English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 105: Comparison 1 (cheaper, more expensive etc.)

Study these examples:

How shall we travel? Shall we drive or go by train?

Let's drive. it's cheaper.
Don't go by train. It's more expensive.

Cheaper and more expensive are comparative forms.

After comparatives you can use than (see Unit 107):
  • It's cheaper to drive than go by train.
  • Going by train is more expensive than driving.

The comparative form is -er or more ... .

We use -er for short words (one syllable):
  • cheap → cheaper
  • fast → faster
  • large → larger
  • thin → thinner
We use more ... for longer words (two syllables or more):
  • more serious
  • more often
  • more expensive
  • more comfortable
We also use -er for two-syllable words that end in -y ( -y → ier):
  • lucky → luckier
  • early → earlier
  • easy → easier
  • pretty → prettier
We also use more ... for adverbs that end in -ly:
  • more slowly
  • more seriously
  • more easily
  • more quietly

Compare these examples:

  • You're older than me.
  • The exam was quite easy - easier than I expected.
  • Can you walk a bit faster?
  • I'd like to have a bigger car.
  • Last night I went to bed earlier than usual.
  • You 're more patient than me.
  • The exam was quite difficult - more difficult than I expected.
  • Can you walk a bit more slowly?
  • I'd like to have a more reliable car.
  • I don't play tennis much these days. I used to play more often.

You can use -er or more ... with some two-syllable adjectives, especially:
  • clever
  • narrow
  • quiet
  • shallow
  • simple

  • It's too noisy here. Can we go somewhere quieter / more quiet?

A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative forms:

good/well → better
  • The garden looks better since you tidied it up.
  • I know him well - probably better than anybody else knows him.

bad/badly → worse
  • 'How's your headache? Better?'  'No, it's worse.'
  • He did very badly in the exam - worse than expected .

far → further (or farther)
  • It's a long walk from here to the park - further than I thought. (or farther than)

Further (but not farther) can also mean 'more' or 'additional':
  • Let me know if you hear any further news. (= any more news)

105.1 Complete the sentences using a comparative form (older / more important etc.).

  1. It's too noisy here. Can we go somewhere ?
  2. This coffee is very weak. I like it __________ .
  3. The hotel was surprisingly big. I expected it to be __________ .
  4. The hotel was surprisingly cheap. I expected it to be __________ .
  5. The weather is too cold here. I'd like to live somewhere __________ .
  6. My job is a bit boring sometimes. I'd like to do something __________ .
  7. It's a shame you live so far away. I wish you lived __________ .
  8. I was surprised how easy it was to get a job. I thought it would be __________ .
  9. Your work isn't very good. I'm sure you can do __________ .
  10. Don't worry. The situation isn't so bad. It could be __________ .
  11. I was surprised we got here so quickly. I expected the trip to take __________ .
  12. You're talking very loudly. Can you speak __________ ?
  13. You hardly ever call me. Why don't you call me __________ ?
  14. You're standing too near the camera. Can you move a bit __________ away?
  15. You were a little depressed yesterday, but you look __________ today.

105.2 Complete the sentences. Use the comparative forms of the words in the box. Use than where necessary.

  • big
  • crowded
  • early
  • easily
  • high
  • important
  • interested
  • peaceful
  • reliable
  • serious
  • simple
  • thin
  1. I was feeling tired last night, so I went to bed usual.
  2. I'd like to have a car. The one I have keeps breaking down.
  3. Unfortunately her illness was __________ we thought at first.
  4. You look __________ . Have you lost weight?
  5. I want a __________ apartment. We don't have enough space here.
  6. He doesn't study very hard. He's __________ in having a good time.
  7. Health and happiness are __________ money.
  8. The instructions were very complicated. They could have been __________ .
  9. There were a lot of people on the bus. It was __________ usual.
  10. I like living in the country. It's __________ living in a town.
  11. You'll find your way around the town __________ if you have a good map.
  12. In some parts of the country, prices are __________ in others.

105.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences. Use a comparative form (-er or more ... ).

  1. Yesterday the temperature was six degrees. Today it's only three degrees.
    It's it was yesterday.
  2. The journey takes four hours by car and five hours by train.
    It takes __________ by car.
  3. Dan and I went for a run. I ran ten kilometres. Dan stopped after eight kilometres.
    I ran __________ Dan.
  4. Chris and Joe both did badly in the test. Chris got 30%, but Joe only got 25%.
    Joe did __________ Chris in the test.
  5. I expected my friends to arrive at about 4 o'clock. In fact they arrived at 2.30.
    My friends __________ I expected.
  6. You can go by bus or by train. The buses run every 30 minutes. The trains run every hour.
    The buses __________ the trains.
  7. We were very busy in the office today. We're not usually so busy.
    We __________ usual in the office today.

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