Formation of Comparative Adjectives

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

• short adjectives: add "-er"

• long adjectives: use "more"
We use comparative adjectives when talking about two things (not three or more
things).
Short adjectives: add -er examples
1-syllable adjectives old, fast
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y happy, easy

RULE: add "-er" old → older

Variation: if the adjective ends in -e, just add -r late →
Variation: if the adjective ends in a consonant, vowel, big →
consonant, double the last consonant
Variation: if the adjective ends in -y, change the y to i happy →
One syllable adjectives
Add -er for the comparative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel +
consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the
ending.

Adjective Comparative

tall taller

fat fatter

sad sadder

Two syllables
Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by
preceding the adjective with more.

Long adjectives: use more examples

2-syllable adjectives not ending in -y modern, pleasant
all adjectives of 3 or more syllables expensive, intellectual
RULE: use "more" modern → more modern
expensive → more expensive
Comparative adjective chart

Complete the chart in some cases you are going to add “er”, “more “, or write the
adjective in its form

Adjective Comparative
1. New Newer
2. Beautiful More beautiful
3. Easy Easier
4. Heavy Heavier
5. Long Longer
6. Painful More painful
7. slow Slower
8. Busy Busier
9. Flammable More flammable
10. Lazy Lazier
11. Soft Softer
12. Delicious More delicious
13. Wide Wider
14.

Comparative adjectives exercise. Fill in the gaps with the comparative or

superlative forms of the adjectives in brackets to complete the following sentences
in English.

1. Jake's room is smaller than Larry's room. (small)

2. The blue car is nicer than the black car. (nice)
3. This exercise is more boring than that one. (boring)
4. His pullover is darker than his jeans. (dark)
5. Susan's hair is longer than my hair. (long)
6. My sister thinks she's mo´re intelligent (intelligent) than me, but I don't
agree!
7. Who is the most (powerful) person in your country?
8. I think Men in Black 1 was funnier (funny) than Men in Black 3.
9. Is Angelina Jolie older (old) than Sandra Bullock.
10. Sharks are more dangerous than lions. (dangerous)