Comparison using comparative adjectives and adverbs

To say that people, things etc are unequal in a particular way, we can use comparative adjectives/adverbs.

·         She is older than me.

·         Tom is taller than his brothers.

·         Iron is more useful than any other metal.

·         He is cleverer than her.

In an informal style, object pronouns are used after than. In a more formal style, subject pronouns are used usually with verbs.

·         He is cleverer than she is.

·         He earns more than I do.

We can use double comparatives (--er and --er or more and more --) to say that something is changing.

·         You are getting fatter and fatter.

·         We are going more and more slowly.

The + comparative expression + subject + verb

We can use comparatives with the -- the -- to say that things change or vary together. Note the word order in both clauses.

·         The more I study, the less I learn. (NOT -- I learn the less.)

·         The older I get, the happier I am. (NOT -- I am the happier.)

More can be used with a noun in this structure.

·         The more money he makes, the more useless things he buys.