Comparativos: -er y more
-er para palabras cortas y more para las largas, ¡así comparas como un nativo!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use '-er' for short words and 'more' for long words to compare two things using 'than'.
- Add '-er' to one-syllable adjectives like 'fast' to get 'faster'.
- Change '-y' to '-ier' for two-syllable words like 'happy' to get 'happier'.
- Use 'more' before adjectives with two or more syllables like 'more expensive'.
Overview
better (mejor) que el de ayer? ¿Es esta serie de Netflix more interesting (más interesante) que la anterior?más antes de cualquier adjetivo: decimos más alto, más inteligente, más rápido. Es una regla universal que aplica a todo. Sin embargo, en inglés, el idioma se vuelve un poco más
musical o rítmico.-er o si usa la palabra more.bueno, sino que podrás explicar por qué algo es mejor que otra cosa. Esta capacidad de establecer relaciones de desigualdad es lo que te dará la fluidez necesaria para moverte en situaciones reales, desde una entrevista de trabajo hasta una charla casual por WhatsApp con amigos extranjeros.reset mental sobre cómo usamos la palabra que. En español, usamos que para casi todo en una comparación: Este coche es más rápido que aquel. En inglés, ese nexo fundamental es la palabra
than.than con that o then. Recuerda: para comparar, siempre usaremos than.to be) + Adjetivo Comparativo + than + Sujeto 2.- 1Adjetivos cortos (1 sílaba o 2 sílabas terminadas en -y): Estos son los que
absorbenla comparación y se transforman al final. Es como si la palabramásse fusionara con el adjetivo. - 2Adjetivos largos (2 o más sílabas): Estos funcionan de forma muy parecida al español, manteniendo el adjetivo intacto y poniendo
more(más) delante.
más alto o más alta dependiendo de si hablamos de un hombre o una mujer. En inglés, taller sirve para ambos. ¡Un problema menos del que preocuparse!than |-er |more + adjetivo |tall) |regla de las sílabas. Imagínate que cada palabra tiene un espacio limitado. Si la palabra es pequeña, tiene espacio para cargar con un final extra. Si es grande, ya pesa demasiado y necesita ayuda externa.
-er-er al final.small(pequeño) →smaller(más pequeño)tall(alto) →taller(más alto)fast(rápido) →faster(más rápido)
- CVC (Consonante + Vocal + Consonante): Si la palabra termina en este patrón (como un sándwich de vocal), debemos duplicar la última consonante. ¿Por qué? Para mantener el sonido de la vocal corto.
big→bigger(con doble 'g')hot→hotter(con doble 't')thin→thinner(con doble 'n')- Terminados en -e: Si la palabra ya termina en
e, no vamos a poner otra. Solo añadimos lar. large→largernice→nicer
-y por -ierligeras porque terminan en y.happy(feliz) →happier(más feliz)easy(fácil) →easier(más fácil)funny(divertido) →funnier(más divertido)busy(ocupado) →busier(más ocupado)
morey, no le añadimos nada al final. Simplemente ponemos la palabra more antes, igual que hacemos en español con más.expensive(caro) →more expensive(más caro)beautiful(hermoso) →more beautiful(más hermoso)intelligent(inteligente) →more intelligent(más inteligente)careful(cuidadoso) →more careful(más cuidadoso)
más bueno, decimos mejor. En inglés pasa lo mismo:good(bueno) →better(mejor)bad(malo) →worse(peor)far(lejos) →fartherofurther(más lejos)little(poco) →less(menos)
- En el mercado o de compras: Cuando estás comparando precios o calidad.
This shirt is cheaper than the blue one.(Esta camisa es más barata que la azul).This laptop is more powerful than my old one.(Este portátil es más potente que el anterior).
- Hablando de viajes y distancias:
Madrid is bigger than Sevilla.(Madrid es más grande que Sevilla).The train is faster than the bus.(El tren es más rápido que el autobús).
- Expresando cambios personales o de salud:
I feel better today than yesterday.(Me siento mejor hoy que ayer).The exam was easier than I thought.(El examen fue más fácil de lo que pensaba).
- En el trabajo o la universidad:
This project is more important than the last one.(Este proyecto es más importante que el anterior).My new boss is nicer than my old boss.(Mi nuevo jefe es más amable que mi antiguo jefe).
- 1Usar
morecon adjetivos cortos (El errorMore Big):
más grande, es muy tentador decir more big. ¡Error! Recuerda que si la palabra es corta, el más va pegado al final.- Incorrecto:
My house is more big than yours. - Correcto:
My house is bigger than yours.
- 1La doble comparación (El error
More Better):
más mejor.- Incorrecto:
This cake is more tastier. - Correcto:
This cake is tastier.oThis cake is more delicious.
- 1Confundir
thanconthat:
que para todo. En inglés, that se usa para decir eso o para unir frases, pero nunca para comparar.- Incorrecto:
I am taller that my brother. - Correcto:
I am taller than my brother.
- 1Olvidar duplicar la consonante:
biger con una sola 'g' se ve mal. Recuerda el sándwich CVC (big, hot, sad).más que otra cosa. A veces queremos decir que son iguales o que algo es menos. Es importante ver cómo encajan estas piezas en el rompecabezas de las comparaciones.Adjective + -er / more... than | Superioridad (Más... que) | She is faster than me. |As + adjective + as | Igualdad (Tan... como) | He is as tall as his father. |Less + adjective + than | Inferioridad (Menos... que) | This phone is less expensive. |as... as:as... as (tan... como), el adjetivo no cambia nunca. No importa si es corto o largo, no le añadimos -er ni more.He is as tall as me.(Él es tan alto como yo).It is as expensive as the other.(Es tan caro como el otro).
more, como more modern o more careful. Sin embargo, hay algunos que aceptan ambas formas, como clever (cleverer o more clever) o quiet (quieter o more quiet).more con palabras de dos sílabas suele ser la opción más segura y aceptada.farther y cuándo further?más lejos, hay un pequeño matiz. Usamos farther para distancias físicas que puedes medir (kilómetros, metros). Usamos further para cosas metafóricas o abstractas, como más información(
further information) o llegar más lejos en una carrera profesional.
than. Por ejemplo, si estás probándote unos zapatos y te quedan apretados, puedes decir: Do you have a larger size? (¿Tiene una talla más grande?). No hace falta decir larger than this one porque ya se sobreentiende.bigger pero no en cheaper?bigger, tenemos el patrón Consonante-Vocal-Consonante (b-i-g). En cheaper, tenemos dos vocales juntas (e-a). La regla de duplicar solo aplica cuando hay una sola vocal atrapada entre consonantes. Es una regla de oro de la ortografía inglesa.Comparative Formation Rules
| Adjective Type | Rule | Example | Comparative |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Syllable
|
Add -er
|
Fast
|
Faster
|
|
1 Syllable (CVC)
|
Double consonant + -er
|
Big
|
Bigger
|
|
1 Syllable (ends in -e)
|
Add -r
|
Nice
|
Nicer
|
|
2 Syllables (ends in -y)
|
Change y to i + -er
|
Happy
|
Happier
|
|
2+ Syllables
|
Use 'more'
|
Modern
|
More modern
|
|
Irregular
|
Total change
|
Good
|
Better
|
|
Irregular
|
Total change
|
Bad
|
Worse
|
|
Irregular
|
Total change
|
Far
|
Farther/Further
|
Meanings
The comparative form is used to compare differences between the two objects it modifies (larger, smaller, faster, higher). It is used in sentences where two nouns are compared.
Short Adjectives
Adding the suffix '-er' to adjectives with one syllable.
“The sun is hotter than the moon.”
“This box is heavier than that one.”
Long Adjectives
Using the word 'more' before adjectives with two or more syllables.
“This book is more interesting than the movie.”
“She is more intelligent than her classmates.”
Irregular Comparatives
Adjectives that change completely in their comparative form.
“Your score is better than mine.”
“The weather today is worse than yesterday.”
Reference Table
| Longitud del Adjetivo/Adverbio | Regla | Palabra de Ejemplo | Forma Comparativa |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Una sílaba
|
Añade -er
|
Tall
|
Taller
|
|
Una sílaba (termina en -e)
|
Añade -r
|
Large
|
Larger
|
|
Una sílaba (patrón CVC)
|
Duplica la consonante + -er
|
Big
|
Bigger
|
|
Dos sílabas (termina en -y)
|
Cambia 'y' por 'i' + -er
|
Happy
|
Happier
|
|
Dos+ sílabas (no terminan en -y)
|
Usa 'more' antes
|
Important
|
More important
|
|
Adverbios (terminan en -ly)
|
Usa 'more' antes
|
Quickly
|
More quickly
|
|
Formas irregulares
|
Memoriza las formas únicas
|
Good
|
Better
|
|
Formas irregulares
|
Memoriza las formas únicas
|
Bad
|
Worse
|
Espectro de formalidad
He is taller than I am. (Physical description)
He is taller than me. (Physical description)
He's taller than me. (Physical description)
He's got way more height than me. (Physical description)
Cómo Formar Comparativos
Palabras Cortas (1 Sílaba)
- Tall Taller
- Big Bigger
- Fast Faster
Palabras que Terminan en -y (2 Sílabas)
- Happy Happier
- Easy Easier
Palabras Largas (2+ Sílabas, no -y)
- Beautiful More beautiful
- Expensive More expensive
- Carefully More carefully
Formas Irregulares
- Good Better
- Bad Worse
Cuándo Usar -er vs. More
Diagrama de Flujo de Adjetivos/Adverbios Comparativos
¿El adjetivo/adverbio tiene una sílaba?
¿Tiene dos sílabas Y termina en -y?
¿Es una palabra irregular (good, bad, far)?
Ejemplos Comparativos por Tipo
Terminaciones en -er
- • taller
- • smaller
- • older
- • faster
- • nicer
- • bigger
Terminaciones en -ier
- • happier
- • easier
- • funnier
- • busier
- • prettier
- • heavier
More + Adjetivo/Adverbio
- • more beautiful
- • more expensive
- • more important
- • more carefully
- • more modern
- • more quickly
Formas Irregulares
- • better
- • worse
- • farther
- • further
Ejemplos por nivel
I am taller than my sister.
A car is faster than a bike.
This apple is bigger.
My cat is smaller than your dog.
This phone is more expensive than that one.
I am happier today than yesterday.
Is London bigger than Paris?
The movie was better than the book.
The city is much noisier than the countryside.
This exercise is slightly easier than the last one.
He is more talented than he realizes.
The new model is significantly more efficient.
The more I study, the more I realize I don't know.
The situation is getting more and more complicated.
She is less interested in sports than her brother is.
The results were far better than we had anticipated.
The proposal was no less controversial than the previous one.
He was rather more upset than he let on.
The implications are far-reaching, more so than initially thought.
The narrowness of the path became even more pronounced.
The newer policy is arguably more robust, yet less flexible.
Her elder sister remains the more formidable of the two.
The discrepancy was all the more apparent given the context.
It was a task more easily described than performed.
Fácil de confundir
Learners use '-est' when they only have two items.
They sound similar, but 'then' is about time.
Learners use 'very' to compare.
Errores comunes
He is more big.
He is bigger.
I am more good.
I am better.
She is taller that me.
She is taller than me.
It is hoter today.
It is hotter today.
This is more better.
This is better.
It is more easy.
It is easier.
He is more tall than I.
He is taller than me.
The movie was more bad.
The movie was worse.
He is elder than me.
He is older than me.
This is superior than that.
This is superior to that.
Patrones de oraciones
The ___ is ___er than the ___.
I think ___ is more ___ than ___.
My ___ is better than your ___.
It's getting ___er and ___er.
Real World Usage
This laptop is more powerful but more expensive.
Tomorrow will be slightly warmer than today.
I believe I am more qualified for this role than other candidates.
I'm looking for someone taller than me.
Is the hotel closer to the beach than the airport?
The pizza here is better than the one across the street.
He is running faster than his opponent!
Happier than ever!
¡Cuenta tus sílabas!
Fast becomes faster.¡Evita los comparativos dobles!
You should say faster, not more faster.
Practica con 'Than'
This apple is sweeter than that one.
Uso informal de 'Than'
He runs faster than me.
Atención a las palabras que terminan en -y
Happy becomes happier.Smart Tips
If it ends in -y, -er, -le, or -ow, it usually takes '-er'. If not, 'more' is a safer bet.
Use 'much' or 'way' before the comparative to add emphasis.
Always use 'than' followed by a subject pronoun and a verb.
Check if it's a 'CVC' word. If it is, double that last letter before adding -er.
Pronunciación
The Schwa Suffix
The '-er' ending is almost always pronounced as a weak schwa /ə/ in British English or a rhotic /ər/ in American English. Do not stress it.
Linking 'Than'
The word 'than' is usually reduced to /ðən/. It links quickly to the following word.
Comparison Stress
This one is BIGGER than that one.
We often stress the comparative adjective to emphasize the difference.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Short is Sweet: Add -er. Long is Strong: Use More.
Asociación visual
Imagine a short person standing on a box labeled '-er' to reach a high shelf, while a tall person (long word) just needs a friend named 'More' to help them.
Rhyme
If the word is short and small, add -er to stand tall. If the word is long and wide, put 'more' right by its side.
Story
Once there was a small cat named 'Fast' who wanted to be 'Faster', so he ate an '-er' cookie. His friend, a big elephant named 'Intelligent', couldn't fit the cookie, so he just carried a sign that said 'More'.
Word Web
Desafío
Look around your room. Find two objects and say three comparative sentences about them (e.g., 'The lamp is taller than the book').
Notas culturales
Using comparatives can sometimes sound rude if you are comparing people directly. It is often softer to use 'not as... as'.
Americans frequently use 'than me' or 'than him' (object pronouns).
In very formal British English, you might still hear 'than I' or 'than he', though it is becoming rare.
The '-er' suffix comes from Old English '-ra', which is shared with other Germanic languages. 'More' comes from the Old English 'māra'.
Inicios de conversación
Which is better: living in a big city or a small town?
Is your phone better than your last one?
Compare two famous people you know.
If you could travel anywhere, would you prefer a hotter or colder climate?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
My new apartment is ___ than my old one.
Find and fix the mistake:
Learning Spanish is more harder than learning French.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesMy house is ___ (big) than yours.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
She is more intelligenter than her brother.
The blue car is $20,000. The red car is $15,000. (expensive)
Bad, Happy, Far
Learning English is ___ (easy) than learning Chinese.
I am taller ___ my father.
today / than / is / it / yesterday / colder
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe weather today is ___ than yesterday.
Choose the correct sentence:
She drives more carefullyer than her brother.
Translate into English: 'El examen fue más fácil de lo que pensaba.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
This coffee tastes a little ___ than the one I usually drink.
Match the adjectives with their comparative forms:
Translate into English: 'Ella es más paciente que yo.'
The new software is efficienter than the old one.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
He responded ___ to my message this time.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /12
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
No, 'better' is already comparative. Adding 'more' is redundant and incorrect. Just say `better`.
Double the last letter for one-syllable words that end in a single vowel and a single consonant (CVC), like `big` -> `bigger` or `hot` -> `hotter`.
In modern English, they are often used interchangeably. However, `farther` usually refers to physical distance, while `further` refers to metaphorical distance (e.g., 'further information').
Technically, 'fun' is a noun, so 'more fun' is the standard form. While you might hear 'funner' in very casual speech, it is considered incorrect in exams or formal writing.
Both are used. `Than me` is common and natural in conversation. `Than I am` or `than I` is more formal.
Yes, if they don't end in 'y'. For example, `more modern` or `more famous`. If they end in 'y', use `-ier`.
Use the structure `as + adjective + as`. For example, 'I am as tall as my brother.'
The opposite is `less`. For example, 'This book is less interesting than the other one.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
más + adjective
No suffix equivalent to '-er'.
plus + adjective
Uses 'plus' instead of suffixes.
adjective + -er
German uses '-er' for almost all adjectives, even long ones.
yori
No morphological change to the adjective.
bǐ (比)
Comparison is handled by sentence structure, not word forms.
Elative form (af'al)
Internal root modification.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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