Grammar reference: Comparisons with adjectives and adverbs
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Comparative adjectives
| Adjective | Comparative | |
one-syllable adjectives | add -er | fast | faster |
one-syllable ending in -e | add -r | safe | safer |
two-syllable adjectives ending in -y | change -y to -ier | easy | easier |
adjectives with two or more syllables | more + adjective | realistic | more realistic |
Irregular adjectives |
| good bad far | Better worse farther /further |
Computers are faster today.
This report is more realistic.
When we compare two things or situations directly, we use the comparative + than.
The programs today are more sophisticated than in the past.
Not The programs today are
Comparative adverbs
| Adverb | Comparative | |
adverbs with same form as adjectives | add -er | fast | faster |
add -r | late | later | |
| change -y to -ier | early | earlier |
Adverbs ending in -ly | more + adverb | slowly | more slowly |
Irregular adverbs |
| good bad far | well worse farther /further |
We can use less with adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables to mean the opposite of more.
Computers were less powerful in the past.
They worked less efficiently.
We can add much before comparative adjectives and adverbs to suggest a stronger comparison.
These sales figures are much worse than I expected. That report was written much more recently than this one.
Last modified: Friday, 23 February 2024, 3:57 PM