Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use comparatives to describe the difference between two people, places, or things using '-er' or 'more'.
- Add '-er' to short words (1 syllable), like 'fast' to 'faster'.
- Use 'more' before long words (2+ syllables), like 'more beautiful'.
- Always use 'than' to connect the two things you are comparing.
Overview
better な理由はどうでしょう？人生は基本的に、比較の連続です。TikTokをスクロールしながら、どの旅行のVlogが more exciting そうか決めたり、友達に新しいスニーカーが古いものより cooler だとLINEしたりするとき、あなたは比較級（comparative adjectives）を使っています。本質的に、この文法ルールは物事に順位をつけるためのものです。2つのもの（AとB）を取り上げ、どちらが特定の性質をより多く持っているかを判断します。Aは bigger か？Bは more expensive か？このガイドを読み終える頃には、自信を持ってこれらの判断ができるようになります。単に正しいだけでなく、正確に伝えることが重要です。さらに、比較の仕方を知っていると、どの動画配信サービスが better な番組を持っているかといった議論に勝つこともできますし、誰だって勝ちたいですよね？How This Grammar Works
than という言葉です。例えば、 The bus is slower than the train。ここで、 slower が比較級、 than がバスと電車をつなぐ接着剤の役割を果たします。 than を忘れてしまうと、文章が途中で終わってしまったような感じになり、みんなが後半部分を待つことになります！話している内容がすでにみんなにわかっている場合は、後半部分を省略することもあります。2つのコーヒーカップを持って「こちらの方が hotter だ」と言えば、友達はそれがもう一方のカップよりも熱いという意味だとわかります。忙しい現代人のためのショートカットですね。覚えておいてください：常にちょうど2つのものやグループを比較しています。3つ以上のものを比較し始めたら、それは最上級（ biggest や best）の世界になります。それはまた別の機会にお話ししましょう。今は、2つのものの対決に集中します。
Formation Pattern
-er を付けます。 small は smaller になります。 nice のようにすでに -e で終わっている場合は、 -r だけを付けて nicer にします。 big や hot のように子音・母音・子音（CVC）のパターンの場合は、最後の手紙を重ねます： bigger、 hotter。単語が自慢するために少し体重を増やしたようなものですね。
y を追い出して i に変え、その後に -er を付けます。ですから、 happy は happier に、 busy は busier になります。単語のイメチェンのようなものだと考えてください。
-er は好みません。その代わりに、前に立ってくれる友達を呼びます。それが more です。したがって、 expensive は more expensive に、 creative は more creative になります。「expensiver」と言おうとすると、砂糖を摂りすぎた幼児のように聞こえてしまいます。
good は better（gooderではない）になり、 bad は worse（badderではない）になり、 far は further または farther になります。これらはNetflixのパスワードのように、暗記するしかありません。
When To Use It
cheaper ですが、もう片方は more stylish に見えます。あなたは選択肢を比較検討しています。あるいは、Zoomでの採用面接かもしれません。他の候補者よりも自分の方が more experienced であることを説明したいかもしれません（たとえ実際にはGoogle検索が得意なだけだったとしても）。SNSはこのための大きな遊び場です。投稿に「この編集はオリジナルより better だね！」とコメントしたり、「バリの夕日はうちの裏庭の夕日より more beautiful に見える」と言ったりするかもしれません。また、時間の経過とともに起こる変化について話すときにも使います。「私の英語は先月より better になった」とか「新しいモールがオープンしてから街は busier になった」と言えます。基本的に、順位をつけたり、選んだり、変化に気づいたりするとき、比較級はあなたの最高の味方です。単純な観察を有意義な意見に変えてくれます。
Common Mistakes
more bigger や more faster と言ってしまうことです。これはサングラスを2つ同時にかけているようなもので、やりすぎです。単語に -er が付いているなら、 more は必要ありません。もう一つの典型的なミスは、 than の代わりに then を使ってしまうことです。 then は時間について（「家に帰った、それから then 寝た」）、 than は比較について（「私はあなたより than 背が高い」）使います。音はほとんど同じですが、画面上では全く違って見えます。また、CVCの単語にも注意してください。 bigger を biger と書くと、少し寂しそうに見えます。そして、長い単語に無理やり -er を付けようとしないでください。どんなにそうしたくても、 beautifuler という言葉はありません。 more beautiful を使って、文章をスマートに保ちましょう。最後に、比較の対象が明確でない場合は、後半部分を忘れないでください。部屋に一人で立って「私の方が速い」と言っても、みんなは「何より速いの？カタツムリ？ウサイン・ボルト？」と不思議に思うだけです。Contrast With Similar Patterns
This pizza is better than that one）。最上級は 3つ以上のもの を比較し、勝者を決めます（ This is the best pizza in the city）。また、 as...as というパターンも目にすることがあるでしょう。これは2つのものが等しいときに使います。 My phone is as fast as yours は、それらが同じであることを意味します。しかし、 My phone is faster than yours と言えば、勝者を宣言していることになります。また、反対方向に行きたい場合は、 more の代わりに less を使うこともできます。 This book is less interesting than the movie は、映画の方が面白いということを意味します。ただし、カジュアルな英語では、反対の意味の形容詞を使う方が好まれます： The book is more boring than the movie。その方が少し自然に聞こえます。自分の言いたいことへの最短ルートを選ぶようなものだと考えてください。Quick FAQ
短い単語に more を使えますか？
基本的には使えません。 -er を使ってください。ただ、「彼は強いというよりは背が高い（more tall than strong）」のように、同じものの2つの性質を比較している場合は、時々OKです。安全のためには、今は -er を使いましょう。
2音節でも -y で終わらない単語はどうすればいいですか？
両方使えるものもあります！ clever は cleverer でも more clever でもOKです。迷ったら、2音節の単語には通常 more が使えますが、 -y で終わる単語には -er の方が適しています。
funner は正しい単語ですか？
厳密には違います。ほとんどの文法家は more fun を使うべきだと言っています。しかし、非常にカジュアルな会話では funner と言っているのを耳にすることがあります。プロフェッショナルに聞こえたいなら、 more fun を使いましょう。
常に than が必要ですか？
2つ目のものを名前で出す場合のみ必要です。「私は彼より背が高い」には必要です。「私の方が背が高い」には必要ありません。
同じものを比較するにはどうすればいいですか？
as [形容詞] as のパターンを使います。例：「その赤い車は青い車と同じくらい速い」
Comparative Formation Rules
| Adjective Type | Rule | Example Adjective | Comparative Form |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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)
|
y -> i + -er
|
Happy
|
Happier
|
|
2+ Syllables
|
Use 'more'
|
Expensive
|
More expensive
|
|
Irregular
|
Memorize
|
Good
|
Better
|
|
Irregular
|
Memorize
|
Bad
|
Worse
|
|
Irregular
|
Memorize
|
Far
|
Further/Farther
|
Meanings
Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared.
Superiority (More)
To show that one thing has a higher quality or degree of a trait than another.
“This book is more interesting than the last one.”
“She is taller than her brother.”
Inferiority (Less)
To show that one thing has a lower quality or degree of a trait.
“This phone is less expensive than that one.”
“The movie was less exciting than the trailer.”
Equality (As...as)
To show that two things are equal in a specific quality.
“He is as tall as his father.”
“This cake is as delicious as the one you made.”
Reference Table
| 形容詞のタイプ | ルール | 元の形 | 比較級の形 | 例文 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1音節
|
-er をつける
|
tall
|
taller
|
She is taller than her sister.
|
|
1音節 (eで終わる)
|
-r だけつける
|
nice
|
nicer
|
This climate is nicer than mine.
|
|
1音節 (短母音+子音)
|
最後の子音を重ねて -er
|
big
|
bigger
|
My car is bigger than yours.
|
|
2音節 (yで終わる)
|
yをiに変えて -er
|
happy
|
happier
|
I feel happier today.
|
|
2音節以上 (その他)
|
more + 形容詞
|
expensive
|
more expensive
|
This phone is more expensive.
|
|
不規則
|
特別な形
|
good
|
better
|
This coffee tastes better.
|
|
不規則
|
特別な形
|
bad
|
worse
|
The traffic is worse today.
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
The first candidate appears to be more experienced than the second. (Hiring process)
The first person has more experience than the second one. (Hiring process)
The first guy is more experienced. (Hiring process)
The first one's got way more street cred. (Hiring process)
比較級の作り方フロー
短い形容詞 (1音節)
- tall taller
- big bigger
- cold colder
2音節 (yで終わる)
- happy happier
- easy easier
- funny funnier
長い形容詞 (2音節以上)
- expensive more expensive
- interesting more interesting
- beautiful more beautiful
不規則な形
- good better
- bad worse
比較級の形：-er vs More
比較級の作り方診断
その単語は1音節（短い）ですか？
2音節で y で終わりますか？
2音節以上で長い単語ですか？
比較級の具体例まとめ
-er ルール
- • tall > taller
- • hot > hotter
- • nice > nicer
- • pretty > prettier
More ルール
- • important > more important
- • delicious > more delicious
- • difficult > more difficult
- • popular > more popular
不規則変化
- • good > better
- • bad > worse
- • far > farther/further
- • little > less
よく使うフレーズ
- • bigger than
- • more expensive than
- • easier than
- • better than
レベル別の例文
My cat is smaller than your dog.
My cat is smaller than your dog.
I am taller than my sister.
I am taller than my sister.
This car is faster.
This car is faster.
Tea is hotter than water.
Tea is hotter than water.
This phone is more expensive than that one.
This phone is more expensive than that one.
The city is noisier than the countryside.
The city is noisier than the countryside.
Your English is better than last year.
Your English is better than last year.
Is the bus cheaper than the train?
Is the bus cheaper than the train?
This exercise is much easier than the previous one.
This exercise is much easier than the previous one.
The new model is slightly more efficient.
The new model is slightly more efficient.
He speaks more fluently than he did before.
He speaks more fluently than he did before.
I feel less tired today than yesterday.
I feel less tired today than yesterday.
The more you practice, the better you become.
The more you practice, the better you become.
The results were far more impressive than we anticipated.
The results were far more impressive than we anticipated.
The situation is getting more and more complicated.
The situation is getting more and more complicated.
She is no more capable than her predecessor.
She is no more capable than her predecessor.
The proposal was all the more convincing for its brevity.
The proposal was all the more convincing for its brevity.
He is taller than I am.
He is taller than I am.
The weather was rather more pleasant than predicted.
The weather was rather more pleasant than predicted.
It was a far cry from the earlier, simpler versions.
It was a far cry from the earlier, simpler versions.
The argument is none the stronger for being repeated.
The argument is none the stronger for being repeated.
He was a man of no lesser stature than the king himself.
He was a man of no lesser stature than the king himself.
The more's the pity that we didn't arrive earlier.
The more's the pity that we didn't arrive earlier.
Her performance was significantly more nuanced than her debut.
Her performance was significantly more nuanced than her debut.
間違えやすい
Learners use superlatives (best, biggest) when only comparing two things.
These words sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Using both 'more' and '-er' on the same adjective.
よくある間違い
He is more tall than me.
He is taller than me.
This is more better.
This is better.
I am taller that him.
I am taller than him.
My car is biger than yours.
My car is bigger than yours.
It is more easy now.
It is easier now.
She is more happy than before.
She is happier than before.
This is badder than that.
This is worse than that.
The movie was less better than I thought.
The movie was not as good as I thought.
He is more taller.
He is much taller.
I have more few books than you.
I have fewer books than you.
He is the taller of the three.
He is the tallest of the three.
It's getting more and more hot.
It's getting hotter and hotter.
I prefer tea than coffee.
I prefer tea to coffee.
文型パターン
My ___ is ___er than yours.
This ___ is more ___ than that one.
I think ___ is better than ___.
The ___er it is, the more ___ it becomes.
Real World Usage
This model is much quieter than the previous version.
I am looking for a more challenging role.
I'm looking for someone taller than 6 feet.
This SUV is safer and more reliable for families.
Tomorrow will be colder and windier than today.
Is there a cheaper flight available?
音節（シラブル）を数えてみて！
It is colder today.
二重比較はNG！
This is bigger.than をセットで使おう
My coffee is hotter than yours.
ポップカルチャーの中の比較級
強調する言葉を添えてみよう
This is a little more expensive.
Smart Tips
Always change the 'y' to 'i' before adding '-er'. It works for happy, busy, easy, and crazy!
Use 'much' or 'a bit' to show the size of the difference.
In casual English, we use 'than me' or 'than him'. In very formal English, we use 'than I am' or 'than he is'.
Use 'the [comparative] one' to choose between two items without repeating the noun.
発音
The Schwa sound in '-er'
The '-er' ending is almost always pronounced as a weak schwa /ə/. Do not stress it.
Linking 'than'
The word 'than' is usually reduced to /ðən/ and links to the following word.
Comparison Stress
This one is BIGGER than that one.
Stress the comparative adjective to emphasize the difference.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Short words get 'er' (like a motor), long words get 'more' (like a crowd).
視覚的連想
Imagine a tiny mouse with a long tail shaped like the letters 'ER' standing next to a giant elephant wearing a shirt that says 'MORE'.
Rhyme
Short gets -er, long gets more, use 'than' to settle the score!
Story
A small ant (Short) wanted to be a runner, so he became 'faster'. A beautiful butterfly (Long) didn't want to change her name, so she just became 'more beautiful'. They both had to cross the 'Than' bridge to finish the race.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Look around your room. Find two objects and say three sentences comparing them out loud (e.g., 'The lamp is taller than the book').
文化メモ
Americans often use 'farther' for physical distance and 'further' for metaphorical distance. British speakers often use 'further' for both.
In Japanese culture, direct comparisons can sometimes be seen as too blunt. In English, however, they are expected and necessary for clarity.
German speakers may find the English use of 'more' for long adjectives similar to their own 'mehr', but must remember that German also uses suffixes for almost all adjectives.
The '-er' suffix comes from the Old English '-ra', which was used to form comparatives in Germanic languages.
会話のきっかけ
Which is better: living in a big city or a small village?
Compare your current phone with your previous one.
Is it better to be a student or an employee?
How has your life changed in the last five years?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercisesMy house is ___ (big) than yours.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
This coffee is more better than the one I had yesterday.
than / is / My / faster / car / yours
Match the following:
I am taller ___ my father.
Pick the irregular comparative.
This book is ___ (interesting) than the movie.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThis bed is much ___ (comfortable) than the old one.
正しい文を選んでください：
Living in the city is excitinger than the countryside.
「試験は思っていたより難しかった」を英語にしてください。
単語を並べ替えて文を完成させてください：
This path is ___ (narrow) than the main road.
形容詞と比較級のペアを作ってください：
Our team's presentation was gooder than theirs.
正しい文を選んでください：
「私の自転車はあなたのより古い」を英語にしてください。
単語を並べ替えて文を完成させてください：
形容詞と比較級のペアを作ってください：
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
Double the last letter for one-syllable words that end in a single vowel + single consonant (like `big` -> `bigger`, `hot` -> `hotter`). Do not double it if there are two vowels (like `cheap` -> `cheaper`).
Both are correct! In American English, `farther` is usually for physical distance and `further` is for metaphorical distance (like 'further information'). In British English, `further` is common for both.
Both are actually correct! Some two-syllable words like `clever`, `simple`, and `narrow` can take either form, though `-er` is more traditional.
Because `better` already means 'more good'. Saying `more better` is like saying 'more more good', which is redundant and incorrect in standard English.
`Than` is for comparing things (He is taller `than` me). `Then` is for time or sequences (I went home, `then` I ate dinner).
Use the structure `as + adjective + as`. For example, 'I am `as tall as` my brother.'
Yes! For example, 'He runs `faster` than me' or 'She speaks `more clearly` than her friend.' The rules for syllables are the same.
You can use `less + adjective + than`. For example, 'This phone is `less expensive` than that one.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
más + adjective + que
English has two systems (-er and more), while Spanish only has one (más).
plus + adjective + que
French never changes the ending of the adjective to mean 'more'.
adjective + -er + als
German uses the suffix for almost all adjectives, whereas English switches to 'more' for long ones.
A no hou ga B yori [adj]
Japanese grammar structure for comparison is completely different from the English SVO structure.
Elative form (Af'al)
Arabic uses a morphological internal change rather than a simple suffix or prefix.
A bǐ B + adjective
Chinese has no inflection or 'more' equivalent within the comparative sentence.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
関連動画
Related Grammar Rules
複合時制における副詞の語順 (Always, Never, Often)
### Overview 頻度を表す副詞、例えば `always`, `never`, `often`, `usually`, `sometimes` といった言葉は、動作がどれくらい...
形容詞を強調する: Very, So, Really, Too
### Overview 英語では、意味のニュアンスを伝えるために、精密な修飾システムが不可欠です。記述の強さを調整するための最も一...
副詞の位置：様態と程度
### Overview 英語学習において、`adverbs`（副詞）の使いこなしは、B2レベルの学習者が中級から上級へとステップアップするため...
視点・態度副詞 (技術的には、率直に言って)
### Overview ビューポイント＆スタンス副詞（Viewpoint & Stance Adverbs）は、話し手が情報の提示角度や自身の態度、判断を伝...
'so' と 'such a' で強調する
### Overview 英語学習において、中級（B1）から上級（B2）へとステップアップする際に欠かせないのが、自分の感情や状況の「程...
