Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 87 · A2

old/older, expensive / more expensive

The comparative compares two things. Short words add -er (older, cheaper); longer words take more (more expensive). Good and bad are irregular: better and worse.

Start the lesson

21Steps · about 37 minutes

In this lesson

What a comparative isA1 screen of questions
-er (older, heavier etc.)B1 screen of questions
more ... (more careful, more expensive etc.)C1 screen of questions
good/well → better, bad → worseD1 screen of questions
Put it together+11 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

What a comparative is

Arthur is 88. His wife Joan is 90. Joan is older.

One suitcase weighs 15 kilos and the other weighs 23 kilos. The second one is heavier.

One coat costs £60 and the other costs £95. The second one is more expensive.

Older, heavier and more expensive compare two things. These are comparatives, and they come in two shapes: an -er ending (older) or more in front (more expensive).

  • Joan is older than Arthur.
  • The red suitcase is heavier.
  • The grey coat is more expensive.

Point A · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with the comparative of the adjective in brackets.

  1. My dad is 50 and my mum is 52. My mum is . (old)

  2. This bag weighs 8 kilos and that one weighs 12. That one is . (heavy)

  3. The black shoes cost £40 and the brown ones cost £70. The brown ones are . (expensive)

Point B of 4

-er (older, heavier etc.)

Short words (one syllable) take -er:

adjective comparative
old older
slow slower
cheap cheaper
nice nicer
late later

Spelling: one vowel + one consonant at the end doubles the consonant: big → bigger, hot → hotter, thin → thinner.

Words ending in -y become -ier: easy → easier, heavy → heavier, early → earlier.

far → further

  • My brother is young, but my sister is younger. (not 'more young')
  • Is it cheaper to get the bus or the train? (not 'more cheap')
  • Kirsty wants a bigger garden.
  • This jumper is all right, but I think the blue one is nicer.
  • Don't send an email. It's easier to ring them. (not 'more easy')
  • "Is the station a mile from here?" "No, it's further. About three miles."

Point B · Extra practice

Write the -er form of the adjective in brackets.

  1. Can we have a table? This one is too small. (big)

  2. It's to walk than to wait for the bus. (quick)

  3. The second test was than the first. (easy)

Point C of 4

more ... (more careful, more expensive etc.)

Longer words (two, three or four syllables) take more:

adjective comparative
careful more careful
polite more polite
expensive more expensive
interesting more interesting
  • You need to be more careful with your money.
  • My job is boring. I'd like to do something more interesting.
  • Is it more expensive to fly or to take the train?

Point C · Extra practice

Write more and the adjective in brackets.

  1. You need to be with that knife. (careful)

  2. I find history than maths. (interesting)

  3. Children are often than adults. (honest)

Point D of 4

good/well → better, bad → worse

These comparatives are irregular:

comparative
good / well better
bad worse
  • The weather wasn't very good on Monday, but it's better today.
  • "Are you feeling better?" "No, I'm worse, if anything."
  • Which is worse, a cold or a sore throat?

Point D · Extra practice

Put in better or worse.

  1. I was ill yesterday, but I feel today.

  2. The traffic is bad today, but it was yesterday.

  3. Your English is getting every week.

Put it together · Exercise 87.1 · part 1 of 2

Read each scene and write the comparative of the adjective (taller, more difficult etc.).

  1. Example

    Two brothers stand back to back. One is 1.70 metres and the other is 1.85 metres.

    tall: taller

    Answertaller

  2. There are two slices of bread on a board. One is very thick and the other is very thin.

    thin:

  3. A bike and a sports car are on the same road. The car is far in front.

    fast:

  4. There is a hard wooden chair next to a big, soft sofa.

    comfortable:

  5. There are two pencils on a desk. One is new and the other is very short.

    long:

Put it together · Exercise 87.1 · part 2 of 2

Read each scene and write the comparative of the adjective (taller, more difficult etc.).

  1. There are two crosswords. One is for children and the other says 'Experts only'.

    difficult:

Put it together · Exercise 87.2 · part 1 of 3

Write the comparative.

  1. Example

    young: younger

    Answeryounger

  2. warm:

  3. busy:

  4. famous:

  5. dangerous:

Put it together · Exercise 87.2 · part 2 of 3

Write the comparative.

  1. bad:

  2. nice:

  3. boring:

  4. funny:

Put it together · Exercise 87.2 · part 3 of 3

Write the comparative.

  1. tired:

Put it together · Exercise 87.3 · part 1 of 2

Write the opposite.

  1. Example

    smaller: bigger

    Answerbigger

  2. slower:

  3. more interesting:

  4. worse:

  5. further:

Put it together · Exercise 87.3 · part 2 of 2

Write the opposite.

  1. darker:

Put it together · Exercise 87.4 · part 1 of 4

Complete the sentences. Use a comparative.

  1. Example

    Our flat isn't very big. We want a bigger one.

    AnswerOur flat isn't very big. We want a bigger one.

  2. Example

    This book isn't very interesting. I'd like to read something more interesting.

    AnswerThis book isn't very interesting. I'd like to read something more interesting.

  3. I'm not very old. My sister is .

  4. Callum doesn't drive very carefully. I drive .

  5. This sofa isn't very comfortable. Our old one was .

  6. The weather isn't very good today. The forecast says tomorrow will be .

Put it together · Exercise 87.4 · part 2 of 4

Complete the sentences. Use a comparative.

  1. These shoes aren't very cheap. The ones in the market are .

  2. My coat isn't very warm. Your coat is .

  3. I'm not very interested in football. I'm in rugby.

  4. It isn't very busy in town today. It was last Saturday.

Put it together · Exercise 87.4 · part 3 of 4

Complete the sentences. Use a comparative.

  1. This pizza doesn't taste very nice. The one we had last week tasted .

  2. Cardiff isn't very big. London is .

  3. Leeds isn't very quiet. York is .

  4. These scissors aren't very sharp. Have you got any ones?

Put it together · Exercise 87.4 · part 4 of 4

Complete the sentences. Use a comparative.

  1. The bus isn't very fast. The train is .

Lesson 87 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: older than ... more expensive than ...Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. What a comparative is–Not checkedB. -er (older, heavier etc.)–Not checkedC. more ... (more careful, more expensive etc.)–Not checkedD. good/well → better, bad → worse–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked