Basic notes about comparatives
Comparatives are forms of adjectives used to compare two things so as to show the differences between them.
There are two types of comparatives: regular and irregular. To form regular comparatives, we apply specific rules (see below). For irregular comparatives, there is no rule to apply. We just have to learn/remember them.
A/ Regular comparatives
Short adjectives (one-syllable adjectives)
The following tables show how comparatives of short adjectives are formed
| Adjectives ending in ‘’e’’ | Comparatives |
| Nice Fine Large Huge Late Wide Brave | nicer finer larger huger later wider braver |
| Adjectives ending in a consonant | Comparatives |
| short great small old hot sharp cold | shorter greater smaller older hotter sharper colder |
| Adjectives ending in “y” | Comparatives |
| lazy funny heavy ugly silly happy lucky | lazier funnier heavier uglier sillier happier luckier |
Remarks
1. If the adjective is short and ends in “e”, we add just “r”.
Comparative = adjective+r
Examples:
- Jane is nicer than Alexandra. (nice → nicer)
- Classroom N° 4 is larger than classroom N° 1. (large → larger)
2. If the adjective is short and ends in a consonant, we add “er”.
Comparative = adjective+er.
Examples:
- Badr is older than Omar. (old → older)
- Oranges are smaller than watermelons. (small → smaller)
3. If the adjective is short and ends in “y”, we change “y” into “I” and we add “er”.
Comparative = adj-ier
Examples:
- Najoua is lazier than Rabiaa. (lazy → crazier)
- Harriette is clumsier than her husband. (clumsy → clumsier)
Long adjectives (adjectives with more than one syllable)
The following table shows how comparatives of long adjectives are formed.
| Adjectives | Comparatives |
| difficult modest helpful careful important serious honest | more difficult more modest more helpful more careful more important more serious more honest |
Remarks
To form the comparative of a long adjective, we put “more” before the adjective.
Comparative = more+long adjective
Examples:
- Badr is more intelligent than Omar.
- The lion is more dangerous than the tiger.
- For me, French is more important than Arabic.
B/ Irregular comparatives
| Adjective | Comparative |
| good | better |
| Bad | worse |
| Far | farther |
| well | better |
Exercises
A/ put the words between brackets in the correct form.
- English food is (good) the French.
- London is (far) Paris.
- Chinese is (difficult) English.
- Ifran is (cold) Sidi Slimane.
- Khadija feels (happy) with her sister.
- The blue Jeans are (expensive) the black ones.
- I see that Susan is (nice) Jane.
- I speak English (bad) you.
- Grapes are (sweet) bananas.
B/Make comparative sentences with the given words. (Short adjectives)
- Chile – Long – Peru.
- The winter – bad – the fall.
- A cheetah – fast – a lion.
- Senigal – dry – Mauritania.
- Brazil – big – Argentina.
- Tom – Silly – Jerry.
- Valdivia – Far – Temuco.
- Paris – good – Madrid.
- English – easy – Japanese.
C/ Make comparative sentences with the given words. (Long Adjectives)
- Santiago – modern – Antofagasta
- Tangiers – beautiful – Meknes
- Football – popular – baseball
- A movie – interesting – a book
- English – Important – French
- A Jaguar – expensive – A fiat
- Monkeys – intelligent – cats
- Marta – attractive – her sister
- Ronaldo – famous – Pinilla
