How are comparisons with adjectives expressed in English?

In English, there are different ways to formulate comparisons with adjectives and, thus, demonstrate that several things or persons have different or identical characteristics. Therefore, compare the following uses:

1. In detail, difference can be expressed as shown in these example cases. The word ‘than’ usually comes after the adjective:
   • With adjectives that form their comparative and superlative forms by adding the suffix ‘-er/-est’:
     • “Susan’s house is smaller than Peter’s.”
   • With adjectives that have irregular forms of comparison:
     • “Your results are worse than John’s.”
   • With adjectives whose comparative and superlative forms need ‘more/most’:
     • “This task is more difficult than the one before.”
   • With all adjectives by using ‘less’ to express a smaller quantity or number:
     • “The blue jacket is less expensive than the red one.”
     • “This film is less boring than the first.”
   • With all adjectives when ‘not as … as’ is used:
     • “Sam is not as tall as his father.”
2. And equality can be formulated with the help of ‘as … as’:
   • “I am as tall as my brother.”
   • “Sandra is as old as Tim.”

Further explanations relating to the ‘Comparisons with adjectives’

The following explanations are related to the topic ‘Comparing adjectives with ‘as … as’ and ‘more/less … than’’ and could be interesting as well:

• Comparative and superlative adjectives in English
• Difference between ‘than’ and ‘then’
• Exercise 1: comparisons with adjectives (as … as & more/less … than)
• Exercise 1: comparative and superlative adjectives