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# comparative

adjective (comparative); noun (a comparative, comparatives); adverb (comparatively)

«comparative» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (grammar) The comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things: bigger, taller, more beautiful, better. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#m1)
2. Comparative means judged by comparing with something else: «comparative comfort», «comparatively easy». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#m2)
3. Comparative describes a study that compares things: comparative religion. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#m3)

### In the lessons

In English grammar lessons pupils learn comparatives and superlatives (big, bigger, biggest). In maths it links to comparing amounts with «more than», «less than». Phrases: «comparative form», «comparative adjective», «comparatively small».

### Examples

- «Taller» is the comparative of «tall». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#x1)
- The comparative of «good» is «better». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#x2)
- After the storm, the calm felt like comparative luxury. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#x3)
- The test was comparatively easy this time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#x4)
- Write the comparative and superlative of «fast». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#x5)
- Long words use «more»: «more interesting» is a comparative. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#x6)
- It is practically impossible to use the long tabulations for comparative purposes without some such shorthand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/#x7)

### Note

Rules: short words add -er (cold → colder), words ending in y change to -ier (happy → happier), long words use «more» (more careful). Irregular: good → better, bad → worse, far → further/farther. Use «than» after a comparative: taller than me. Do not say «more bigger». Superlative: biggest, most careful.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «comparative» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/comparative/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«comparative» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/comparative.html) on Mova free.