Comparing People, Places and Things
Comparative
Use the comparative to form a comparison between two people, places, things, etc. The comparative form expresses that one object has more of a characteristic than the other. Begin the sentence with the first object followed by the use of 'than' for the second object.
Example:
Copying a file is as easy as dragging & dropping the icon.
That device driver is the fastest on inventory.
The marketer is happier when she's tweeting links than when she's writing traditional copy.
Our portable USB stick is a better dongle than those bulkier dongles that use a different port.
The comparative adjective form is determined by the number of syllables in the adjective. The general rule is that all adjectives that have one syllable add '-er'. Adjectives with three syllables or more take 'more + adjective'. The following explanation provides examples and exceptions to these rules.
One Syllable Adjectives
Add '-er' to the end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel).
Example:
That device driver is the fastest on inventory.
This tool bar button is hotter this week.
Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y'
Replace then final '-y' with '-ier'.
Example:
The marketer is happier when she's tweeting links than when she's writing traditional copy.
With less disk space available the computer is flakier this week than last week.
Two or More Syllable Adjectives
Place 'more' before the adjective.
Example:
I hope that the files deleted from the trash are more recoverable today than they were before.
The lawyer thinks a form disclaimer is more protected from liability.
Important Exceptions
good - better
bad - worse
fun - more fun
far - farther / further
Example:
Our portable USB stick is a better dongle than those bulkier dongles that use a different port.
Twitter marketing goes further today than it did ten years ago.
It's better to uninstall software than to reinitialize the hard disk.
As ... as
The form 'as as + adjective + as' expresses the fact that the characteristic is the same in each object. The negative form 'isn't / aren't as + adjective + as' can be used instead of the comparative. The adjective is not altered in this form.
Example:
I'm afraid it isn't as easy to remember the new URL as the old one.
Opening a file is as easy as double clicking.
It's as difficult to pick a user name as it is to pick a password.