How to Use Comparatives to Express Change in English | Learn English Grammar for Beginners
Learn English with EnglishClass101.com · 2026-07-18
💡 Quick Take
1. To describe a gradual change, pair an ‑ing verb (getting, becoming, growing, rising) with a comparative adjective (colder, hotter, more expensive, faster).
2. For long adjectives, form the comparative with more + adjective (e.g., more expensive) instead of adding ‑er.
3. Create negative gradual comparisons by adding not before the ‑ing verb and keeping the comparative unchanged (e.g., Home prices are not getting cheaper).
4. Emphasize a strong or accelerating change by repeating the comparative with and (e.g., getting colder and colder).
5. In static negative comparisons, always use not as + adjective + as + reference point (e.g., The weather today is not as hot as it was yesterday).
📊 Detailed Explanation
The lesson begins with a review of basic comparative structures. A positive comparative sentence follows the pattern: subject + is/are + comparative adjective + than + reference point. Examples: “The weather today is colder than it was yesterday” and “Gasoline prices are more expensive than they were last year.” The speaker notes that for multi‑syllable adjectives like expensive or beautiful, the comparative is formed with more instead of adding ‑er.
Negative basic comparisons use the same subject‑verb order but insert not and keep the adjective in its base form, followed by as and the reference point: “The weather today is not as hot as it was yesterday” and “Gasoline prices are not as cheap as they were last year.” The key point is to remember the as after the adjective.
Moving to gradual change, the speaker introduces an ‑ing verb before the comparative adjective. Common verbs are getting, becoming, growing, rising. This construction signals a change over time rather than a static comparison. Examples: “The weather is getting colder,” “The Earth is becoming hotter,” and “Gas prices are getting more expensive.” The speaker clarifies that omitting the comparative (e.g., “getting cold”) loses the sense of comparison to a past point.
The difference between getting and becoming is minimal; becoming sounds slightly more formal. Both convey ongoing change when paired with a comparative adjective.
Long adjectives continue to use more + adjective in the gradual pattern: “Gas prices are getting more expensive.” The speaker stresses that using the comparative (more expensive) shows a reference to a previous level, whereas “getting expensive” merely describes the present moment.
Verbs other than getting/becoming can be used as long as they match the sense of measurement: “Our team is working a lot faster lately.” The comparative adjective (faster) indicates that the current speed exceeds the past speed.
The lesson highlights that these patterns work best with adjectives that measure quantifiable attributes—temperature, price, size, speed, distance, population—because the comparative naturally reflects a measurable shift.
Negative gradual comparisons are formed by adding not before the ‑ing verb and keeping the comparative unchanged: “Home prices are not getting cheaper” and “The population is not getting smaller.” These sentences state that the expected decrease is not occurring.
Part three introduces repetition of the comparative to stress an intensifying or continuous change. The structure is
Finally, the instructor invites learners to practice by creating their own sentences, to comment with questions, and to explore additional resources on EnglishClass101.com.
🎯 Education Expert Opinion
From an instructional design perspective, the video effectively scaffolds learning by moving from simple static comparisons to dynamic, gradual‑change constructions, and finally to emphatic repetitions. The explicit contrast between positive/negative forms and the clear rule for long adjectives (using more) reduces common learner errors. Demonstrating both getting and becoming provides lexical variety while reinforcing the core grammatical pattern.
To maximize retention, learners should follow a three‑stage practice roadmap:
- Master the basic comparative template. Write five sentences comparing two time points (e.g., weather, prices) using both ‑er and more forms.
- Integrate the ‑ing verb. Transform each basic sentence into a gradual‑change sentence (“is getting / becoming + comparative”). Pay special attention to maintaining the comparative adjective.
- Apply emphasis through repetition. Choose three of the gradual sentences and repeat the comparative with and (e.g., “getting colder and colder”). This solidifies the nuance of accelerating change.
Additionally, learners should audit their adjective choices: prioritize measurable adjectives (temperature, price, speed, size) when first practicing, then gradually experiment with more abstract adjectives (beautiful, interesting) to develop intuition for comparative usage.
Overall, the method presented is pedagogically sound, offering clear rules, varied examples, and a logical progression. Consistent sentence‑building practice, coupled with self‑recording and feedback, will help learners internalize the structures and use them fluently in real‑world contexts.