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Unit 87 · Adjectives and adverbs

old/older expensive/more expensive

Study

A

Older / heavier / more expensive are comparative forms. The comparative is -er (older) or more ... (more expensive).

B

older/heavier etc.

Short words (1 syllable) → -er:

old → older cheap → cheaper
slow → slower big → bigger
nice → nicer thin → thinner
late → later hot → hotter

Spelling (→ Appendix 5): big → bigger

Words ending in -y → -ier:

easy → easier
heavy → heavier
early → earlier
›

Rome is old, but Athens is older. (not more old)

›

Is it cheaper to go by car or by train? (not more cheap)

›

Helen wants a bigger car.

›

This coat is OK, but I think the other one is nicer.

›

Don't take the bus. It's easier to take a taxi. (not more easy)

far → further:

›

A: How far is it to the station? A mile? B: No, it's further. About two miles.

C

more ...

Long words (2/3/4 syllables) → more ...:

careful → more careful polite → more polite
expensive → more expensive interesting → more interesting
›

You must be more careful.

›

I don't like my job. I want to do something more interesting.

›

Is it more expensive to go by car or by train?

D

good/well → better bad → worse

›

The weather wasn't very good yesterday, but it's better today.

›

'Do you feel better today?' 'No, I feel worse.'

›

Which is worse – a headache or a toothache?

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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87.1

Look at the pictures and write the comparative (older / more interesting etc.).

  1. 1A small light bag beside a heavier bag
    heavy example
  2. 2A small house beside a bigger house
    big
  3. 3A slow tractor beside a fast car
    slow
  4. 4A cheap watch beside an expensive watch
    expensive
  5. 5A low building beside a tall building
    high
  6. 6A safe scene beside a dangerous scene
    dangerous
87.2

Write the comparative.

  1. 1
    old example
  2. 2
    strong
  3. 3
    happy
  4. 4
    modern
  5. 5
    important
  6. 6
    good
  7. 7
    large
  8. 8
    serious
  9. 9
    pretty
  10. 10
    crowded
87.3

Write the opposite.

  1. 1
    younger example
  2. 2
    colder
  3. 3
    cheaper
  4. 4
    better
  5. 5
    nearer
  6. 6
    easier
87.4

Complete the sentences. Use a comparative.

  1. 1
    Helen's car isn't very big. She wants a one.example
  2. 2
    My job isn't very interesting. I want to do something .
  3. 3
    You're not very tall. Your brother is .
  4. 4
    David doesn't work very hard. I work .
  5. 5
    My chair isn't very comfortable. Yours is .
  6. 6
    Your idea isn't very good. My idea is .
  7. 7
    These flowers aren't very nice. The blue ones are .
  8. 8
    My bag isn't very heavy. Your bag is .
  9. 9
    I'm not very interested in art. I'm in history.
  10. 10
    It isn't very warm today. It was yesterday.
  11. 11
    These tomatoes don't taste very good. The other ones tasted .
  12. 12
    Britain isn't very big. France is .
  13. 13
    London isn't very beautiful. Paris is .
  14. 14
    This knife isn't very sharp. Have you got a one?
  15. 15
    People today aren't very polite. In the past they were .
  16. 16
    The weather isn't too bad today. Often it is much .