To say that one thing is bigger, nicer or more expensive than another, add _-er_ to the adjective (the describing word) and use _dan_ for than: _Amsterdam is groter dan Utrecht_. Adjectives that end in r add _-der_ instead: _duur, duurder_. When two things are the same, use _net zo ... als_ or _even ... als_ with the plain adjective.
The pattern
The comparative (the form you use to compare) is the adjective plus _-er_, or plus _-der_ when the adjective ends in r. A difference takes _dan_; sameness takes _net zo ... als_ or _even ... als_.
- Most adjectives simply add _-er_, even long ones: _klein, kleiner_; _mooi, mooier_; _moeilijk, moeilijker_.
- Adjectives ending in r add _-der_: _duur, duurder_; _zwaar, zwaarder_; _ver, verder_; _lekker, lekkerder_.
- The usual [spelling changes](#/lesson/adjective-spelling) apply. A double aa, ee, oo or uu becomes single when it ends a syllable: _groot, groter_ (_gro-ter_). A single consonant after a short stressed vowel doubles: _dik, dikker_; _snel, sneller_. After an unstressed last syllable it does not: _makkelijk, makkelijker_. And f and s often become v and z: _lief, liever_; _vies, viezer_.
- After _net zo_ or _even_ the adjective stays plain. For a negative, use _niet zo ... als_.
- Before a noun, the normal [adjective endings](#/lesson/adjective-endings) still apply: _een grotere kamer_, _een groter huis_.
- A few common words are [irregular](#/lesson/irregular-comparison): _goed, beter_; _veel, meer_.
Examples
| Amsterdam is groter dan Utrecht. | Amsterdam is bigger than Utrecht. |
|---|---|
| De trein naar Leiden is sneller dan de bus. | The train to Leiden is faster than the bus. |
| Deze fiets is mooier, maar ook veel duurder. | This bike is nicer, but also much more expensive. |
| De tas van Ahmed is zwaarder dan mijn tas. | Ahmed's bag is heavier than my bag. |
| Carlos woont verder van zijn werk dan Yara. | Carlos lives further from his work than Yara. |
| Priya heeft een grotere kamer gevonden. | Priya has found a bigger room. |
| Mei is net zo oud als Bas. | Mei is just as old as Bas. |
| Bij Joris is de koffie even lekker als in een café. | At Joris's place, the coffee is just as good as in a café. |
| Utrecht is niet zo groot als Amsterdam. | Utrecht is not as big as Amsterdam. |
Why it works this way
English does this too with short words: small, smaller. The difference is that English switches to more for longer words, while Dutch usually keeps adding _-er_: _moeilijker_ (more difficult), _gezelliger_ (cosier), _interessanter_ (more interesting). A smaller group uses _meer_ instead, which has [its own lesson](#/lesson/meer-meest).
For adjectives that do not end in r, the spelling works like adding _-e_, because _-er_ also starts with a vowel and cuts the word into the same syllables: _gro-te, gro-ter_; _dik-ke, dik-ker_. So if you can spell the _-e_ form, you can usually spell the comparative by adding an r: _lieve, liever_; _vieze, viezer_.
Think of the d after r as a little bridge between the r and the ending. Because _-der_ starts with a consonant, the vowel stays in a closed syllable and keeps both letters: _duur-der_, _zwaar-der_.
Remember: _dan_ and different both start with d; _als_ and alike both start with a. A difference gets _dan_, things that are alike get _als_.
Watch out
- Not: _Amsterdam is groter als Utrecht._ Say: _Amsterdam is groter dan Utrecht._ (after a comparative, standard Dutch uses _dan_; you will hear _als_ in casual speech and it is the German habit, but avoid it)
- Not: _Deze jas is meer duur._ Say: _Deze jas is duurder._ (Dutch adds an ending where English says more)
- Not: _Mijn tas is zwaarer._ Say: _Mijn tas is zwaarder._ (adjectives ending in r take _-der_)
- Not: _Ons nieuwe huis is grooter._ Say: _Ons nieuwe huis is groter._ (in _gro-ter_ the o ends a syllable, so you write one o)
- Not: _Fatima is net zo oud dan Yara._ Say: _Fatima is net zo oud als Yara._ (sameness takes _als_)
Quick check
- Fill in the comparative of _duur_: _Deze jas is ... dan die van Emma._
- Fill in the comparative of _dun_: _Mijn nieuwe telefoon is ... dan mijn oude._
- Choose _dan_ or _als_: _Sanne fietst net zo snel ... Daan._
- Fix the sentence: _Het is vandaag meer koud dan gisteren._
Answers
- _duurder_ (_duur_ ends in r, so it takes _-der_)
- _dunner_ (short stressed u plus one consonant, so the n doubles)
- _als_ (the speeds are the same, so _net zo ... als_)
- _Het is vandaag kouder dan gisteren._ (_koud_ just takes _-er_; Dutch does not use _meer_ here)
Use it today
Supermarkets are full of comparisons waiting to happen. Next time you shop, make three sentences in your head: one with _dan_, one with _net zo ... als_ and one with _niet zo ... als_, such as _Deze appels zijn duurder dan de peren._