Level: elementary
FORM
To make comparative adjectives:
For most adjectives with 2 syllables use more + adjective:
- This smartphone is more modern than my old one.
- This singer is more famous.
For adjectives with 3 or 4 syllables we always use more + adjective:
- This car is more expensive than that one.
- This book is more interesting.
Exercise 1. Use the information to complete the sentences.
Use the adjectives: near expensive warm valuable long popular
Example: Madrid is warmer than London.
- The Regal /ˈriː.ɡəl/ Hotel _____________________ the Park Hotel.
- In the UK, coffee _____________________.
- Heathrow Airport _____________________.
- The Toyota Prius _____________________.
- Sunflowers by Van Gogh /vænˈɡoʊ/ _____________________ Nympeas (Water Lilies) by Monet /moʊˈneɪ/.
Exercise 2. Make the sentences true.
- It’s warmer in London than in Madrid.
- It’s colder in Rome than in Moscow.
- A car is faster than a jet plane.
- A cheetah is slower than a tortoise.
- Five-star hotels are cheaper than four-star hotels.
- Bicycles are more expensive than cars.
- The Pacific Ocean is smaller than the Atlantic Ocean.
- A boat is bigger than a ship.
Exercise 3. Answer the questions.
- Which city is bigger: Tokyo or Helsinki?
- Which country is smaller: Canada or France?
- Which animal is more dangerous: a horse or a lion?
- Which is more useful: a computer or a coffee machine?
- Which do you like more: coffee or tea / cake or ice cream / summer or winter / cats or dogs?
Exercise 4. Compare the things/people/animals/buildings.
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES
Some comparative adjectives are irregular:
- My exam results are worse than yours.
- The Chinese restaurant is nice, but I think the food is better in the Italian one.
- The flight to New York is longer because it’s further.
- Tom is better (healthier) than he was before.
LESS
The opposite of more is less. We can use less with adjectives with 2 or more syllables:
- Silver is less expensive than gold.
- She is less famous than her sister.
We don’t use less with adjectives with only 1 syllable:
- My mother is younger than my father.
- This building is lower than that one.
Exercise 5. Complete the conversation with the correct words and phrases.
Use the adjectives: better easier further more expensive nicer worse
A: Where shall we eat tonight? The Indian restaurant?
B: No, I think the Chinese place is _____________________.
A: I’m not sure. It’s _____________________ and I don’t have much money.
B: Well, we can try the Italian place. It isn’t expensive, and it’s very nice.
A: Yes, I know it’s nice, but the Italian restaurant is _____________________.
B: But it’s not very close to us. It’s _____________________ than the Italian restaurant – on the other side of town. What about the burger place near the library?
A: Oh, no. That place is terrible. It’s _____________________ than the others in every way!
B: It’s really difficult to decide! I know – let’s stay at home and phone for a pizza.
A: Great. That’s _____________________ than going out. We can eat in front of the TV and watch a DVD.
Exercise 6. Answer the questions. Give your reasons.
- Which is better: eating out or eating in?
- Which is easier: living in a city or in the countryside?
- Which is more convenient: paying with cash or paying by credit card?
- Which is more exciting: reading a book or watching a film?
- Which is less interesting: going on a picnic or going fishing?
- Who is less famous in your country: Madonna or Jennifer Lopez?
- Which is tastier and which is healthier: hamburger or sushi?
- Which is less difficult: study or work?
- Which is less expensive: going to holiday by plane or by train?
- Which is better: a holiday by the sea or in the mountains?
