A2 · 초중급 챕터 3

Making Comparisons

6 총 규칙
68 예문
6 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of comparison to express your preferences and observations with precision.

  • Use comparative adjectives to contrast two items.
  • Apply superlative forms to identify the extreme of a group.
  • Handle irregular forms like better, worse, and best.
Compare everything with confidence and ease.

배울 내용

Ever wanted to say if one thing is bigger than another, or what's the best snack? This chapter is your guide! Soon you'll confidently compare anything, from prices to places, making your English even more useful.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Compare two products using correct comparative adjectives.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Learning to compare things is a huge step in making your English more expressive and useful in everyday life. Think about it: every day we compare prices at the store, decide which movie is more interesting, or talk about which friend is taller. This chapter, Making Comparisons, is your essential guide to mastering these common situations.
By the end, you'll be confidently describing if something is bigger than something else, or identifying the best option from a group.
For A2 English grammar learners, understanding how to make comparisons is key to moving beyond simple sentences. It allows you to elaborate on your thoughts, share preferences, and engage in more dynamic conversations on familiar topics. Whether you're discussing your favorite foods, describing your city, or simply choosing the fastest way to get to work, the grammar patterns we'll explore here are fundamental.
You’ll learn about adding -er or more to adjectives, using than to connect ideas, and even special forms like better or the best. This skill will unlock a whole new level of practical communication in English.

How This Grammar Works

At its heart, making comparisons in English is about showing how two or more things relate in terms of a quality. We use different patterns depending on whether we're comparing just two things, or identifying an extreme within a larger group, or even stating that two things are equal.
Let’s start with comparing two items:
When you want to say one thing has *more* of a quality than another, you use comparative adjectives. For short adjectives (usually one syllable), we add -er to the end. For example,
My coffee is hotter than yours.
For longer adjectives (two or more syllables), we use more before the adjective.
For instance,
This book is more interesting than that one.
Notice that both patterns use the word than to link the two things being compared.
Sometimes, adjectives don't follow these regular rules. These are called irregular comparatives. The most common ones are: good becomes better, bad becomes worse, and far becomes farther or further.
So, you’d say, "Today's weather is better than yesterday, not gooder."
But what if two things are exactly the same? We use the as...as pattern to show equality. You can use it with any adjective or adverb.
For example,
My car is as fast as your car,
or
The red apple is as sweet as the green one.
This pattern highlights that there's no difference in that particular quality between the two items.
Finally, when you want to identify the absolute extreme in a group of three or more items, you use superlative adjectives. For short adjectives, we add -est and always put the before it.
This is the biggest building in the city.
For longer adjectives, we use the most before the adjective.
She is the most talented singer in the class.
Just like comparatives, some superlatives are irregular. Good becomes the best, bad becomes the worst, and far becomes the farthest or the furthest. These forms are essential for expressing extremes clearly and correctly.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Using 'more' with -er adjectives.
✗ My new phone is more bigger than my old one.
✓ My new phone is bigger than my old one.
*Explanation: For short adjectives, you only add -er. Don't use 'more' with them.*
  1. 1Forgetting 'than' in comparative sentences.
✗ This movie is better the last one.
✓ This movie is better than the last one.
*Explanation: 'Than' is crucial to connect the two things you are comparing.*
  1. 1Missing 'the' before superlative adjectives.
✗ Everest is highest mountain in the world.
✓ Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
*Explanation: Always use 'the' before a superlative adjective to show it's the absolute extreme.*

Real Conversations

A

A

Hi Leo! How was your trip to the beach?
B

B

It was great! The water was warmer than I expected, and the sand was softer than the sand at our local lake.
A

A

Oh, sounds lovely! Which beach did you go to?
B

B

Brighton Beach. It’s the biggest one near my town, and I think it’s also the most beautiful.
A

A

I’m trying to decide what to order. This pasta dish looks good.
B

B

Yes, but the pizza here is usually better than the pasta. And it’s as cheap as the pasta, too!
A

A

Really? I thought the pasta was the most popular dish.
B

B

It's popular, but I think the pizza is the best choice on the menu!

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use '-er' versus 'more' for comparative adjectives?

You generally use -er for one-syllable adjectives (taller, smaller) and some two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (happier, easier). You use more for most other two-syllable adjectives and all adjectives with three or more syllables (more interesting, more expensive).

Q

Can I use 'as...as' to compare more than two things?

No, the as...as pattern is typically used to compare *two* things or people as equals. For example,

My car is as fast as your car.
If you're talking about more than two, you're usually looking for a superlative (e.g.,
This car is the fastest of all.
).

Q

What's the main difference between 'better' and 'the best'?

Better is a comparative adjective, used when comparing *two* things (

This book is better than that one
). The best is a superlative adjective, used when comparing *three or more* things and identifying the top one (
This is the best book I’ve ever read
).

Q

Do all adjectives have an '-est' or 'most' form for superlatives?

Almost all. Similar to comparatives, short adjectives usually take -est (tallest, smartest), and longer ones use most (most delicious, most important). Remember the irregular ones like best, worst, farthest/furthest!

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use comparisons constantly in daily conversation, often shortening sentences for speed. For instance, instead of
This is better than that one,
they might just say
This is better
if the context is clear. The as...as pattern can also be used humorously or sarcastically, like "He's as quiet as a rock," implying he's very quiet.
While the grammar rules are fairly consistent, pronunciation and stress on the comparative or superlative word can add emphasis.

주요 예문 (8)

1

My new phone is `faster` than my old one.

내 새 휴대폰은 옛날 휴대폰보다 더 빨라요.

비교급: -er 및 more
2

This movie is `more interesting` than the book.

이 영화는 책보다 더 흥미로워요.

비교급: -er 및 more
3

This new phone is much **better** than my old one.

이 새 휴대폰은 제 옛날 것보다 훨씬 더 좋아요.

불규칙 비교급: better, worse, more
4

The weather today is **worse** than it was yesterday; it's raining.

오늘 날씨가 어제보다 더 나빠요. 비가 오거든요.

불규칙 비교급: better, worse, more
5

My new phone is as light as a feather.

제 새 휴대폰은 깃털처럼 가벼워요.

동등 비교 (as...as)
6

The Netflix sequel isn't as good as the first season.

넷플릭스 후속작은 첫 시즌만큼 좋지 않아요.

동등 비교 (as...as)
7

Mount Everest is `the highest` mountain in the world.

에베레스트 산은 세상에서 가장 높은 산이에요.

최상급: 최고와 최악 (-est / most)
8

For me, summer is `the best` season of all.

저에게는 여름이 모든 계절 중에 최고예요.

최상급: 최고와 최악 (-est / most)

팁과 요령 (4)

💡

소리 내어 읽어보세요

-er을 쓸지 more를 쓸지 헷갈린다면 단어를 읽어보세요. tall, cold처럼 한 번에 발음되면 -er을 붙여요:
It is colder today.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 사물 비교하기 (더 큰, 더 비싼)
💡

음절 수를 세어보세요!

단어의 음절 수가 비교급을 만들 때 가장 중요한 친구예요. 한 음절 단어는 '-er', '-y'로 끝나지 않는 두 음절 이상 단어는 'more'를 붙여요!
Fast is faster, beautiful is more beautiful.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 비교급: -er 및 more
💡

자주 쓰는 표현으로 연습해요!

better than, worse than, more than을 일상 대화에서 많이 써보세요. 자꾸 쓰다 보면 입에 착 붙을 거예요. 예를 들어,
My coffee is better than yours!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 불규칙 비교급: better, worse, more
⚠️

비교급 덫 조심!

~as...as~ 사이에 '-er' 붙은 단어나 'more'를 쓰면 안 돼요. 예를 들어, 'I am as smarter as you' 대신 'I am as smart as you'라고 해야 해요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 동등 비교 (as...as)

핵심 어휘 (6)

Expensive costing a lot of money Cheap low in price Better more good Worse more bad Best the highest quality Tall high in height

Real-World Preview

shopping-cart

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Review Summary

  • A + verb + adjective-er + than + B
  • More + long adjective + than
  • Good -> Better, Bad -> Worse
  • As + adj + as
  • The + adjective-est
  • Good -> Best, Bad -> Worst

자주 하는 실수

Short adjectives take the -er suffix, not 'more'. 'More' is only for long adjectives.

Wrong: He is more tall than me.
정답: He is taller than me.

Best is already superlative; do not add 'most'.

Wrong: This is the most best cake.
정답: This is the best cake.

Use the base form of the adjective between 'as...as', not the comparative form.

Wrong: It is as better as that.
정답: It is as good as that.

Next Steps

You have mastered comparisons! Keep practicing by comparing objects in your daily life. See you in the next chapter!

Compare items in your room aloud

Continue to: The Past: States and Regular Actions

빠른 연습 (10)

비교급 형용사를 올바르게 사용한 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This book is more interesting than that movie.
'interesting'은 세 음절 단어이므로, 비교급을 만들 때 'more'를 앞에 사용해요. '-er'를 붙이거나 'more'와 '-er'를 둘 다 사용하는 것은 틀려요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 비교급: -er 및 more

문장을 완성하기 위해 올바른 최상급 형태를 선택하세요.

This is ______ movie I've ever watched!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: the most boring
'boring'은 두 음절이지만 '-ing'로 끝나기 때문에 보통 'the most'를 사용해요. 'boring'의 경우, 'the most boring'을 사용합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 최상급: 최고와 최악 (-est / most)

문장에 알맞은 불규칙 비교급 형태를 골라 넣어 보세요.

This restaurant's food is much ___ than the cafe next door.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: better
good은 불규칙 비교급 형태인 better를 가져요. gooder나 more good이라고 말하지 않아요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 불규칙 비교급: better, worse, more

올바른 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I need more sleep tonight.
more는 much 또는 many (그리고 a lot of)의 불규칙 비교급이에요. muncher는 없는 단어예요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 불규칙 비교급: better, worse, more

문장의 틀린 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

That was the badest movie of the year.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: That was the worst movie of the year.
Bad는 불규칙 형용사예요. 최상급 형태는 worst이고, badest는 틀린 표현입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 불규칙 최상급: 최고, 최악 및 기타

올바른 최상급 형태를 고르세요.

This is ___ coffee I've ever had!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: the best
Good는 불규칙 형용사이고, 최상급 형태는 best예요. the를 꼭 포함하는 것을 잊지 마세요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 불규칙 최상급: 최고, 최악 및 기타

문장을 완성하는 올바른 비교급 형태를 고르세요.

My new apartment is ___ than my old one.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bigger
'big'은 한 음절 단어이므로, 'g'를 한 번 더 쓰고 '-er'를 붙여요. 'More big'은 틀리고, 'biggest'는 최상급이에요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 비교급: -er 및 more

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고쳐 보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

The traffic was badder today than yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The traffic was worse today than yesterday.
bad의 불규칙 비교급은 badder나 more bad가 아니라 worse예요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 불규칙 비교급: better, worse, more

빈칸을 채워 비교를 완성하세요.

My cat is as ___ as yours. (lazy)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lazy
'as...as' 비교에서는 'lazy'의 기본형을 써야 하며, 비교급인 'lazier'는 쓸 수 없어요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 동등 비교 (as...as)

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the correct comparison:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The bus is as fast as the train.
올바른 구조는 'as + 형용사 + as'예요. 여기서는 'than'이나 비교급 형용사를 사용하지 않아요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 동등 비교 (as...as)

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

두 대상을 비교할 때 쓰는 말이에요. 한쪽이 다른 쪽보다 어떤 성질을 더 많이 가지고 있다는 걸 보여주죠. 예를 들어 taller는 두 사람의 키를 비교할 때 써요.
보통 한 음절로 된 짧은 단어(cold -> colder)나, y로 끝나는 두 음절 단어(happy -> happier)에 붙여요.
It is colder today.
처럼요.
두 가지 사물, 사람, 또는 행동을 비교하여 어떤 것이 특정한 특징을 더 많이 가지는지, 혹은 어떤 행동을 더 높은 정도로 하는지 보여주는 것이 주된 목적이에요. 예를 들어,
This car is faster than that one.
주로 한 음절 형용사나 부사 (예: tall → taller, fast → faster)에 '-er'를 붙여요. 또한, '-y'로 끝나는 두 음절 형용사 (예: happy → happier)에도 사용합니다.
형용사나 부사의 비교급 형태가 보통처럼 -er나 more를 붙이지 않고, 단어 자체가 완전히 바뀌는 것을 말해요. 예를 들어, good이 better가 되는 것처럼요.
good은 불규칙 형용사이기 때문이에요. 영어에서 오랜 시간 동안 비교급 형태가 다르게 발전해서, 두 가지를 비교할 때는 better라고 말하고 gooder라고 하지 않아요.
이전 챕터
Describing and Identifying Things
다음 챕터
The Past: States and Regular Actions
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