When we want to buy new clothes or visit a place, we usually make comparisons to choose the one that gives us more advantages. Comparisons are part of our everyday life. Even when we talk about people, we sometimes compare them.
So, let's see some examples:
Conversation 1
Mariana
Giselle
Hey! I have my new playlist to study together.
I think it has two or three different bands. Why don't we use mine? It's more versatile and more up-to-date.
Giselle
Ok, you win
Conversation 2
Dad
Family… It's time to plan our next vacation
Why don't we go to a town?
Bro
A town? R U CRAZY? It' boring! A beach is more enjoyable?
Sis
Yeeeeeees! My bikini is ready!
Mum
but… it's more expensive and hotter than a town. Cuernavaca is not a beach, but we can go there, visit the family and swim at your auntie's house. There's a big pool there.
Dad
And it's funnier than Acapulco.
Conversation 3
Gaby
Alex, where R U?
Sorry, I'm still at home. And Mr. Espejel is always late.
Gaby
Mr. Espejel is not our teacher anymore! We have a new teacher… Mrs. Pacheco.
Whaaaat???
Gaby
And she is more hardworking than Mr. Espejel.
Tell me more about her. Is she nice, patient, cool?
Gaby
Well, she is more patient and nicer than Mr. Espejel, but he is funnier. I think both are good teachers, different styles but good teachers.
Do you think it is Ok if I come in? I'm outside.
Gaby
Sure! She's very cool!
How to make comparisons:
We use comparative adjectives when talking about two people, two things or two places. If we have a short adjective like long, nice, quiet, clean, safe, etc. we add -er. For that, you need to follow the following rules:
So, let's see some examples:
| One-syllable adjectives | Add -er | clean - cleaner tall - taller small - smaller |
cheaper nearer |
| One-syllable adjectives ending in “E” | Add -r | safe - safer strange - stranger |
|
| One syllable Consonant + Vowel+ Consonant (CVC) | Double the consonant and add -er | big - bigger | hotter |
| Adjective ending in “Y” | Change the “y” to “i” and add -er | happy - happier lazy - lazier friendly - friendlier |
funnier |
| Two or more syllables | Use “more” and the adjective | more difficult more dangerous more popular |
more elegant more expensive more exciting more patient more punctual |
Imagine that you are reading an online newspaper about what people prefer in different contexts. Use the words in brackets to complete the ideas.
Imagine that you want to post a survey on Facebook to know the reason people prefer taking online classes or going to school. Complete the sentences of the survey with the correct comparative.
Students and teachers prefer going to school than taking online classes because...