Comparative adjectives in English

If you are learning English online, it is important to understand how to use comparative adjectives in your daily life. They help make your language more detailed for others to easily understand what you want to communicate.

In this reference, we will discuss what is a comparative adjective, provide examples of comparative adjectives in sentences, discuss exceptions and common mistakes, and provide a handy comparative adjectives list for you to use.

What is a comparative adjective?

Comparative adjective definition: "a type of adjective that is used to compare two people, things, or places". It is used to describe the difference between two objects or qualities.

For example, you can say "He is taller than his brother" or "This chair is more comfortable than that one". Comparative adjectives are commonly used in everyday conversations and help us compare physical characteristics, personality traits, and other qualities.

We form comparative adjectives by adding the suffix -er to the adjective. For example, if you want to say something is big, you can use the comparative adjective "bigger.

We use the word "more" instead of the suffix when the adjective has two or more syllables. So, comparative forms of adjectives such as "interesting" and "comfortable" are "more interesting", or "more comfortable."

Comparative adjective examples in sentences

Comparative adjectives can be used in many different ways. Here are a few examples of comparative adjectives in sentences:

1. My sister is smarter than me.
2. This dress is more fashionable than that one.
3. His car is faster than mine.
4. This restaurant has tastier food than the other one.
5. She is more outgoing than her brother.
6. The movie was funnier than I expected.

As you can see, comparative adjectives can help us compare physical characteristics, personality traits, and other qualities.

List of comparative adjectives

Here is a list of 20 common comparative adjectives with the suffix -er:

• Taller
• Bigger
• Faster
• Stronger
• Smarter
• Richer
• Funnier
• Happier
• Lazier
• Friendlier
• Prettier
• Shorter
• Hotter
• Quieter
• Luckier
• Sweeter
• Simpler
• Harder
• Colder
• Narrower

Here is a list of 20 common comparative adjectives that use "more":

• More beautiful
• More expensive
• More comfortable
• More interesting
• More knowledgeable
• More powerful
• More helpful
• More reliable
• More successful
• More patient
• More creative
• More organized
• More generous
• More courageous
• More attentive
• More persistent
• More accurate
• More daring 
• More efficient
• More logical

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Comparative form of adjective exceptions

Some adjectives have exceptions when forming the comparative form. Here are some exceptions to the rule:

• Good – Better
• Bad – Worse
• Far – Farther/Further
• Little – Less
• Many – More

Sentences with these exceptions would look like this:

• She is better at math than her sister.
• This soup tastes worse than the last one.
• He ran farther today than he did yesterday.
• I have less money now than I did last month.
• We need more people to help with the project.

Common comparison mistakes

When using comparative adjectives, it is important to pay attention to the grammar rules. Common mistakes that learners make when using comparative adjectives:

Using the wrong form of the adjective: For example, saying "He is more taller than his brother" instead of "He is taller than his brother".

• Not using the word "than" when comparing two people, things, or places: For example, saying "He is taller his brother" instead of "He is taller than his brother".
• Not using the proper form of the adjective when comparing more than two things. For example, saying "He is the tall boy in the class" instead of "He is the tallest boy in the class".

When using comparisons in sentences, make sure you don't overdo it.  Comparisons can be helpful in some cases, but they can also weaken the impact of your writing if used too often. Be sure to use comparisons sparingly and only when appropriate.

For example, instead of saying, "He is more intelligent than the other students in his class," you could say, "He is particularly intelligent and stands out among his peers."

Summary

Now you understand what are comparative adjectives and how to use them in sentences. They help describe the difference between two objects or qualities.

Some adjectives have exceptions when forming comparative forms, such as the word "good," which transforms into "better." Common mistakes when using comparative adjectives include using the wrong form of the adjective, not using the word "than" when comparing, and not keeping agreement with the gender or number of items.

Understanding and correctly using comparative adjectives is key to accurate comparisons in English. Make sure you also understand superlative adjectives to master this topic!