Question 1

When do I add -er to an adjective in English?

Accepted Answer

You add -er to short adjectives — these are adjectives with one syllable, such as tall, old, fast, cheap, and long. For example, "tall" becomes "taller" and "fast" becomes "faster." Two-syllable adjectives that end in -y also use -er: "happy" becomes "happier" and "easy" becomes "easier." Put "than" after the comparative when you name both things you are comparing: "She is taller than me." Do not add -er to long adjectives (three or more syllables) — use "more" instead: "more expensive," not "expensiver." This rule is one of the first grammar points tested at A2 level.

Question 2

What are the most common mistakes with short comparative adjectives?

Accepted Answer

The biggest mistake is using "more" with a short adjective — "more tall," "more fast," and "more old" are always wrong. Use "taller," "faster," and "older" instead. A second common error is the double comparative: "more taller" or "more cheaper." Adding both "more" and -er is never correct in standard English. Third, learners often forget spelling changes: "big" becomes "bigger" (double the last letter), not "biger." Similarly, "hot" becomes "hotter" and "thin" becomes "thinner." Finally, some learners write "then" instead of "than" — "taller then me" is a spelling error that appears frequently in Cambridge A2 writing papers. Remember: one syllable means -er, always.

Question 3

Do I always need than after a comparative adjective?

Accepted Answer

No — you only need "than" when you name both things you are comparing: "My car is faster than yours." If the second thing is already clear from the context, you can leave out "than": "I need a bigger bag" (bigger than my current bag). "Let's find somewhere cheaper" (cheaper than this place). In everyday conversation, it is very common to drop "than" because the listener already understands what you mean. However, in writing and exams, including "than" makes your comparison clearer and more complete. Cambridge and IELTS examiners expect you to use "than" when the comparison is explicit.

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