A2 · Elementary Chapter 3

Making Comparisons

6 Total Rules
68 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Chapter Guide

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.

Key Examples (8)

1

My new smartphone is much faster than my old one.

Comparing Things (bigger, more expensive)
2

This assignment is easier than I expected, thankfully!

Comparing Things (bigger, more expensive)
3

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

Comparatives: -er and more
4

This movie is `more interesting` than the book.

Comparatives: -er and more
5

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

Irregular Comparatives: better, worse, more
6

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

Irregular Comparatives: better, worse, more
7

My new phone is as light as a feather.

As...as: Comparing things as equals
8

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

As...as: Comparing things as equals

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The Syllable Clap

If you aren't sure if a word is 'short' or 'long', clap the beats. 1 clap = -er. 3 claps = more. 2 claps? Check if it ends in 'y'!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparing Things (bigger, more expensive)
💡

The 'Y' Rule

If a word ends in 'y', it almost always takes '-ier', even if it feels like a long word (e.g., 'heavy' -> 'heavier').
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparatives: -er and more
🎯

The 'Than' Rule

Always check your spelling of 'than'. Many learners write 'then' (time), but comparison always uses 'than' (with an A).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Irregular Comparatives: better, worse, more
💡

The ASAP Trick

Remember 'As Soon As Possible'. It uses the 'as...as' rule. If you can remember this phrase, you'll never forget the structure.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: As...as: Comparing things as equals

Key Vocabulary (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

Shopping for a Gift

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

Common Mistakes

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

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

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

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

Quick Practice (10)

Complete the sentence with the superlative of 'bad'.

That was the ___ movie in history!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: worst
'Worst' is the superlative of 'bad'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Irregular Superlatives: Best, Worst & More

Choose the correct answer

Jupiter is the _______ (large) planet in our solar system.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: largest
Large is a one-syllable word ending in 'e', so we add '-st'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Superlatives: The Best and the Worst (-est / most)

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the adjective in brackets.

She is as ___ (smart) as her sister.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: smart
We use the base form of the adjective in 'as...as' structures.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: As...as: Comparing things as equals

Complete the sentence with the correct word.

I am taller ___ my father.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: than
'Than' is the specific word used for comparisons in English.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparing Things (bigger, more expensive)

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

This coffee is more better than the one I had yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Remove 'more'
Better is already a comparative. You should not use 'more' with irregular comparatives.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparing Things (bigger, more expensive)

Complete the sentence.

Learning English is ___ (easy) than learning Chinese.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: easier
Words ending in -y change to -ier.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparatives: -er and more

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She is more intelligent than her brother.
'Intelligent' has 4 syllables, so it needs 'more'. We must use 'than' for comparison.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparing Things (bigger, more expensive)

Choose the correct comparative form.

This pizza is ___ than the one we had yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: better
'Good' is irregular and becomes 'better'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Irregular Comparatives: better, worse, more

Fill in the blank with the correct word.

I have many books, but my teacher has ___ books than me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: more
The comparative of 'many' is 'more'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Irregular Comparatives: better, worse, more

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

She is more intelligenter than her brother.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: more intelligenter
You cannot use 'more' and '-er' together. It should be 'more intelligent'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparatives: -er and more

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

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.
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.
No, 'more better' is always grammatically incorrect. To emphasize, use much better, far better, or a lot better.
Use worse to compare two things (This is worse than that). Use worst for three or more (This is the worst movie ever).
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The Past: States and Regular Actions
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