Dutch comparative adjectives are formed by adding -er to the adjective: groot → groter (bigger), mooi → mooier (more beautiful), snel → sneller (faster), oud → ouder (older). The comparative is then used like a regular adjective and takes the -e inflection when attributive: “de grotere auto” (the bigger car). Comparisons are expressed with dan: “Jan is groter dan Piet” (Jan is taller than Piet).
Some adjectives have irregular comparatives that must be memorized: goed → beter (good → better), graag → liever (gladly → preferably), veel → meer (much/many → more), weinig → minder (little/few → fewer/less). Long adjectives with three or more syllables sometimes use meer + adjective instead of -er: meer interessant (more interesting), meer complex (more complex) — though many shorter alternatives exist.
Expressing equality uses zo…als: “Zij is zo groot als hij” (She is as tall as him). Expressing inferiority uses minder…dan: “Dit boek is minder interessant dan dat boek” (This book is less interesting than that book). To say something is getting progressively more, Dutch uses steeds + comparative: “Het wordt steeds warmer” (It’s getting warmer and warmer). These comparative patterns appear constantly in conversation and are worth drilling early.