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English grammar

bigger, cheaper, more expensive

A2 · Elementary Nouns and describing Questions 10

The rule

A short adjective adds -er: cheap → cheaper, big → bigger, easy → easier. A long one takes more in front: expensive → more expensive. The word after it is always than. Four are irregular and simply have to be learned: good → better, bad → worse, far → further, little → less.

Pattern

short + -er + than · more + long + than · good → better · bad → worse

Examples

  1. The market is cheaper than the supermarket.

  2. This flat is more expensive than the other one.

  3. The traffic is worse than yesterday.

  4. My new job is better than my old one.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: This one is more cheap.

    Right: This one is cheaper.

    A short adjective takes -er, not more.

  • Wrong: It is cheaper that the other.

    Right: It is cheaper than the other.

    The comparison word is than, not that.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    The train is _____ than the bus.

    1. fastest
    2. faster
    3. fast
    4. more fast
    Show answer

    Answer: B The train is faster than the bus.

    A short adjective takes -er.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    This coat is _____ than that one.

    1. most comfortable
    2. comfortable
    3. more comfortable
    4. comfortabler
    Show answer

    Answer: C This coat is more comfortable than that one.

    A long adjective takes more.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    My English is _____ than last year.

    1. gooder
    2. more good
    3. best
    4. better
    Show answer

    Answer: D My English is better than last year.

    good → better.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    The weather today is _____ than yesterday.

    1. worst
    2. worse
    3. badder
    4. more bad
    Show answer

    Answer: B The weather today is worse than yesterday.

    bad → worse.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    The second room is _____ than the first.

    1. bigger
    2. biger
    3. more big
    4. biggest
    Show answer

    Answer: A The second room is bigger than the first.

    A short vowel doubles the last letter.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    Her flat is _____ to the station than mine.

    1. more close
    2. closest
    3. closer
    4. close
    Show answer

    Answer: C Her flat is closer to the station than mine.

    A short adjective takes -er.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. This bag is heavyer than mine.
    2. This bag is heavier that mine.
    3. This bag is more heavy than mine.
    4. This bag is heavier than mine.
    Show answer

    Answer: D This bag is heavier than mine.

    A consonant before y becomes ier.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The market is cheap than.
    2. The market is very cheaper.
    3. The market is more cheaper.
    4. The market is much cheaper.
    Show answer

    Answer: D The market is much cheaper.

    much, not very, strengthens a comparative.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. This one is more better.
    2. This one is much better.
    3. This one is a bit better.
    4. This one is better.
    Show answer

    Answer: A This one is more better.

    better is already the comparative.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. She is more tall than her brother.
    2. She is much taller than her brother.
    3. She is taller than her brother.
    4. She is a bit taller than her brother.
    Show answer

    Answer: A She is more tall than her brother.

    tall is short, so taller.

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