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Y6 Comparatives

Yellow Level

Lesson Six:

The Comparative Form for Adjectives

Use “er” at the end of small words. (one syllable)

Use “more” in front of long words (2+ syllables)

A lion is bigger than a cat.

A lion is more dangerous than a cat.

The children playing with the blocks are

younger than the students going to school.

Here are some more examples:
  •  Saving money this year has been more difficult than last year.
  •  Japanese cars are much better than most American cars.
  •  Spanish is an easier language to learn than English.

Note: It’s not always necessary to use “than”

  •  Compared to last year, saving money this year has been more difficult.
  • Compared to American cars, Japanese cars are much better.
  • Compared to English, Spanish is an easier language.

Watch this video:

The comparative form is used to show the difference between two things or two people, two groups of things, or two groups of people.

There are rules for using the comparative form. The table below will help you.

The Comparative Form for Adjectives
One-syllable words
two-syllable words    ending in y
 two syllables or more  not ending in y
add er
drop the y and add ier
use more / don’t add er
big bigger
noisy noisier
dangerous more dangerous
old older
busy busier
expensive more expensive
nice nicer
crazy crazier
comfortable more comfortable
young younger
lazy lazier
humid more humid
fast faster
funny funnier
tired more tired
cheap cheaper
dry drier
acceptable more acceptable
There are some exceptions: good, bad, far, and fun are adjectives that don’t follow the rules when making the comparative form.
good better
bad worse
far farther
 fun more fun

Never use two comparatives together on an adjective:

more cheaper

more noisier

more older

Click here to practice what you know

about comparatives adjectives.

Next: Lesson Seven

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