We also see the definite article with the comparative adjective in these examples of common phrases, called idioms. It omits the noun, but it still makes sense. This is a good example of a phrase that essentially means ‘The sooner (something happens) the better (the outcome)’. This structure places the definite article first: Definite Article That girl is taller than those other girls.Īdding the definite article ‘ the’to the comparative adjective creates a different structure than in the previous examples, but it appears often in phrases such as:įorming comparative adjectives with the definite article.The weather is colder in Sweden than in England.TRY THE FREE CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH TEST Usage We would not say ‘My dog is biggest than your dog,’ because ‘biggest’ is a superlative adjective and not a comparative adjective. NOTE: when a one-syllable adjecive ends in a vowel and a consonant, then remember to double the consonant (see the example below). If we want to compare one thing with another thing, or with a group of things, we add the word than: Noun (subject) My dog is bigger (compared to that other dog).Ĭomparing one thing with another by using ‘ than’.NOTE: when a one-syllable adjective ends in a vowel and a consonant, then remember to double the consonant (see the example below). We form a comparative adjective for a one-syllable adjective by adding -er to the adjective. Remember that we use the comparative to show difference and what is most or top. A comparative adjective compares two things, or groups of things.

Comparative grammar rules