Using Comparative Adjectives in English Grammar

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things or people, highlighting their similarities or differences. In this guide, we will discuss the proper usage of comparative adjectives in English grammar.

Comparative structures for similarities

A. Using ‘as … as’ with a normal adjective

• John is as tall as Luke (= they are the same height).
• The red shirt is as expensive as the blue shirt (= they are the same price).

B. Using ‘not as … as’ to indicate dissimilarity

• Lucy is not as tall as Helena (= Helena is taller than Lucy).
• Paris is not as big as London (= London is bigger than Paris).

Comparative structures for differences

A. Using a comparative adjective with ‘than’

• France is bigger than Scotland.
• Luke is taller than Lucy.
• Your book is more interesting than my book.

B. Modifying comparisons with adverbs

1. Making the comparison stronger
   • Canada is far bigger than Scotland.
   • Your book is much more interesting than my book.
   • Amanda is a lot younger than Julie.
2. Making the comparison less strong
   • This exercise is a little more difficult than that exercise.

C. Using ‘less … than’ to show lesser degree

• Scotland is less big than France.
• Lucy is less tall than Luke.
• My book is less interesting than your book.

D. Showing change with ‘comparative and comparative’ or ‘more and more adjective’

• That child is getting taller and taller.
• The climate is getting hotter and hotter.
• This city is becoming more and more crowded.

Practice Questions

1. Write a sentence comparing the intelligence of two animals using ‘as … as’.
2. Write a sentence comparing the beauty of two places using ‘not as … as’.
3. Write a sentence comparing the weight of two objects using a comparative adjective with ‘than’.
4. Write a sentence comparing the spiciness of two dishes, making the comparison less strong.
5. Write a sentence showing change in the popularity of a TV show using ‘more and more adjective’.
6. Write a sentence comparing the busyness of two streets using ‘less … than’.
7. Write a sentence comparing the loudness of two sounds using a comparative adjective with ‘than’.
8. Write a sentence comparing the cleanliness of two rooms, making the comparison stronger.
9. Write a sentence showing change in the level of pollution in a city using ‘more and more adjective’.
10. Write a sentence comparing the heights of two buildings using ‘as … as’.

Answers:

1. The dolphin is as intelligent as the chimpanzee.
2. The desert is not as beautiful as the tropical rainforest.
3. The iron bar is heavier than the wooden plank.
4. The curry is a little spicier than the soup.
5. The TV show is becoming more and more popular.
6. The side street is less busy than the main road.
7. The thunder is louder than the rain.
8. The kitchen is much cleaner than the garage.
9. The city is becoming more and more polluted.
10. The Empire State Building is as tall as the Willis Tower.

Practice Questions:

1. The cat is _____ as the dog. ( fast)
2. The bicycle is _____ the motorcycle. (inexpensive)
3. The elephant is _____ the mouse. (heavy)
4. This coffee is _____ the other one. ( not bitter)
5. The traffic in the city is becoming _____ . (congested)
6. This road is _____ the highway. (less crowd)
7. Mount Everest is _____ Mount Kilimanjaro. (tall)
8. The countryside is _____ the city. (peaceful)
9. The days are becoming _____ as summer approaches. (long)
10. The two books are _____ in terms of their content. ( informative)

Answers:

1. as fast as
2. not as expensive as
3. heavier than
4. a bit less bitter than
5. more and more congested
6. less crowded than
7. taller than
8. much more peaceful than
9. longer and longer
10. as informative as