Comparative adjectives
Comparative adjectives in English are used to compare two people, things, or ideas and show how one differs from another in terms of quality, size, age, speed, or other characteristics. One of the most common ways to form comparative adjectives is by adding the suffix ‑er. This article explains how to form comparative adjectives with ‑er, including all key spelling rules and usage cases.
How to form
For most one‑syllable adjectives, simply add ‑er. This is the most common and straightforward rule.
- fast → faster
- dark → darker
- cold → colder
If the adjective already ends in ‑e, do not add another ‑e. Just add ‑r.
- large → larger
- nice → nicer
- safe → safer
If the adjective ends with a consonant + ‑y, change ‑y to ‑i and then add ‑er.
- busy → busier
- happy → happier
- funny → funnier
If a one‑syllable adjective ends in consonant + vowel + consonant (CVC), double the final consonant before adding ‑er.
- big → bigger
- hot → hotter
- thin → thinner
If an adjective has two or more syllables, we use 'more' + adjective.
- useful → more useful
- beautiful → more beautiful
- comfortable → more comfortable
- simple → simpler
- clever → cleverer
- narrow → narrower
English has a few adjectives that refuse to follow the rules. You must memorize these.
- good → better
- bad → worse
- little → less
- much/many → more
- far → farther (distance) / further (depth/extent)
