Comparatives: -er / more … than

Rules

• Rule 1: short adjective + -er

  One-syllable adjectives add -er: *tall → taller, old → older, cold → colder*. If the adjective ends in -e, just add -r: *nice → nicer, large → larger*.

  Pattern: short adjective + -er + than

  Example: My dad is taller than my mom.

  Example: My brother is older than me.

• Rule 2: spelling changes

  If a short adjective ends in one vowel + one consonant, the last letter doubles: *big → bigger, hot → hotter, thin → thinner*. If it ends in consonant + y, y → -ier: *happy → happier, easy → easier, funny → funnier*.

  Example: A lion is bigger than a dog.

  Example: Today I am happier than yesterday.

• Rule 3: long adjective → more

  Adjectives with three or more syllables, and most with two, don't take -er; more goes before them: *more beautiful, more expensive, more interesting, more careful*. (Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y take -ier: *happier*. A few like *quiet, simple* can take -er too.)

  Pattern: more + long adjective + than

  Example: A diamond is more expensive than a stone.

  Example: Science is more interesting than history for me.

• Rule 4: irregular adjectives

  Some adjectives change completely; learn them: good → better bad → worse far → farther / further

  Example: Your drawing is better than mine.

  Example: The traffic is worse today.

Common mistakes

• He is taller from me. → He is taller than me.

  Turkish “-den” becomes than in English, not from.

• This game is gooder. → This game is better.

  good is irregular → better.

• Math is difficulter than art. → Math is more difficult than art.

  Long adjectives take more.