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:
The level of donor support was better this year than last.
The diversification of a menu is easier to accomplish than the diversification of a neighborhood.
The Smith doctrine goes further than the Wesson doctrine.
Her disability check is larger than her paycheck.
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:
Discrimination against sweets is funnier than discrimination against women.
The head of the technical assistance NGO is prettier than the head of the market advocacy NGO.
Two or More Syllable Adjectives
Place 'more' before the adjective.
Example:
The local community is more disadvantaged in the court than the foreign corporation.
Making sure your church qualifies for a tax exemption is more important than any theological concern.
Important Exceptions
good - better
bad - worse
fun - more fun
far - farther / further
Example:
The Smith doctrine goes further than the Wesson doctrine.
We advanced the cause of diversity further this year than we did last year.
Our training is better this year than it was last year.
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 that achieving transparency isn't as easy as that.
Due diligence isn't as easy to accomplish as it might seem.
Economic development is as much a political problem as it is a financial problem.