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:
Our training is better this year than it was last year.
The Umbrella Organization is as vast as the Titanic.
I'm afraid that achieving transparency isn't as easy as that.
Tax-exempt organizations are hotter this year.
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:
Tax-exempt organizations are hotter this year.
Her disability check is larger than her paycheck.
Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y'
Replace then final '-y' with '-ier'.
Example:
The head of the technical assistance NGO is prettier than the head of the market advocacy NGO.
Discrimination against sweets is funnier than discrimination against women.
Two or More Syllable Adjectives
Place 'more' before the adjective.
Example:
I think a tax deductible contribution is more desirable than a tax credit.
The local community is more disadvantaged in the court than the foreign corporation.
Important Exceptions
good - better
bad - worse
fun - more fun
far - farther / further
Example:
The timeline on this project is better for this project than it was on the last one.
Our timetable will take us further this week than we came last week.
The level of donor support was better this year than last.
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:
You're right to think that gaining a customer's trust isn't as easy as taking candy from a baby.
Economic development is as much a political problem as it is a financial problem.
Our donor organized NGO is as successful in India as it is in Iraq.