Unit 24 — Comparing Things | Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

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We compare things when we choose what to buy, decide where to go, or explain what we think. We often compare size, speed, price, quality and quantity.

This car is cheaper than that one.
The blue bag is more expensive than the black one.
This is the most comfortable chair in the shop.

Work through the steps in order. In each scored exercise, select Check answers for feedback on each answer. Use Show answers whenever you need help, even if every answer is wrong.

Step 1

Comparing familiar things

We usually add -er to short adjectives and use more with many longer adjectives. Some forms are irregular.

Short adjectives

small → smaller
fast → faster
cheap → cheaper

Longer adjectives

comfortable → more comfortable
expensive → more expensive
economical → more economical

Irregular forms

good → better
bad → worse
far → farther/further

A train is usually faster than a bus. This bag is cheaper than that one. The new chair is more comfortable than the old chair.

Choose the correct comparison

Choose the sentence that uses the adjective correctly.

1. The road has more space from one side to the other.

2. The train has better seats and more space.

3. The food in this restaurant is of a higher quality.

4. My new phone costs less money.

Step 2

Choose the right form

Here are some common adjective forms. Notice spelling changes such as big → bigger and easy → easier.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
cheap	cheaper	the cheapest
big	bigger	the biggest
easy	easier	the easiest
good	better	the best
bad	worse	the worst
expensive	more expensive	the most expensive
comfortable	more comfortable	the most comfortable

Complete the sentences

Type the missing comparative or superlative form. Include the where it is needed.

1. This room is ______ than the one upstairs. (big)

2. The second exercise is ______ than the first. (easy)

3. That was ______ meal I've had all week. (bad)

4. This model is ______ than the basic one. (expensive)

5. Of these three chairs, this one is ______. (comfortable)

6. I think your idea is ______ than mine. (good)

Step 3

Fewer problems, less trouble

Use fewer with plural countable nouns, such as cars, mistakes and problems. Use less with uncountable nouns, such as time, money, petrol and trouble.

Countable

There are fewer problems with this model.

We made fewer mistakes this time.

Uncountable

This car uses less petrol.

We had less trouble with the new machine.

Compare the meaning:
a few problems = some problems; few problems = hardly any problems.
a little time = some time; little time = hardly any time.
fewer and less are comparative forms.

Choose the correct word

1. The newer cars have ______ mechanical problems.

2. This engine uses ______ petrol than the old one.

3. I made ______ mistakes in my second letter.

4. We had ______ trouble finding the address than we expected.

5. We still have ______ questions to ask.

6. There is ______ time left, so we must hurry.

Step 4

As … as and not as … as

Use as + adjective + as to say that two things are equal in a particular way. Use not as + adjective + as to say they are not equal.

The blue car is as fast as the red car.
The red car is not as cheap as the blue car.
This room is not as comfortable as the other one.

After as or not as, use the adjective's basic form: as fast as, not as faster as.

Complete each sentence

Type the missing words.

1. Ben is 180 cm tall and Alex is also 180 cm tall. Ben is ______ Alex.

2. The blue coat costs £60; the red coat costs £90. The blue coat is ______ the red coat.

3. Both tests were equally difficult. The second test was ______ the first.

4. My car is newer than yours. My car is ______ yours.

Step 5

Which is the best?

We use a superlative to compare one person or thing with a whole group: the cheapest, the fastest, the most comfortable, the best.

Of the three cars, the blue one is the cheapest.
This is the most comfortable hotel in the town.
That was the best meal of our holiday.

Choose the best form

1. Of all the trains, this one is ______.

2. This is ______ restaurant in the city.

3. Of the four suggestions, yours is ______.

4. This is ______ way to get to the station.

Step 6

Two letters about Japanese and English cars

Two car-company managers disagree about the quality of their cars. Complete the letters with the correct form of an adjective from the word list. Each gap has a number; the word list uses letters, so the two systems are easy to distinguish. Some adjectives are used more than once.

(a) good

(b) safe

(c) economical

(d) small

(e) cheap

(f) great

(g) comprehensive

(h) accurate

(i) fast

(j) comfortable

(k) little

(l) few

Koyoko Car Company, Saitama, Japan

Dear Mr Austin,

I have just read your recent advertisement in The Times, and I wish to correct your description of Japanese cars.

I am happy to tell you that Japanese cars are [1] (a) than English cars in every way.

Firstly, they are [2] (b) than English cars. Your advertisement wrongly claimed that English cars were as [3] (b) as Japanese cars.

Secondly, our cars are more [4] (c) than yours. They are [5] (d) than yours and use less petrol.

Finally, our cars are [6] (e) than yours, so our sales are much [7] (f) than yours. Also, our after-sales service is much [8] (g) than yours. Your guarantee is not as [9] (g) as ours.

I hope your next advertisement will be more [10] (h) than your last one.

Yours sincerely,
Mr Eiji Fujita, Sales Manager

Power Car Company, Brighton, England

Dear Mr Fujita,

What you say about Japanese cars is partly true, but they are not as [11] (a) as English cars in every way.

Firstly, English cars are [12] (i) than Japanese ones. Also, they are more [13] (j) than Japanese cars.

Secondly, they give [14] (k) trouble, so they do not need much after-sales service. Our customers have [15] (l) problems than yours.

Finally, English cars are just as good as yours. If you don't believe me, buy the new Power 2000 and see for yourself.

I enclose an order form and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
James Austin, Marketing Manager

The two managers make confident claims about their own cars. The exercise tests the language of comparison, not whether their claims are true.

Step 7

How about you?

Choose two things you know well. Compare them and explain which you prefer. You could compare two towns, two phones, two restaurants, two sports or two ways of travelling.

Useful beginnings

… is cheaper than …
… is not as convenient as …
… is more interesting than …
Of the two, I prefer … because …
For me, the best … is …

Write your comparison

Self-check

I have used at least one comparative adjective correctly.

I have used less with an uncountable noun or fewer with a plural countable noun, if appropriate.

I have used a superlative correctly, if I wanted to compare something with a whole group.

This is your own writing, so there is no single correct answer. Check that your comparisons make sense and that you have used the correct adjective forms.