Comparing Adjectives: -er or more
We use the comparative to compare two people, things, or situations. We usually add -er to short adjectives or use more with longer adjectives.
Short adjectives → add -er
We usually add -er to adjectives with one syllable.
- tall → taller
My brother is tall, but I am taller. - slow → slower
This car is slower than mine. - nice → nicer
This hotel is nicer.
Watch out for the spelling of short adjectives:
- adjectives ending in -y: change y → i and add -er.
happy → happier
easy → easier
pretty → prettier - adjectives ending in consonant + vowel + consonant: double the final consonant and add -er.
big → bigger
thin → thinner
hot → hotter
Long adjectives → add more
We usually use more with adjectives of two or more syllables (except many adjectives ending in -y).
- careful → more careful
She is more careful than me. - comfortable → more comfortable
- interesting → more interesting
- dangerous → more dangerous
Irregular comparatives
Some adjectives have special comparative forms:
- good → better
This book is better. - bad → worse
Today is worse than yesterday. - many/much → more
She has more books. - little → less
We have less time. - far → farther/further
My house is farther away.
Quick reference
- 1 syllable adjective → usually -er
tall → taller, strong → stronger - Adjective ending in -y → change y → i + -er
happy → happier, heavy → heavier - Long adjective (2+ syllables) → usually more + adjective
careful → more careful, beautiful → more beautiful - Irregular forms → learn separately:
good → better, bad → worse, many → more, little → less
