Comparative 1 — cheaper, more expensive…
-er · more … · better · worse · further — Complete Guide
Comparatif 1 — cheaper, more expensive…
-er · more … · better · worse · further — Guide Complet
Master how to form comparative adjectives and adverbs: -er for short words, more … for longer ones, and key irregular forms: better, worse, further.
Maîtrisez la formation des adjectifs et adverbes comparatifs : -er pour les mots courts, more … pour les mots longs, et les formes irrégulières : better, worse, further.
Comparative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare two things. We say something is cheaper, more expensive, faster or more comfortable. After comparatives, you can use than: It’s cheaper to drive than go by train. The big question is: when do you add -er and when do you use more? The answer depends on the number of syllables.
Les adjectifs et adverbes comparatifs servent à comparer deux choses. On dit que quelque chose est cheaper (moins cher), more expensive (plus cher), faster (plus rapide) ou more comfortable (plus confortable). Après les comparatifs, on peut utiliser than : It’s cheaper to drive than go by train. La grande question est : quand ajoute-t-on -er et quand utilise-t-on more ? La réponse dépend du nombre de syllabes.
Introduction — The Two Comparative Forms
Introduction — Les Deux Formes du Comparatif
There are two ways to form a comparative in English: add -er to the adjective/adverb, or put more in front of it. You can follow the comparison with than.
Il existe deux façons de former un comparatif en anglais : ajouter -er à l’adjectif/adverbe, ou mettre more devant. On peut faire suivre la comparaison de than.
-er form
Forme en -er
more … form
Forme en more …
expensive → more expensive · reliable → more reliable
It’s cheaper to drive than go by train.
Going by train is more expensive than driving. cheap → cheaper · fast → faster · large → larger
expensive → more expensive · reliable → more reliable
It’s cheaper to drive than go by train.
Going by train is more expensive than driving.
When to Use -er — Short Words and -y Words
Quand Utiliser -er — Mots Courts et Mots en -y
Use -er for one-syllable words, and for two-syllable words ending in -y (change -y to -ier).
Utilisez -er pour les mots d’une syllabe, et pour les mots de deux syllabes terminés par -y (changez -y en -ier).
One-syllable → add -er
Une syllabe → ajouter -er
Two syllables ending in -y → -ier
Deux syllabes en -y → -ier
When to Use more … — Long Words and -ly Adverbs
Quand Utiliser more … — Mots Longs et Adverbes en -ly
Use more … for adjectives of two syllables or more (that don’t end in -y), and for adverbs ending in -ly.
Utilisez more … pour les adjectifs de deux syllabes ou plus (qui ne se terminent pas par -y), et pour les adverbes en -ly.
Long adjectives (2+ syllables)
Adjectifs longs (2+ syllabes)
Adverbs ending in -ly
Adverbes en -ly
Irregular Comparatives — better, worse, further
Comparatifs Irréguliers — better, worse, further
A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative forms that must be memorised.
Quelques adjectifs et adverbes ont des formes comparatives irrégulières qu’il faut mémoriser.
The garden looks better since you tidied it up.
I know him well — probably better than anybody else knows him.
The garden looks better since you tidied it up.
I know him well — probably better than anybody else knows him.
bad / badly → worse
‘How’s your headache? Better?’ ‘No, it’s worse.’
He did very badly in the exam — worse than expected.
‘How’s your headache? Better?’ ‘No, it’s worse.’
He did very badly in the exam — worse than expected.
far → further (or farther for distance)(ou farther pour la distance)
It’s a long walk to the park — further than I thought.
Note: further also means ‘more / additional’: Let me know if you hear any further news. It’s a long walk to the park — further than I thought.
Note : further signifie aussi ‘supplémentaire/additionnel’ : Let me know if you hear any further news.
Write the comparative form of each word.
Écrivez la forme comparative de chaque mot.
Complete the sentences using a comparative form. Use than where necessary.
Complétez les phrases avec un comparatif. Utilisez than si nécessaire.
Complete using comparative forms from the box. Use than where necessary.
Complétez avec les formes comparatives de l’encadré. Utilisez than si nécessaire.
big · early · high · important · interested · peaceful · reliable · serious · slowly · thin
big · early · high · important · interested · peaceful · reliable · serious · slowly · thin
Read the situation and complete the sentence using a comparative.
Lisez la situation et complétez la phrase avec un comparatif.
Frequently Asked Questions — Comparative 1
Questions fréquentes — Comparatif 1
Count the syllables. One syllable → -er (cheap → cheaper). Two syllables ending in -y → -ier (easy → easier). Two syllables or more (not -y) → more (serious → more serious). For adverbs ending in -ly → always more (slowly → more slowly).
Comptez les syllabes. Une syllabe → -er (cheap → cheaper). Deux syllabes en -y → -ier (easy → easier). Deux syllabes ou plus (pas en -y) → more (serious → more serious). Pour les adverbes en -ly → toujours more (slowly → more slowly).
No — these are WRONG. Good/well has the irregular comparative better. Bad/badly → worse. Never add more to these forms. ✗ more better, more worse, more good, more bad. ✓ better, worse.
Non — ce sont des ERREURS. Good/well a le comparatif irrégulier better. Bad/badly → worse. N’ajoutez jamais more à ces formes. ✗ more better, more worse, more good, more bad. ✓ better, worse.
Both are comparatives of far. For physical distance, both are acceptable: It’s further/farther than I thought. However, only further (not farther) can mean ‘additional/more’: Do you have any further questions?
Les deux sont des comparatifs de far. Pour la distance physique, les deux sont acceptables : It’s further/farther than I thought. Cependant, seul further (et non farther) peut signifier ‘supplémentaire/additionnel’ : Do you have any further questions?
When a one-syllable adjective ends in one vowel + one consonant, you double the final consonant before adding -er: big → bigger, thin → thinner, hot → hotter, fat → fatter. This rule only applies when there is a single vowel before the final consonant.
Quand un adjectif d’une syllabe se termine par une voyelle + une consonne, on double la consonne finale avant d’ajouter -er : big → bigger, thin → thinner, hot → hotter, fat → fatter. Cette règle ne s’applique que quand il y a une seule voyelle avant la consonne finale.
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