Comparing two things — Foreign languages, 7–10
Learn how English shows that one thing has more or less of a quality than another. Foreign languages, 7–10 years.
More, less or the same
When you compare two things, a comparative adjective shows the difference. Short adjectives often take -er: “This bag is lighter than that bag.” Longer adjectives often use more: “This puzzle is more difficult than the first one.” Use than to connect the two sides.
Why compare?
Saying “The blue box is big” gives one description, but it does not help you choose between two boxes. “The blue box is bigger than the red one” gives a relationship. People use this pattern whenever they need to sort, choose or explain a difference.
Compare two bikes
Imagine Bike A costs 80 euros and Bike B costs 120 euros. Start with the adjective cheap: “Bike A is…” Because cheap is short, add -er: “Bike A is cheaper…” Add than and the other bike: “Bike A is cheaper than Bike B.” The complete sentence compares their prices.
Not two endings
A reasonable mistake is saying “more taller,” because more and -er both seem to mean “a greater amount.” English normally chooses one: “taller” or “more interesting,” not both together. Also remember the irregular pair: good becomes better, and bad becomes worse.
Choose and explain
Comparatives appear when you choose a route, compare prices or describe sports results. A map might show that one path is shorter than another. A shop sign can help you notice that one packet is cheaper, while a review may say a film is more exciting than its sequel.
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