English grammar: Comparatives

What this grammar point covers

Comparatives are words we use in English to compare two things, people, or places. They show if something is bigger, smaller, faster, or slower than something else.

When to use it

Use comparatives in English when you want to say that one thing is different from another in some way, like size, speed, or quality.

Key forms

• Add -er to short adjectives: tall → taller
• Use 'more' before long adjectives: beautiful → more beautiful
• Always use 'than' to compare: taller than, more expensive than

Examples

Tips

• Use -er for most short adjectives, but use 'more' for longer adjectives.
• Always use 'than' after the comparative adjective.
• Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms, like 'good' → 'better'.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some adjectives are irregular: good → better, bad → worse, far → farther/further.
• Do not use 'more' and '-er' together: say 'bigger', not 'more bigger'.