How do you form a comparative adjective in English?

Add -er to a short adjective (tall, taller; cheap, cheaper) and put more in front of a longer one (more expensive, more useful). Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y take -ier (easy, easier), and the irregulars you need first are good to better, bad to worse, and far to further. Then add than if you name the second thing: shorter than the road.

When do I use than after a comparative?

Use than when you state the second person, place, or thing: This path is shorter than the road, and she is taller than me. You can drop than when the second thing is already clear (This one is cheaper). Do not write then or that in this slot, because then is a time word and that is not the comparative linker.

What is the difference between -er and more?

They are two ways to make the same comparative meaning, chosen by the length of the adjective: short adjectives take -er, and longer adjectives take more. You never use both together, so more shorter is wrong. If you are unsure with a two-syllable word that does not end in -y, more is the safer beginner choice (more careful, more boring).

How do you say two things are the same with an adjective?

Use as plus the base adjective plus as: This path is as quiet as the woods, and my bag is as light as yours. For a lower degree, add not (not as heavy as, not as expensive as). Keep the base form inside the frame: as tall as, never as taller as.

Do comparatives and superlatives work the same way?

They are related, but this lesson is only the two-thing form: comparatives use -er or more, and often than. Superlatives use the plus -est or the most, and they pick one out of a group of three or more (the cheapest mug in the shop). You do not need the superlative to compare two mugs, so bigger than is enough, and the full pair is on the comparatives and superlatives page.

English grammar · Beginner

Comparatives: -er, More, Than, and As ... As for Beginners

Written by Eleanor Whitfield, Lead English Curriculum Editor · Reviewed September 2026

A comparative adjective compares two things: shorter, bigger, more expensive, better. Short adjectives add -er, longer ones take more, and a few common ones change form (good, better). Than follows the comparative when you name the second thing. To say two things are equal, use as ... as; to say they are not, use not as ... as.

This path is shorter than the road, but it is not as smooth as the road.

shorter plus than for two things, not as ... as for a lower degree

What it is

When you put two people, places, or things side by side, English changes the adjective. A short adjective takes -er: tall, taller; cheap, cheaper. A longer adjective takes more: more expensive, more interesting. Than introduces the second thing: This bag is cheaper than that one. If the two things are equal, do not use -er or more; use as ... as: This bag is as cheap as that one. Superlatives (the cheapest of all) belong on a different page.

The blue mug is bigger than the white one. The white one is not as big as the blue one. (Two mugs only: -er plus than, then not as ... as.)

How to spot it

Look for -er or more in front of than, or for as plus adjective plus as. If you see the plus -est or the most, you have switched to a superlative, which compares one thing with a whole group.

My bag is lighter than yours. (short adjective, -er, than)
This kettle is more useful than the old one. (longer adjective, more, than)
Today is hotter than yesterday. (double the t, then -er)
This path is as quiet as the woods. (equal degree: as ... as)

Never double the marking: more lighter and more bigger are errors. Choose -er or more, not both. Good becomes better, not gooder or more good.

Comparatives Quick Reference

How to form a comparative adjective

Adjective type	Comparative	With than	Equal: as ... as
One syllable	+ -er	tall → taller than	as tall as
One syllable ending in -e	+ -r	nice → nicer than	as nice as
Short vowel + one consonant	double the consonant + -er	big → bigger than; hot → hotter than	as big as
Two syllables ending in -y	y → -ier	easy → easier than; happy → happier than	as easy as
Longer adjectives	more + adjective	more expensive than, more interesting than	as expensive as
Irregular	new word	good → better than; bad → worse than; far → further than	as good as

Common Comparatives Examples in English

Comparatives grouped by the job: forming the word, naming the second thing with than, and using as ... as:

Short Adjectives with -er

This path is shorter than the road.: short: -er plus than
My bag is lighter than yours.: light → lighter
Today is hotter than yesterday.: hot → hotter, double t
This sum is easier than the last one.: easy → easier, y to i

Double the last consonant after a short vowel (big, bigger; thin, thinner). Change y to i after a consonant (happy, happier).

Longer Adjectives with More

This kettle is more useful than the old one.: useful takes more, not usefuller
The harbour is more peaceful at dawn.: than the rest of the day is implied
Her map is more detailed than mine.: detailed: more, then than
This crate is more awkward to carry than that one.: awkward: three syllables, more

If the adjective has three or more syllables, always use more. Many two-syllable adjectives take more as well (more careful, more boring).

Than and the Second Thing

The blue mug is bigger than the white one.: than plus a noun phrase
She is taller than me.: than plus an object pronoun, everyday style
This ferry is slower than I expected.: than plus a clause
The loft is colder than downstairs.: than plus an adverb of place

Than is the word after a comparative. Then is a time word and does not belong here. You can leave than out when the second thing is obvious: This one is cheaper.

As ... As for Equal (or Not)

This path is as quiet as the woods.: equal degree
My bag is not as heavy as yours.: lower degree: not as ... as
The white mug is as full as the blue one.: as plus adjective plus as

Use the base adjective between as and as, not the comparative: as tall as, not as taller as. Not as ... as is the beginner way to say a lower degree without less.

How Comparatives Work

Four beginner rules: the -er / more split, spelling, than, and as ... as. Superlatives are left for the next page.

Short Takes -er, Long Takes More

Count the syllables. One syllable: add -er (short, shorter; old, older; cheap, cheaper). Three or more: put more in front (more expensive, more interesting, more comfortable). Two syllables split: -y adjectives take -ier (easy, easier; happy, happier); many others take more (more useful, more careful, more boring). Do not combine the two markings: more shorter and more bigger are never correct.

a shorter path, a more useful kettle

one syllable takes -er, longer takes more

Short: -er. Long: more. Never both.

Watch the Spelling Changes

If the adjective ends in -e, add only -r: nice, nicer; large, larger. If it ends in one vowel plus one consonant, double the consonant: big, bigger; hot, hotter; thin, thinner. If it ends in a consonant plus y, change y to i: easy, easier; happy, happier. These spelling changes do not apply when you use more: more useful, no doubling.

bigger, hotter, nicer, easier

double consonant, drop to -r, y to i

E: add r. Short vowel: double. Y: change to i.

Name the Second Thing with Than

Than introduces the other person, place, or thing. This path is shorter than the road. She is taller than me. The ferry is slower than I expected. Then does not do this job; it means next, after that. You can omit than and the second thing when they are clear from context, but you cannot replace than with that: shorter that the road is wrong.

This crate is heavier than that one.

than plus the second thing

Comparative + than, never then or that.

Use As ... As for Equal Degree

When two things share the same degree, keep the base adjective and put as on both sides: as tall as, as cheap as, as quiet as. For a lower degree, the beginner pattern is not as ... as: not as heavy as, not as expensive as. Do not put -er or more inside the as ... as frame. Good, bad, and far are irregular in the comparative (better, worse, further) but still use the base form with as: as good as, as bad as, as far as.

This bag is as light as yours. It is not as cheap as the other one.

equal with as ... as, lower with not as ... as

As + base adjective + as.

Common Mistakes with Comparatives

Incorrect: This path is more shorter than the road.

Correct: This path is shorter than the road.

Short already takes -er, so more is extra. Use either -er or more, never both. The same error appears as more bigger, more cheaper, and more easier.

Incorrect: My bag is lighter that yours.

Correct: My bag is lighter than yours.

Than is the word after a comparative. That is a different word, used for things and clauses. Then is a time word. Only than belongs here.

Incorrect: This kettle is more useful as the old one.

Correct: This kettle is more useful than the old one. / This kettle is as useful as the old one.

More and -er pair with than. As pairs with as. Mixing them (more useful as, taller as) blends two patterns. Pick one: a comparative with than, or equal degree with as ... as.

Incorrect: Her map is gooder than mine.

Correct: Her map is better than mine.

Good is irregular: good, better, (the best). There is no gooder and no more good in this meaning. Bad becomes worse. Far becomes further (or farther for physical distance).

Quick Check: Comparatives

Write the comparative, or as ... as, in each gap.

1. This path is ___ than the road. (short)

Answer: shorter

one syllable: -er

2. Today is ___ than yesterday. (hot)

Answer: hotter

double the t, then -er

3. This kettle is ___ than the old one. (useful)

Answer: more useful

longer adjective: more

4. My bag is ___ ___ yours. (light, equal)

Answer: as light as

base adjective between as and as

5. Her map is ___ than mine. (good)

Answer: better

irregular: good → better

6. This crate is not ___ ___ that one. (heavy)

Answer: as heavy as

lower degree: not as ... as

Comparatives FAQs

How do you form a comparative adjective in English?: Add -er to a short adjective (tall, taller; cheap, cheaper) and put more in front of a longer one (more expensive, more useful). Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y take -ier (easy, easier), and the irregulars you need first are good to better, bad to worse, and far to further. Then add than if you name the second thing: shorter than the road.
When do I use than after a comparative?: Use than when you state the second person, place, or thing: This path is shorter than the road, and she is taller than me. You can drop than when the second thing is already clear (This one is cheaper). Do not write then or that in this slot, because then is a time word and that is not the comparative linker.
What is the difference between -er and more?: They are two ways to make the same comparative meaning, chosen by the length of the adjective: short adjectives take -er, and longer adjectives take more. You never use both together, so more shorter is wrong. If you are unsure with a two-syllable word that does not end in -y, more is the safer beginner choice (more careful, more boring).
How do you say two things are the same with an adjective?: Use as plus the base adjective plus as: This path is as quiet as the woods, and my bag is as light as yours. For a lower degree, add not (not as heavy as, not as expensive as). Keep the base form inside the frame: as tall as, never as taller as.
Do comparatives and superlatives work the same way?: They are related, but this lesson is only the two-thing form: comparatives use -er or more, and often than. Superlatives use the plus -est or the most, and they pick one out of a group of three or more (the cheapest mug in the shop). You do not need the superlative to compare two mugs, so bigger than is enough, and the full pair is on the comparatives and superlatives page.