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28
Comparing people, objects and places
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Use the pattern ...
adjective + -er than
more + adjective + than
less + adjective + than
...to compare two or more
people, things or places. Grammar Box 2 shows grammatical rules, explanations
and examples to make comparisons using adjectives and comparatives.
Grammar Box 2
The comparative: using –er, more, less
Francisco is
older than
Rafael.
Health is
more important than
money.
The beach is
hotter than
the forest.
When we use adjectives to compare two people,
things or places, the adjectives have special forms.
The use of –er or more is called the comparative form.
Important
:
than
follows the comparative form.
• older than.
• more important than.
Positive
Adjective
Comparative
Explanation
Examples
Adjectives
with one
syllable
old
cheap
hot
older
cheaper
hotter
Add –
er
to one-syllable
adjectives.
Spelling note: If an
adjective ends in one
vowel and one
consonant, double the
consonant:
hot-hotter
big-bigger fat-fatter.
Juan is
older than
Jorge.
This shirt is
cheaper than
this
jacket.
Veracruz is
hotter than
Puebla.
Adjectives
that end in
–y
pretty
healthy
busy
prettier
healthier
busier
If an adjective ends in –
y
,
change the y to –
i
and
add –
er
.
Amanda is
prettier than
Patricia.
Fruit is
healthier than
ice
cream.
Mexico City is
busier than
Guanajuato.
Adjectives
with two or
more
syllables
intelligent
famous
interesting
expensive
polluted
more intelligent
more interesting
more expensive
less famous
less polluted
Use
more
in front of
adjectives that have two
or more syllables (except
adjectives that end in –
y
).
You can use
less
with
many adjectives of two or
more syllables.
Less
is usually not
used with one-syllable
adjectives.
My brother is
more intelligent
than
yours. Javier “Chicharito”
Hernández is
less famous than
Leo Messi.
The book is
more interesting
than
the movie. Chilaquiles are
less expensive than
meat.
This market is
more
expensive than
the other.
Veracruz is
less polluted than
Mexico City.
Irregular
comparative
forms
good
bad
far
better
worse
farther/further
The comparative forms
of good, bad and far are
irregular.
My friend is
better than
that
guy.
Coffee is
worse for
your health
than tea.
The school is
farther than
the
church.