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")

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use comparative adjectives to compare two people, places, or things.

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Comparing Two Things

We use comparative adjectives¹ to say how two things are different. We almost always use the word "than"² to connect the two things we are comparing.

Let's look at some examples:

• Phnom Penh is bigger than² Siem Reap. (Comparing two places)
• A durian is more expensive than a mango. (Comparing two things)
• My English today is better than my English last year. (Comparing two ideas/times)

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Key Grammar Terms & Adjectives

1. Comparative Adjective (Noun) | គុណនាមប្រៀបធៀប | A special form of an adjective used to compare two things (e.g., bigger, more expensive). ↩
2. than (Conjunction) | ជាង | The connecting word used in almost all comparative sentences. ↩
3. big / bigger (Adjective) | ធំ / ធំជាង | Large in size. ↩
4. expensive / more expensive (Adjective) | ថ្លៃ / ថ្លៃជាង | Costing a lot of money. ↩
5. good / better (Adjective) | ល្អ / ល្អជាង | High quality. "Better" is the irregular comparative form. ↩
6. bad / worse (Adjective) | អាក្រក់ / អាក្រក់ជាង | Low quality. "Worse" is the irregular comparative form. ↩

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record_voice_over 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 audio guide to hear this natural linking.

lightbulb The Rules for Forming Comparatives

There are three main rules for making a comparative adjective.

Rule 1: Short Adjectives (1 syllable)

Add -er. (e.g., old -> older, cheap -> cheaper, fast -> faster).

Spelling note: If it ends C-V-C (consonant-vowel-consonant), double the last letter: big -> bigger.

Rule 2: Longer Adjectives (2+ syllables)

Use more before the adjective. (e.g., modern -> more modern, beautiful -> more beautiful).

Spelling note: For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, change -y to -i and add -er: happy -> happier.

Rule 3: Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives have special forms that you must memorize.

• good -> better
• bad⁶ -> worse
• far -> further / farther

sports_esports Practice Comparing

Activity 1: What's the Comparative Form?

Write the correct comparative form for these adjectives.

1. slow -> slower
2. difficult -> more difficult
3. good⁵ -> better
4. hot -> hotter
5. interesting -> more interesting

Activity 2: Make a Comparison

Use the words to make a full comparative sentence.

• (a car / a moto) (expensive) -> A car is more expensive than a moto.
• (The weather today / the weather yesterday) (good) -> The weather today is better than the weather yesterday.
• (My house / your house) (big³) -> My house is bigger than your house.

task Your Grammar Mission

This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to make comparisons.

Find two things and compare them. For example, compare two types of fruit, two restaurants, or two friends! Make three comparative sentences and say them to your teacher or a friend. Example: "I think pork is more delicious than beef."