Comparative Adjectives: A2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. Today is ___ than yesterday. → warmer

Warm is a one-syllable adjective, so it takes -er.

2. This exercise is ___ than the last one. → more difficult

Difficult has three syllables, so it takes more.

3. My new phone is ___ than my old one. → better

Good is irregular and becomes better.

4. The traffic is ___ today than it was on Monday. → worse

Bad is irregular and becomes worse.

5. Their house is ___ from the station than ours. → further

Far is irregular and becomes further or farther.

6. The exam was ___ than I expected. → easier

Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y change the y to i and add -er.

7. This bag is ___ than that one. → bigger

A short vowel plus a single consonant doubles the consonant: big → bigger.

8. Which sentence is correct? → She is taller than me.

The comparison word is than, and tall takes -er.

9. This café is ___ expensive as the one next door. → as

As … as expresses equality between two things.

10. My flat isn't ___ as yours. → as big

The negative of the equality structure keeps the plain adjective between as and as.

11. The film was ___ interesting than the book. → more

Interesting has four syllables, so the comparative uses more.

12. It's getting ___ and ___ every day. → colder / colder

The doubled comparative shows a change that keeps going.

13. This route is ___ quicker than the motorway. → much

Much, far and a lot strengthen a comparative; very cannot.

14. Nadia is ___ than her sister. → quieter

Quiet is a two-syllable adjective that takes -er rather than more.

15. Which adjective is irregular in the comparative? → little

Little becomes less, ignoring both regular patterns.

16. The second half was ___ exciting than the first. → less

Less is the opposite of more and works with longer adjectives.

17. This chair is ___ comfortable than it looks. → more

Comfortable has four syllables, so more is required.

18. The weather is ___ here than in the mountains. → nicer

An adjective ending in -e simply adds -r: nice → nicer.

19. Which sentence uses as … as correctly? → He runs as fast as me.

Equality is expressed by as + plain adjective + as.

20. The queue was ___ long as last week's. → twice as

Multiples go in front of the as … as structure: twice as long as.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. My brother is two years ___ than me. → older

Old is a one-syllable adjective, so it takes -er.

2. The train is ___ expensive than the plane. → less

Less is the opposite of more and reduces the quality.

3. This coffee tastes ___ than the one we had yesterday. → better

Good is irregular and becomes better.

4. The second exam was ___ than the first. → harder

Hard is one syllable, so it takes -er.

5. Prices are getting ___ every year. → higher

High takes -er in the comparative.

6. It's much ___ to cycle than to drive in this city. → quicker

Much strengthens the comparative of the one-syllable adjective quick.

7. She's ___ tall as her mother now. → as

As … as expresses equality between two people.

8. This film is more ___ than the reviews suggested. → entertaining

A long adjective after more completes the comparative.

9. The traffic is ___ than it was before the new bridge opened. → worse

Bad is irregular and becomes worse.

10. My new job is ___ interesting than my old one. → more

Interesting has four syllables, so more is required.

11. The village is ___ from the coast than I thought. → further

Far becomes further or farther in the comparative.

12. This box is ___ than it looks — be careful. → heavier

Two-syllable adjectives in -y change y to i and add -er.

13. The days are getting ___ now that it is spring. → longer

Long is one syllable and takes -er.

14. Is your flat ___ than mine? → bigger

A short vowel and single consonant double before -er.

15. He speaks English ___ better than he did last year. → much

Much intensifies a comparative; very cannot do this job.

16. My old laptop was ___ noisy as this one. → as

The equality structure needs as before and after the adjective.

17. This restaurant is ___ than the one by the river. → cheaper

Cheap is one syllable, so it takes -er.

18. The room looked ___ after we opened the curtains. → brighter

Bright takes -er in the comparative.

19. Nothing is ___ important to me than my family. → more

Important has three syllables, so the comparative uses more.

20. Cities are becoming ___ and more crowded every year. → bigger

A short vowel and single consonant double before -er, and the change is a continuing one.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Compare two roads by width. → This road is wider than the old one.

Compare two roads by width.

2. Compare two people using a long adjective. → My sister is more patient than me.

Compare two people using a long adjective.

3. Use an irregular comparative about the climate. → The weather is worse in the north.

Use an irregular comparative about the climate.

4. Say two homes are the same size. → Her flat is as big as ours.

Say two homes are the same size.

5. Compare two tasks with a -y adjective. → This exercise is easier than the last.

Compare two tasks with a -y adjective.

6. Compare two forms of transport, with emphasis. → Trains are much faster than buses.

Compare two forms of transport, with emphasis.

7. Report a pleasant surprise at the cinema. → The film was better than I expected.

Report a pleasant surprise at the cinema.

8. Describe a gradual seasonal change. → It is getting warmer every week.

Describe a gradual seasonal change.

9. Compare the weight of two pieces of luggage. → This bag is heavier than yours.

Compare the weight of two pieces of luggage.

10. Reduce a quality using the opposite of more. → My old car was less reliable.

Reduce a quality using the opposite of more.

11. Deny equality of height between two people. → He is not as tall as his father.

Deny equality of height between two people.

12. Give two advantages of one hotel. → The second hotel was cheaper and cleaner.

Give two advantages of one hotel.

13. Report a task being more demanding than expected. → Learning Spanish was harder than I thought.

Report a task being more demanding than expected.

14. Give one drawback and one advantage of a road. → This route is further but quieter.

Give one drawback and one advantage of a road.

15. Ask a shop assistant to compare two pairs. → Are these shoes more comfortable than those?

Ask a shop assistant to compare two pairs.

16. Comment on an early change in the weather. → The nights are getting colder already.

Comment on an early change in the weather.

17. Compare two people's writing. → Her handwriting is clearer than mine.

Compare two people's writing.

18. Use a multiple to compare two prices. → This chair is twice as expensive.

Use a multiple to compare two prices.

19. Describe a move to a smaller town. → Life here is slower and much friendlier.

Describe a move to a smaller town.

20. Ask about the better of two games. → Was the second match more exciting?

Ask about the better of two games.