Language and Grammar, continued

Use Adjectives That Compare

  • 1 TRY OUT LANGUAGE

  • 2 LEARN GRAMMAR

  • 3 APPLY ON YOUR OWN

Use a comparative adjective to compare two people, places, or things.

EXAMPLESThe tiger is fast, but the cheetah is faster.

The tiger is more powerful than a house cat.

There are two ways to turn an adjective into a comparative adjective:

1. If the adjective has one syllable, add -er.
greencoldlargeheavy
greenercolderlargerheavier
If it ends in silent e, drop the e. Then add -er.The tiger is larger than the house cat.
If it ends in y, change the y to i before you add -er.The lion is heavy, but the tiger is heavier.
2. If the adjective has three or more syllables, use more before the adjective.
curiousthreatening
more curiousmore threatening
Many cats are curious, but our cat Fluffy is more curious than most.

If an adjective has two syllables, sometimes you can use either form.

EXAMPLESfriendlyfearless
friendlier or more friendlymore fearless

Practice Together

Change the adjective in the box to a comparative adjective. Say it. Then say the sentence with the comparative adjective.

1. colorfulThe tiger is colorful, but the parrot is ______.
2. heavyThe rhinoceros is ______ than the tiger.
3. fastThe cheetah is ______ than the tiger.
4. dangerousA tiger is ______ than a cheetah.
5. sensitiveA cat’s hearing is ______ than a dog’s hearing.
A cheetah is faster than a tiger.

A cheetah is faster than a tiger.

Try It!

Change the adjective in the box to a comparative adjective. Write it on a card. Then say the sentence and add the comparative adjective.

6. interestedI am ______ in learning about tigers than cows.
7. cuddlyI think my cat is ______ than your cat.
8. smallYour cat is small, but my hamster is ______.
9. prettyMy cat’s eyes are ______ than my dog’s eyes.
10. softMy cat’s fur is ______ than my pillow.