What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to compare two things or people using short adjectives with -er and long adjectives with more.
When do I use it?
Use comparatives when you want to compare two things, people, or situations. You always need than after the comparative adjective.
- This coffee is hotter than that one.
- My new phone is more expensive than my old one.
- She is taller than her brother.
How do I form it?
Most one-syllable adjectives take -er: tall, taller; cold, colder. Adjectives with two or more syllables take more + adjective: expensive, more expensive; beautiful, more beautiful. Some adjectives with two syllables can take either form, such as clever and quiet.
Subject + verb + adjective-er/more + adjective + than + noun. Example: English is easier than physics.
Three common irregular comparatives: good → better, bad → worse, far → farther/further.
Spelling notes: one-syllable adjectives ending in consonant-vowel-consonant double the last letter (big → bigger); adjectives ending in -e only add -r (nice → nicer); adjectives ending in consonant + -y change -y to -i (happy → happier).
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish transfers "más + adjective" to every adjective, so learners produce double forms like "more bigger" or "more tall". Short adjectives need -er, not "more". Another pattern from Spanish "más grande" is using "bigger" for age ("mi hermano es más grande"), but English says "older" for age: "My brother is older than me". Also watch "more better": once you have the comparative, never add "more" again.
Short word means -er; long word means more. Never use them together: no "more taller".
Practice
Multiple Choice
A2Which comparative is correct?
Fill in the Blank
A2My sister is than me.
Hint: 'Tall' is short, so add -er, and use 'than' to compare.
Find the Error
A2Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: A2