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The comparative form of an adjective to compare two nouns. After the comparative form, use than before the person, place, or thing you are comparing.
I'm taller than she is.*
In formal English, use the subject pronoun after than. You can use the verb as well.
I'm taller than she is. OR I'm taller than she.
In informal English, you can use the object pronoun after than.
I'm taller than her.
Be careful to always compare the same type of objects.
Lulu's name is shorter than Elenore's name.
OR
Lulu's name is shorter than Elenore's.
NOT: Lulu's name is shorter than Elenore. (You are comparing names, not people.)
Remember to add -er to form the comparative of short (one-syllable) adjectives.
(old) I'm older than my sister.
Add only -r if the adjective ends in e.
(large) The Pacific Ocean is larger than the Atlantic Ocean.
When a one-syllable adjective ends in a consonant, vowel, and consonant, double the last consonant and add -er.
(thin) Elenore is thinner than Lulu.
(hot) The juice was hotter than the soup.
To form the comparative of most adjectives of two or more syllables, add more before the adjective and than before the person or thing you are comparing.
(talkative) He is more talkative than his brother.
(famous) Today Michael Douglas is more famous than his father, Kirk Douglas.
Note: Don't use more to form the comparative of two-syllable adjectives that end in -y. Instead, change the y to i and add -er.
(busy) We are busier than they are.
(funny) The old show was funnier than the new one.
Note these exceptions to the preceding notes.
Tired and bored are one-syllable adjectives that follow the pattern of long adjectives.
Today I'm more tired than I was yesterday.
The children were more bored than the adults.
Quiet and simple are two-syllable adjectives that follow the pattern of one-syllable adjectives.
He's quieter than his sister.
This lesson is simpler than the other lesson.
Less is the opposite of more.
A car is more expensive than a bicycle.
A bicycle is less expensive than a car.
Note: We usually use not as adjective as for such comparisons.
A bicycle is not as expensive as a car.
The adjectives good, bad, and far have irregular comparative forms:
good -> better
bad -> worse
far -> farther
Use much to make a comparison stronger.
I am much taller than you are.
This book is much more interesting than that other book.
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