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.
Short adjectives usually take -er, while longer adjectives normally use more.
Examples include taller, happier, more interesting and more expensive.
Comparative adjectives are commonly followed by than.
Than introduces the second element in the comparison.
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms.
Common examples include good → better, bad → worse, far → farther/further and little → less.
Some adjectives change spelling when forming the comparative.
Examples include big → bigger, happy → happier and thin → thinner.
Words such as much, far, a little and slightly modify comparative adjectives.
They indicate the degree of difference between two things.
English uses comparative structures to describe continuous change.
Examples include getting colder and colder and more and more popular.
The structure the...the... expresses that one change causes another.
Examples include The harder you work, the easier it becomes.
Comparatives can describe measurable differences as well as qualities.
They are widely used with numbers, measurements and abstract concepts.
Formal English contains a variety of advanced comparison patterns.
Examples include no sooner, rather than, more than and comparative clauses in academic writing.
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.
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.