Comparative Forms

Gain insights into constructing comparatives for both adjectives and adverbs, by learning their grammatical rules. Strengthen your understanding through practical application with real-life examples and engaging exercises.

Grammar

Practice how to use comparative forms.

Transcript

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Introduction:

• Host: Hello and welcome to the English Magnet. Today’s video: Comparative Forms Made Easy! We’re diving into a topic that will add a whole new layer to your English skills – Comparatives! We’ll cover all forms of comparative adjectives and adverbs including pesky common mistakes! Let’s clarify all this right now. 

Part 1: What are comparatives?

Ok, so adjectives are used to describe nouns and adverbs to describe actions. Pretty simple, right? Usually, adjectives and adverbs are absolute, meaning they’re just qualifying (example: The wall is white. She sings beautifully.) No comparisons here! Still, many are gradable, meaning you can ascribe a non-absolute value to them. In other words, they can become comparatives (whiter or more beautifully). It implies two elements being compared in terms of whiteness and beauty. Just remember that some adjectives and adverbs are absolute and you can’t form comparatives with them. Example: dead – not deader / more dead (X). You’re dead or you’re not, it’s absolute! However, this doesn’t apply to zombies. 😉  Little tip: if you can use ‘very’ before an adjective or ‘more’ before an adverb, then it has a comparative form: very white (✓) , more beautifully (✓), very dead (X). 

On to the forms…

Part 2: Short Comparatives

A – Short comparative + er

• Adjective: Fast → Faster
  • The sports car is faster than the old sedan.
• Adverb: Soon → Sooner
  • He finished the race sooner than expected.

B – Short comparative ending in e + r

• Adjective: Blue → Bluer
  • The sky on a clear day is often bluer than on a cloudy day.
• Adverb: Late → Later
  • Alex came in later than his supervisor. 

C – Short comparative ending in y (bye -y + ier)

• Adjective: Happy → Happier
  • The surprise made her happier than ever.
• Adverb: Early → Earlier
  • Mike arrived earlier than his classmates. 

D – Short comparative ending in CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) + double consonant + er

• Adjective: Wet → Wetter
  • The wetter conditions led to a cancellation of the outdoor event.
• Adjective: Slim → Slimmer
  • The patient appeared slimmer after following the diet.

(adverbs don’t follow the double consonant + er format)

E – Short comparative ending in CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) (final consonant W or X) + er

• Adjective: New → Newer
  • This technology is newer and more advanced.
• Adverb: Slow → Slower
  • We’re going too fast, please drive slower (or more slowly). 

Part 3: Long Comparatives

More / less + long comparative

• Adjective: Beautiful → More Beautiful
  • The sunset at the beach is more beautiful than any painting.
• Adverb: Gracefully → Less Gracefully
  • She danced less gracefully than the winner.

Most -ly adverbs fall in this category. 

Part 4: Two-syllable Comparatives 

Two-syllable comparatives are a bit of a mixed bag. You might use + er, more or either, but never both at the same time. 

Ending in -y usually follows the + ier form for adjectives (savvy – savvier) and the long comparative form for adverbs (quickly – more quickly). 

While, endings in -ed, -ful, -less, -ous will follow the long comparative form (tired – more tired; boastful – more boastful; careless – more careless; cautious – more cautious). 

Otherwise, it’s up to you, you most likely can use either +er or more. (stupid – stupider / more stupid; gentle – gentler / more gentle; clever – cleverer / more clever). 

Part 5: Exceptions

Obviously, you’ll have to deal with a handful of outlaws. You have to learn them by heart: 

• Good/Well – Better:
  • Example: She plays chess better than she used to.
• Bad – Worse:
  • Example: The weather got worse as the day went on.
• Far – Farther/Further:
  • Example: I walked further than I did last week. 
• Little – Less:
  • Example: She had less time to prepare for the exam.
• Many/Much – More:
  • Example: There is more traffic in the city today.

Part 6: Common mistakes

Time to tackle some common mistakes. From ‘gooder’ to the variations of using ‘more,’ let’s clear up any confusion and enhance your understanding. 

1. More good or Gooder

• Some people incorrectly form the comparative of “good” as “gooder” or “more good”. The correct comparative form of “good” is “better.” (It’s also the comparative form of ‘well’)
• Example: This book is better than the one I read last week. (X gooder / more good) Here sadly you have to memorize the irregular form ‘better’ and avoid ‘gooder’ and ‘more good’ at all cost. 

2. More + er

• Using both “more” and “-er” together for short adjectives is a big no no (same with two-syllable adjectives). Short adjectives take the “-er” ending without the use of “more.” For two-syllable comparatives, it’s one or the other, just not both. 
• Example: She is taller than her brother. (X more taller) Here ‘more taller’ would just be blending two comparative forms together (more + er) and it’s unnecessary. 
• Example: Our lawnmower is quieter (or more quiet) than the neighbor’s. (X more quieter) Again, no need to fuse two forms (more + er), ‘more quieter’ will never be correct. 

3. Mixing up adjectives and adverbs ending in -ly

• It’s common to hear or read the ending ‘er’ with adverbs ending in -ly that should follow the long comparative form (more + adverbs ending in -ly). The confusion stems from whether you are dealing with an adjective or an adverb. 
• Example: She danced more slowly than the others. (X more slower) Here the dancing is being compared. Since it’s an action, we use an adverb ‘slowly’ and its comparative form ‘more slowly’.
• Example: The puppy wagged its tail more happily as it played with its favorite toy. (X more happier) Again, we are dealing with an adverb comparing the wagging action. The ‘er’ form doesn’t apply for adverbs ending in -ly.

Wrap up

• Host: From the straightforward ‘short word + er’ to the quirky irregular forms like ‘better’ and ‘worse,’ we’ve covered the tools you need to form comparatives with flair. If you’re in the mood, be sure to watch more of our videos! More is better. 😉  Hopefully, this has been helpful. A link to some free material to practice by yourselves can be found in the description below. Keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it. Thank you for watching. Until next time!