What a comparative means
A comparative shows that a person, thing or situation has a quality to a greater degree: taller means greater in height, and colder means lower in temperature. In the basic pattern, than introduces what we compare it with.
The direction matters: if the black suitcase weighs 9 kg and the blue one 12 kg, the black one is lighter than the blue one. Correct grammar with the facts reversed is not a correct answer to the situation.
X + be + adjective ending in -er + than + Y
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
The black suitcase is lighter than the blue one.
The black suitcase is lighter than the blue one.
Lighter describes the first item; than introduces the second.
Today is colder than yesterday.
Today is colder than yesterday.
Two states at different times are compared.
Which adjectives this rule covers
At A2, the target group is most one-syllable adjectives: tall, short, fast, slow, cold, cheap. It also includes two-syllable adjectives ending in a consonant + y: happy, easy, busy, noisy.
Most other two-syllable adjectives and longer adjectives normally use more: more useful, more expensive. Some two-syllable adjectives allow both forms, such as cleverer and more clever. Good, bad and far have special forms that we learn separately.
Usually one syllable, or two syllables ending in consonant + y → -er / -r / -ier
This path is shorter than the road.
This path is shorter than the road.
Short has one syllable, so its comparative is shorter.
Anna is happier than Olya.
Anna is happier than Olya.
Happy ends in the consonant p + y; change y to i: happier.
Regular -er and a final e
For many short adjectives, simply add -er: tall → taller, cheap → cheaper, slow → slower. The base word remains unchanged.
If an adjective already ends in e, do not add another e: add only -r. Thus nice → nicer, safe → safer, large → larger.
tall + er → taller; safe + r → safer
The red shelf is taller than the white shelf.
The red shelf is taller than the white shelf.
Tall simply takes -er.
This bridge is safer than the old bridge.
This bridge is safer than the old bridge.
Safe already has e, so add only r.
When to double the final consonant
In one-syllable words ending in one vowel letter + one final consonant letter, we generally double the consonant: big → bigger, hot → hotter, thin → thinner. Do not double a final w, x or y.
Do not apply this operation to every word ending in a consonant: clean → cleaner, cheap → cheaper, slow → slower. Start with reliable, common patterns and check an uncertain word in a dictionary.
big → bigger; hot → hotter; wet → wetter; slow → slower
My room is bigger than yours.
My room is bigger than yours.
Big has a short vowel before its final g: bigger.
Today is hotter than Monday.
Today is hotter than Monday.
Hot → hotter, with a double t.
Two-syllable words ending in -y
When a two-syllable adjective ends in a consonant + y, change y to i before -er: happy → happier, easy → easier, busy → busier, noisy → noisier.
The combination happi-er is written happier. Do not write happyer, happyr or more happier; in this course, use the single form with a suffix.
Final consonant letter + y → change y to i and add -er
This task is easier than the last one.
This task is easier than the last one.
Easy becomes easier: before -er, change the final y following a consonant to i.
The station is busier in the morning.
The station is busier in the morning.
Busy → busier; the other state is clear from context.
Than and an understood comparison
When naming the second thing or person, we usually introduce it with than: The train is faster than the bus. A noun, pronoun or substitute one can follow: than me, than yours, than the blue one.
Than is not required after every comparative. If two options are already visible or have been mentioned: Which coat is cheaper? — The blue one is cheaper. A comparative can also precede a noun: We need a smaller box.
Comparative + than + comparison target; or a comparative alone when the comparison is understood
The train is faster than the bus.
The train is faster than the bus.
The second means of transport is named after than.
We need a thinner cable.
We need a thinner cable.
The comparative precedes the noun; the previous cable is known from the situation.
Do not mix the two patterns
In an ordinary comparison, do not place more before a form that already ends in -er: smaller, not more smaller. For familiar short words, use taller, faster and cheaper.
Long adjectives and irregular forms follow other patterns: expensive → more expensive, good → better, bad → worse. Do not form these by mechanically adding -er.
Choose one pattern: smaller or more expensive
This room is smaller than the kitchen.
This room is smaller than the kitchen.
Smaller already expresses the comparison, so an additional more is unnecessary.
This laptop is more expensive than that one.
This laptop is more expensive than that one.
This contrast shows the boundary: expensive follows the more rule, not this suffix rule.
How to check your own sentence
Ask four questions: does the adjective belong to the target group; is the spelling change correct; which item actually has more of the quality; and is the comparison target clear?
You can express a comparison in different ways. Check the meaning as well as the spelling: which item has more of the quality, and what is it compared with?
Adjective type → spelling → direction of comparison → clear comparison target
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
The lake route is shorter than the hill route, so let's take it.
The lake route is shorter than the hill route, so let's take it.
The fact supports a logical recommendation; it clearly refers to the lake route.
The old flat is cheaper, but the new flat is larger.
The old flat is cheaper, but the new flat is larger.
The two comparisons have different subjects: the old flat is cheaper, and the new one is larger.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:This desk is smalller than that one.
Correct:This desk is smaller than that one.
Add -er to small: smaller. Do not add a third l.
Incorrect:This desk is more smaller than that one.
Correct:This desk is smaller than that one.
Do not combine more with the already comparative form smaller.
Incorrect:Summer is hoter than spring.
Correct:Summer is hotter than spring.
Double the final t in hot before -er.
Incorrect:My room is biger than yours.
Correct:My room is bigger than yours.
Big → bigger, with two g letters.
Incorrect:This task is easyer than that one.
Correct:This task is easier than that one.
In easy, change y to i before -er.
Incorrect:This bridge is safeer than the old bridge.
Correct:This bridge is safer than the old bridge.
Safe already ends in e, so add only r.
Incorrect:The train is faster then the bus.
Correct:The train is faster than the bus.
Than introduces a comparison; then expresses a sequence in time.
Incorrect:The blue box smaller than the red box.
Correct:The blue box is smaller than the red box.
This sentence pattern needs be between the subject and the comparative.
Incorrect:This book is gooder than that one.
Correct:This book is better than that one.
Good has the irregular comparative better and does not follow the productive -er pattern.
Incorrect:This phone is expensiver than mine.
Correct:This phone is more expensive than mine.
Expensive is a long adjective; its comparative follows the related rule with more.
Incorrect:This bag is the lightest than that one.
Correct:This bag is lighter than that one.
To explicitly compare one item with another using than, use the comparative lighter, not the superlative the lightest.
Incorrect:The 12 kg suitcase is lighter than the 9 kg suitcase.
Correct:The 9 kg suitcase is lighter than the 12 kg suitcase.
The form is grammatical, but the direction contradicts the stated facts.