Speaking: Grammar in Speaking A2 - Lesson 4: Using Comparatives (e.g., "bigger than")

Speaking: Grammar in Speaking A2

Lesson 4: Using Comparatives (e.g., "bigger than")

Listen to the examples here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use comparative adjectives to compare two people, places, or things in spoken English.

Comparing Two Things ⚖️

We use comparative adjectives to say how two things are different. We almost always use the word "than" to connect the two things we are comparing.

• Phnom Penh is bigger than Siem Reap.
• A durian is more expensive than a mango.
• My English today is better than my English last year.

How to Form Comparatives

There are three main rules for making a comparative adjective. Click 🔊 to hear examples.

Rule 1: Short Adjectives (1 syllable) → Add -er

old → older

cheap → cheaper

fast → faster

Spelling: If it ends Consonant-Vowel-Consonant, double the last letter: big → bigger.

Rule 2: Long Adjectives (2+ syllables) → Use "more"

modern → more modern

beautiful → more beautiful

expensive → more expensive

Spelling: For 2-syllable adjectives ending in -y, change -y to -i and add -er: happy → happier.

Rule 3: Irregular Adjectives → Memorize!

Some adjectives have special forms that you must memorize.

• good → better
• bad → worse
• far → further / farther

Tips for Fluent Speaking

🗣️ Pronunciation Focus: Linking with "than"

To speak more fluently, the word "than" is usually unstressed and linked to the word before it. The vowel sound is reduced to a soft "thun" sound (/ðən/).

• "bigger than" sounds like "bigger-thun"
• "slower than" sounds like "slower-thun"
• "more expensive than" sounds like "more-expensive-thun"

Listen carefully to the examples in the main audio player to hear this natural linking.

Practice Comparing 🎯

Activity 1: What's the Comparative Form? (Self-Check)

Type the correct comparative form for these adjectives. Click "Show Answer" to check your work.

1. slow →
   Show Answer

   slower
2. difficult →
   Show Answer

   more difficult
3. good →
   Show Answer

   better
4. hot →
   Show Answer

   hotter
5. interesting →
   Show Answer

   more interesting
6. happy →
   Show Answer

   happier

Activity 2: Make a Comparison (Self-Check)

Use the words to make a full comparative sentence. Click "Show Example Answer" to check your sentence structure.

• (a car / a moto) (expensive)
  Show Example Answer

  A car is more expensive than a moto.

• (The weather today / the weather yesterday) (good)
  Show Example Answer

  The weather today is better than the weather yesterday.

• (My house / your house) (big)
  Show Example Answer

  My house is bigger than your house.

• (English / Khmer grammar) (difficult)
  Show Example Answer

  English grammar is more difficult than Khmer grammar.

Vocabulary

• Comparative Adjective | គុណនាមប្រៀបធៀប
  A special form of an adjective used to compare two things (e.g., bigger, more expensive).
• than | ជាង
  The connecting word used in almost all comparative sentences.
• good / better | ល្អ / ល្អជាង
  High quality. "Better" is the irregular comparative form.
• bad / worse | អាក្រក់ / អាក្រក់ជាង
  Low quality. "Worse" is the irregular comparative form.
• expensive | ថ្លៃ
  Costing a lot of money.
• cheap | ថោក
  Costing little money.

Your Grammar Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to make comparisons in real conversations. Find two things and compare them using a full sentence. For example, compare two types of fruit, two restaurants, or two friends!

Example: "I think The Grey is more expensive than The Pizza Company."