Comparative adjectives with the use of than

With comparatives, we often use than to compare two people/things.

• Form: adjective (+ -er / more) + than + noun/pronoun

Examples:

• My bag is heavier than your bag.
• This book is more interesting than that one.
• Today is colder than yesterday.

1. Comparing quantity with more, less, and fewer

We also compare amounts and quantities, not only adjectives.

1.1 More + noun + than

Use more with both countable and uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns:

• I have more books than my sister.
• She buys more shirts than I do.

Uncountable nouns:

• We have more time today than yesterday.
• He drinks more coffee than his brother.

1.2 Fewer + countable nouns

Use fewer with plural countable nouns.

Examples:

• I have fewer classes this semester.
• There are fewer cars on the road today.
• She made fewer mistakes than last time.

1.3 Less + uncountable nouns

Use less with uncountable nouns.

Examples:

• I have less money than my brother.
• We spend less time online now.
• This phone uses less electricity.

2. Comparatives without repeating information

Sometimes we omit words because the meaning is already clear.

Full:

• This bag is heavier than that bag.

Short:

• This bag is heavier. (We mean heavier than that bag.)

Examples:

• This bag is heavier than yours.
• Your new phone is better than my old one.
• (Looking at two coats) This one is warmer.

The second part of the comparison is understood from the situation.

2.1 Using substitute words

English often avoids repetition with:

• one / ones
• yours / mine / theirs

Examples:

• My bag is bigger than yours.
• This phone is cheaper than the old one.
• The red shoes are more comfortable than the black ones.

3. Comparative adverbs

We can also compare actions using adverbs.

Examples:

• She works harder than I do.
• He drives more carefully than his brother.
• They arrived earlier than we did.

Common comparative adverbs

• Add -er
  • fast → faster
  • hard → harder
  • early → earlier
• Use more
  • carefully → more carefully
  • slowly → more slowly
  • loudly → more loudly

4. Comparisons with changing situations

Comparatives are often used to describe change over time.

Examples:

• The weather is getting warmer.
• My English is getting better.
• Cities are becoming more crowded.
• Technology is getting cheaper.

This structure is very common in everyday English.

5. Comparisons in everyday communication

Comparatives are often used to give opinions and preferences.

Examples:

• This restaurant is better than the other one.
• Online shopping is easier for me.
• I think trains are more comfortable than buses.
• Life in the city is more stressful than life in a village.

At A2 level, learners should focus on making longer, more natural comparison sentences.

6. Key takeaways

• A1 comparatives focus on adjective forms and spelling.
• A2 comparatives extend into quantity, omission, and adverb comparisons.
• Use fewer with countable nouns.
• Use less with uncountable nouns.
• Comparative adverbs compare actions.
• Comparatives are often used to describe change and preferences.