Comparative Adjectives

To make the comparative form ('stronger' or 'more delicious'), the first thing we need to know is the number of syllables in the adjective.

Adjectives with only one syllable

Normally if an adjective has one syllable, we add 'er' to make the comparative form.

  • smart → smarter
  • fast → faster
  • tall → taller
  • old → older

There are some spelling changes. If the adjective ends in 'e', we don't add another 'e', just 'r'.

  • brave → braver
  • safe → safer

If there is one vowel followed by one consonant at the end of the adjective, we often double the consonant.

  • sad → sadder
  • hot → hotter
  • big → bigger

There are some adjectives that we need to use 'more' with, even though they only have one syllable. Adding -er is incorrect for these verbs.

  • real → more real (NOT realer)
  • fun → more fun (NOT funner)
Adjectives with two syllables

Some adjectives with two syllables use 'more'.

  • thoughtful → more thoughtful
  • peaceful → more peaceful

However, some two syllable adjectives can use 'er'.

  • quiet → quieter
  • cruel → crueler
  • simple → simpler

For adjectives with two syllables that end in 'y' we normally add 'er' (y generally changes to i).

  • funny → funnier
  • happy → happier
  • ugly → uglier
  • silly → sillier
Adjectives that have more than two syllables

Adjectives that have more than two syllables need to use 'more' to form their comparative.

  • delicious → more delicious
  • interesting → more interesting
  • exotic → more exotic
  • intelligent → more intelligent
Irregular adjectives

There are also some irregular adjectives. We simply need to memorize them.

  • good → better
  • bad → worse
  • far → further
  • little → less
  • much → more

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