Understanding Comparative Adjectives (Definition, Examples, Superlative)

What are comparative adjectives? How do comparative adjectives work? And how are they different from superlative adjectives? Comparing nouns like people, animals, or things to other nouns is one technique to define them. Adjectives are frequently used to compare two or more things. Two things can be compared using adjectives like “taller,” “fatter,” “smaller,” “more intelligent,” and “less beautiful.”

What is a comparative adjective?

An adjective that compares two things is referred to as a comparative adjective. They can be employed when describing someone or something that exhibits a quality to a greater or better degree than another. Comparative adjectives either end with the word “er” or use words like less and more.

Comparative adjectives examples:

Consider the examples given below:

1. Lily is tall. (positive); Lily is taller than Jenna. (comparative)
2. Lola’s cat is fat. (positive); Lola’s cat is fatter than Mary’s dog. (comparative)
3. I need to wake up early since my dorm is far away from the college. (positive); I need to wake up earlier than my collegemates since my dorm is far away from the college. (comparative)
4. Speaking Chinese is difficult. (positive); Speaking Chinese is more difficult than speaking French. (comparative)
5. Riding a bike is fun. (positive); Riding a bike is more fun than playing football. (comparative)

Rules for constructing comparative adjectives

Comparative adjectives are formed from the positive forms of adjectives. The number of syllables present in the source adjectives determines the form of the comparative adjective. There are certain rules that need to be followed when forming comparative adjectives.

These include:

Adjectives with one syllable

If there is only a single syllable in the adjective, then the comparative form can be created by adding “er” to it.

Examples:

1. Positive: small – comparative: smaller
2. Positive: cold – comparative: colder
3. Positive: tall – comparative: taller
4. Positive: young – comparative: younger
5. Positive: clean – comparative: cleaner

If the adjective ends with a consonant and a vowel precedes it, the consonant is doubled while forming comparative adjectives.

Examples:

1. Positive: thin – comparative: thinner
2. Positive: hot – comparative: hotter
3. Positive: wet – comparative: wetter
4. Positive: sad – comparative: sadder
5. Positive: big – comparative: bigger

If the positive adjective has a “y” at the end, change the y to an “i” and add an “er” at the end while forming comparative adjectives.

Examples:

1. Positive: tiny – comparative: tinier
2. Positive: thirsty – comparative: thirstier
3. Positive: jumpy – comparative: jumpier
4. Positive: dry – comparative: drier
5. Positive: healthy – comparative: healthier

If the positive adjective has an “e” at the end, simply add an “r” at the end while forming comparative adjectives.

Examples:

1. Positive: large – comparative: larger
2. Positive: nice – comparative: nicer
3. Positive: fine – comparative: finer
4. Positive: wide – comparative: wider
5. Positive: close – comparative: closer

There are certain single-syllable adjectives that cannot be converted into the comparative form by adding “er,” even though the positive adjective has only a single syllable. In this case, comparative adjectives are formed by adding “more” to the positive adjective.

Examples:

1. Positive: right – comparative: more right
2. Positive: fun – comparative: more fun
3. Positive: wrong – comparative: more wrong
4. Positive: real – comparative: more real
5. Positive: lost – comparative: more lost

Two-syllable adjectives

A two-syllable adjective can be modified into its comparative form by either adding “more” before the adjective or by adding “er” at the end. Though both variants are frequently used, many authors tend to use “more” when unsure of the comparative form.

Examples of adding “er” at the end:

1. Positive: narrow – comparative: narrower
2. Positive: simple – comparative: simpler
3. Positive: quiet – comparative: quieter
4. Positive: clever – comparative: cleverer
5. Positive: safe – comparative: safer

Examples of adding “more” before the adjective

1. Positive: normal – comparative: more normal
2. Positive: careful – comparative: more careful
3. Positive: tilted – comparative: more tilted
4. Positive: tangled – comparative: more tangled
5. Positive: broken – comparative: more broken

If the two-syllable adjective has a “y” in the end, change the y to an “i” and add an “er” at the end. It is also possible to add “more” before the adjective.

Examples:

1. Positive: ugly – comparative: uglier
2. Positive: happy – comparative: happier
3. Positive: dirty – comparative: dirtier
4. Positive: pretty – comparative: prettier
5. Positive: busy – comparative: busier

Adjectives with three or more syllables

If the positive adjective has three or more syllables, then the comparative can be formed only by adding “more” in front of the adjective.

Examples:

1. Positive: expensive – comparative: more expensive
2. Positive: important – comparative: more important
3. Positive: intelligent – comparative: more intelligent
4. Positive: beautiful – comparative: more beautiful
5. Positive: interesting – comparative: more interesting

Irregular adjectives

There are also some commonly used adjectives that have irregular comparative forms.

Examples:

1. Positive: much – comparative: more
2. Positive: far – comparative: further
3. Positive: well – comparative: better
4. Positive: little – comparative: less
5. Positive: good – comparative: better

Sources:

1. Merriam Webster – comparative – Definition
2. Wikipedia – Comparison (grammar)
3. Thesaurus.com – What Are Comparative Adjectives And How Do You Use Them?
4. Grammarly – What Are Comparative and Superlative Adjectives?