COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES 40 examples INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH

-er than / the -est COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES 40 examples INTERMEDIATE GRAMMAR English Speaking 360

Explanation + Extra Practice

What Are Comparatives?

Comparatives are words we use to compare two things. They show how one thing is different from the other in terms of size, speed, age, etc. Comparatives often describe whether something is bigger, smaller, faster, or better than something else.

How to Form Comparatives

  1. Short adjectives (1 syllable):
    • Add “-er” to the end of the adjective.
      • Example:
        • “small” → “smaller”
        • “fast” → “faster”
  2. Adjectives ending in -e (1 syllable):
    • Add “-r”.
      • Example:
        • “large” → “larger”
        • “nice” → “nicer”
  3. Adjectives with two syllables (ending in -y):
    • Change -y to -ier.
      • Example:
        • “happy” → “happier”
        • “easy” → “easier”
  4. Long adjectives (2+ syllables):
    • Use “more” or “less” before the adjective.
      • Example:
        • “beautiful” → “more beautiful”
        • “expensive” → “more expensive”

Examples of Regular Comparatives

  • small → smaller
  • tall → taller
  • happy → happier
  • beautiful → more beautiful

Irregular Comparatives

Some adjectives have irregular forms when used in comparisons. They don’t follow the normal rules.

  • good → “better” (not “gooder”)
  • bad → “worse” (not “badder”)
  • far → “farther” / “further”

Difficult Cases

  1. Double consonants:
    If a word ends in a vowel + consonant (like “big”), double the final consonant before adding “-er”.
    • Example: “big” → “bigger”
  2. Comparing equal things:
    • To say that two things are the same, use “as…as”.
      • Example:
        • “She is as tall as her brother.”
  3. Comparing with less:
    • To show something is smaller or less of something, use “less” + adjective.
      • Example:
        • “This problem is less important than the others.”

When to Use Comparatives

  • Use comparatives when you are comparing two things.
    • Example:
      • “This car is faster than that one.”
      • “My house is smaller than yours.”

Extra Practice!

Comparatives Quiz

Level 1: Beginner

Instructions: Choose the correct comparative form for each sentence.

  1. This bag is _______ (light) than the other one.
  2. She is _______ (happy) now than yesterday.
  3. My house is _______ (big) than yours.
  4. This book is _______ (easy) than the last one.
  5. The blue car is _______ (fast) than the red car.
  6. It’s _______ (cold) today than it was yesterday.
  7. This cake is _______ (sweet) than the one I made before.
  8. My dog is _______ (small) than yours.
  9. Her new apartment is _______ (nice) than her old one.
  10. I think English is _______ (interesting) than math.
  11. This problem is _______ (hard) than the last one.
  12. His new phone is _______ (expensive) than mine.
  13. That movie was _______ (boring) than I expected.
  14. He feels _______ (good) today than he did yesterday.
  15. The ocean is _______ (deep) than the lake.

Level 1 Answers:

  1. lighter
  2. happier
  3. bigger
  4. easier
  5. faster
  6. colder
  7. sweeter
  8. smaller
  9. nicer
  10. more interesting
  11. harder
  12. more expensive
  13. more boring
  14. better
  15. deeper

Level 2: Intermediate

Instructions: Choose the correct comparative form for each sentence.

  1. This summer was _______ (hot) than last year’s summer.
  2. That movie is _______ (interesting) than the book.
  3. He is _______ (tall) than his brother.
  4. The new phone is _______ (expensive) than the old model.
  5. She feels _______ (happy) today than yesterday.
  6. The cake was _______ (delicious) than the cookies.
  7. Your idea is _______ (creative) than mine.
  8. This problem is _______ (difficult) than the one we solved last week.
  9. The exam was _______ (easy) than I expected.
  10. My car is _______ (fast) than yours.
  11. The test results were _______ (good) than last time.
  12. His speech was _______ (long) than the other speakers’.
  13. The weather is _______ (cold) today than it was yesterday.
  14. My homework is _______ (short) than my friend’s.
  15. The city is _______ (safe) at night than during the day.

Level 2 Answers:

  1. hotter
  2. more interesting
  3. taller
  4. more expensive
  5. happier
  6. more delicious
  7. more creative
  8. more difficult
  9. easier
  10. faster
  11. better
  12. longer
  13. colder
  14. shorter
  15. safer

Level 3: Advanced

Instructions: Use the correct comparative forms and verb tenses where needed.

  1. That was _______ (bad) experience I’ve had this year.
  2. This book is _______ (good) than the one I read last month.
  3. She is _______ (creative) now than she was a few years ago.
  4. The new system is _______ (efficient) than the previous one.
  5. He arrived _______ (late) than everyone else.
  6. The project was _______ (challenging) than I had expected.
  7. This mountain is _______ (high) than the one we climbed last summer.
  8. Your explanation is _______ (clear) than the teacher’s.
  9. Her grades are _______ (consistent) this semester than last semester.
  10. The conference was _______ (informative) than the last one I attended.
  11. I think you’re handling the situation _______ (well) now than you did before.
  12. These flowers are _______ (beautiful) than the ones we saw at the market.
  13. He was able to solve the problem _______ (quick) than anyone else.
  14. The street is _______ (quiet) at night than in the morning.
  15. The new law is _______ (complicated) than the old one.

Level 3 Answers:

  1. the worst
  2. better
  3. more creative
  4. more efficient
  5. later
  6. more challenging
  7. higher
  8. clearer
  9. more consistent
  10. more informative
  11. better
  12. more beautiful
  13. more quickly / quicker
  14. quieter
  15. more complicated
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