выше стоимость страховки.
The comparative clauses show a linked increase.
Comparatives can describe measurable differences as well as qualities.
They are widely used with numbers, measurements and abstract concepts.
My new apartment is twenty square feet larger than my old one.
Моя новая квартира на двадцать квадратных футов больше старой.
"Larger" compares a measurable area.
This road is five miles longer than the old route.
Эта дорога на пять миль длиннее старого маршрута.
"Longer" compares a measurable distance.
The new phone is $100 cheaper than the previous model.
Новый телефон на 100 долларов дешевле предыдущей модели.
"Cheaper" compares price.
The second building is three stories taller than the first.
Второе здание на три этажа выше первого.
"Taller" compares measurable height.
This year's rent is 8 percent higher than last year's.
Аренда в этом году на 8 процентов выше прошлогодней.
"Higher" compares two measurable amounts.
The new system is more efficient than the old one.
Новая система эффективнее старой.
"More efficient" compares degree of efficiency.
The waiting time is ten minutes shorter than it was yesterday.
Время ожидания на десять минут меньше, чем вчера.
"Shorter" compares a measurable duration.
The new plan is more effective than the old one.
Новый план эффективнее старого.
"More effective" compares degree of effectiveness.
Formal English contains a variety of advanced comparison patterns.
Examples include no sooner, rather than, more than and comparative clauses in academic writing.
The new system is more efficient than the old one.
Новая система эффективнее старой.
"More efficient than" is a standard formal comparative pattern.
The company chose to expand rather than reduce its operations.
Компания решила расширить, а не сократить свою деятельность.
"Rather than" introduces the alternative being contrasted.
The treatment was more effective than the researchers had expected.
Лечение оказалось эффективнее, чем ожидали исследователи.
The comparative adjective is followed by a comparative clause.
The revised policy is more flexible than the previous one.
Пересмотренная политика более гибкая, чем предыдущая.
"More flexible than" is appropriate in formal analytical writing.
The sooner we decide, the better.
Чем скорее мы решим, тем лучше.
The correlative comparative is concise and common in formal and neutral English.
The more evidence we collect, the stronger the case becomes.
Чем больше доказательств мы собираем, тем убедительнее становится дело.
The correlative structure links two degrees of change.
The committee preferred a lower-cost option rather than a larger expansion.
Комитет предпочел менее затратный вариант, а не более масштабное расширение.
"Rather than" introduces the alternative rejected or contrasted.
The final report was more detailed than the preliminary version.
Итоговый отчет был более подробным, чем предварительная версия.
"More detailed than" is a standard formal comparison.
Comparative meaning is often expressed through lexical choices as well as grammatical forms.
Expressions such as superior to, inferior to and preferable to are common in formal English.
This material is superior to the cheaper alternative.
Этот материал превосходит более дешевую альтернативу.
"Superior to" expresses a formal comparison and is followed by "to", not "than".
The new model is inferior to the previous version in several ways.
Новая модель уступает предыдущей версии по нескольким параметрам.
"Inferior to" expresses a formal negative comparison.
The updated plan is preferable to the original proposal.
Обновленный план предпочтительнее первоначального предложения.
"Preferable to" means more desirable or suitable.
This solution is preferable to delaying the project.
Это решение предпочтительнее откладывания проекта.
"Preferable to" can be followed by a gerund.
The final version is superior to the draft.
Итоговая версия превосходит черновик.
"Superior to" is common in formal evaluations and reports.
The second option is inferior to the first in terms of cost.
Второй вариант уступает первому по стоимости.
"Inferior to" is a formal way to express lower quality or value.
The proposed method is more practical than the current one.
Предлагаемый метод практичнее существующего.
"More practical than" is a grammatical comparative; "superior to" is a more formal lexical alternative.
The premium plan is preferable to the basic plan for large teams.
Для больших команд тариф премиум предпочтительнее базового.
"Preferable to" makes a formal comparison based on suitability.
Form comparative adjectives correctly and avoid redundant comparison.
Common mistakes include using more with -er adjectives, omitting than, incorrect irregular forms and double marking such as more happier.
This car is faster than mine.
Эта машина быстрее моей.
Use "faster", not "more fast", because "fast" normally takes -er.
This book is more interesting than the other one.
Эта книга интереснее другой.
Use "more interesting", not "interestinger".
My new phone is better than my old one.
Мой новый телефон лучше старого.
Use the irregular comparative "better", not "gooder".
The weather is worse today than yesterday.
Сегодня погода хуже, чем вчера.
Use the irregular comparative "worse", not "badder".
This apartment is much larger than ours.
Эта квартира намного больше нашей.
"Much" correctly modifies the comparative "larger".
The new version is slightly cheaper than the old one.
Новая версия немного дешевле старой.
"Slightly" correctly modifies the comparative "cheaper".
The second route is easier than the first.
Второй маршрут легче первого.
Use "easier" rather than "more easy" in standard usage.
The new laptop is much more powerful than my old one.
Новый ноутбук намного мощнее моего старого.
Use "more powerful", not "powerfuller", and place the modifier before the comparative.