Comparative adjective in Russian

Russian grammar --> Comparative adjective

Russian comparative adjectives come in a compound form, which is used attributively, and a simple form, which is used predicatively.

Simple forms

Usage

Simple comparative forms are used predicatively. The simple comparative form do not decline.

Иван умнее, чем Лариса. Ivan is smarter than Larisa.

Formation

The simple comparative form of adjective consists of one word. It is formed by dropping the gender ending of the long form adjective (e.g. -ый, -ая, -ое) and adding to the resulting stem the ending -ee. The simple comparative form does not decline.

красивый - красивее  pretty - prettier

In adjectives whose stem consists of only one syllable, the stress is usually on the first е of the ending.

If the stem of the adjective ends in г, к, х, or д, т, ст, this stem consonant undergoes an alternation and a single single -е (not -ee) is added to form the comparative.

The alternations of the final consonant include:

1. If the stem ends in -г, -к, -х, the final consonant is replaced by -ж, -ч, -ш, respectively.

дорогой - дороже expensive - more expensive
громкий - громче loud - louder
тихий - тише quiet - more quiet

2. If the stem ends in the cluster -ст, this cluster is replaced by -щ.

простой - проще simple - more simple
толстый - толще thick - thicker

Irregular Comparative Forms

близкий close - ближе
большой big - больше
высокий tall - выше
глубокий deep - глубже
далёкий far - дальше
дешёвый inexpensive - дешевле
долгий long - дольше
короткий short - короче
лёгкий easy - легче
молодой young - моложе (or младше)
поздний late - позже (or позднее)
ранний early - раньше
редкий rare - реже
сладкий sweet - слаще
старый old - старше (or старее)
широкий wide - шире

And adjectives that change their stem in comparative:

хороший good - лучше
плохой bad - хуже
маленький small - меньше

Comparative compound form

Usage

The compound form of the comparative degree must be used when the comparative is used attributively. The compound comparative form is necessary when the adjective must be declined.

Formation

The formation of the compound form comparative is relatively simple.

The compound form consists of two words: the word бóлее more or мéнее less used as an auxiliary, and the long form of adjective that agrees in gender, number and case with the modified noun.

красивый - более красивый   pretty - prettier
дорогой - более дорогой   expensive - more expensive
тихий - более тихий   quiet - more quiet
громкий - менее громкий   loud - less loud