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Unit 105 · Adjectives and adverbs

Comparative 1 (cheaper, more expensive etc.)

Study

A

Look at these examples:

How shall we travel? Shall we drive or go by train?

Let's drive. It's cheaper. Don't go by train. It's more expensive.

Cheaper and more expensive are comparative forms.

After comparatives you can use than (see Unit 107):

›

It's cheaper to drive than go by train.

›

Going by train is more expensive than driving.

B

The comparative form is -er or more … .

We use -er for short words (one syllable):

cheap → cheaper fast → faster
large → larger thin → thinner

We also use -er for two-syllable words that end in -y (-y → -ier):

lucky → luckier early → earlier
easy → easier pretty → prettier

For spelling, see Appendix 6.

We use more … for longer words (two syllables or more):

more serious more expensive
more often more comfortable

We also use more … for adverbs that end in -ly:

more slowly more seriously
more easily more quietly

Compare these examples:

You're **older** than me. You're **more patient** than me.
The exam was quite easy – **easier** than I expected. The exam was quite difficult – **more difficult** than I expected.
Can you walk a bit **faster**? Can you walk a bit **more slowly**?
I'd like to have a **bigger** car. I'd like to have a **more reliable** car.
Last night I went to bed **earlier** than usual. I don't play tennis much these days. I used to play **more often**.

We use both -er or more … with some two-syllable adjectives, especially:

clever narrow quiet shallow simple
›

It's too noisy here. Can we go somewhere quieter? or … somewhere more quiet?

C

A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative forms:

good/well → better

›

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.

far → further (or farther)

›

It's a long walk from here to the park – further than I thought. (or farther than)

Note that further (but not farther) also means 'more' or 'additional':

›

Let me know if you hear any further news. (= any more news)

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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105.1

Complete the sentences using a comparative form (older / more important etc.).

  1. 1
    This restaurant is very expensive. Let's go somewhere .example
  2. 2
    This coffee is very weak. I like it .
  3. 3
    The town was surprisingly big. I expected it to be .
  4. 4
    The hotel was surprisingly cheap. I expected it to be .
  5. 5
    The weather is too cold here. I'd like to live somewhere .
  6. 6
    Sometimes my job is a bit boring. I'd like to do something .
  7. 7
    It's a shame you live so far away. I wish you lived .
  8. 8
    It was quite easy to find a place to live. I thought it would be .
  9. 9
    Your work isn't very good. I'm sure you can do .
  10. 10
    Don't worry. The situation isn't so bad. It could be .
  11. 11
    You hardly ever call me. Why don't you call me ?
  12. 12
    You're too near the camera. Can you move a bit away?
105.2

Complete the sentences. Use the comparative forms of the words in the box. Use than where necessary.

bigearlyhighimportantinterestedpeacefulreliableseriousslowlythin
  1. 1
    I was feeling tired last night, so I went to bed usual.example
  2. 2
    I'd like to have a car. The one I have keeps breaking down.
  3. 3
    Unfortunately the problem was we thought at first.
  4. 4
    You look . Have you lost weight?
  5. 5
    We don't have enough space here. We need a apartment.
  6. 6
    James doesn't study very hard. He's in having a good time.
  7. 7
    Health and happiness are money.
  8. 8
    I like living in the country. It's living in a town.
  9. 9
    I'm sorry I don't understand. Can you speak , please?
  10. 10
    In some parts of the country, prices are in others.
105.3

Complete the sentences. Choose from:

thanmoreworsequietlylongerbettercarefulfrequent
  1. 1
    Getting a visa was complicated. It took I expected.example
  2. 2
    Sorry about my mistake. I'll try and be more in future.
  3. 3
    Your English has improved. It's than it was.
  4. 4
    You can travel by bus or by train. The buses are more than the trains.
  5. 5
    You can't always have things immediately. You have to be patient.
  6. 6
    I'm a pessimist. I always think things are going to get .
  7. 7
    We were busier usual in the office today. It's not usually so busy.
  8. 8
    You're talking very loudly. Can you speak more ?
105.4

Read the situations and complete the sentences. Use a comparative form (-er or more …).

  1. 1
    Yesterday the temperature was six degrees. Today it's only three degrees.
    It's it was yesterday.example
  2. 2
    Dan and I went for a run. I ran ten kilometres. Dan stopped after eight kilometres.
    I ran Dan.
  3. 3
    The journey takes four hours by car and five hours by train.
    The journey takes train car.
  4. 4
    I expected my friends to arrive at about 4 o'clock. In fact they arrived at 2.30.
    My friends arrived I expected.
  5. 5
    There is always a lot of traffic here, but today the traffic is really bad.
    The traffic today is usual.