Comparative

⚠️ The comparative can easily be confused with the superlative

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between two things. One of the thing can have a superior characteristic or quality while the other has an inferior characteristic or quality. Sometimes there is no difference.

*CVC stands for consonant – vowel – consonant, example → hot becomes hotter
(adjectives ending with « w » do not follow this rule → slower, fewer, newer, lower, etc.)
**If the adjective ends with -y it is transformed to an -i and -er is added which becomes -ier

However, you have to remember that there are no rules! Only tendencies. For example, there are one syllable adjectives that use “more” instead of the -ER rule: more full, rude, true, right, real…

Important exceptions to remember are…
  • good → better
  • simple → simpler
  • bad → worse
  • quiet → quieter
  • far → farther / further

Exercise