| Base | Bulgarian | Comparative (по-) | Superlative (най-) |
|---|---|---|---|
| good | добър | better than | the best |
| bad | лош | worse than | the worst |
| far | далеч | further than | the furthest |
| little | малко | less than | the least |
| much / many | много | more than | the most |
The modifier always goes before the comparative adjective (never after, never before the noun).
| Word | Used with | Example | Bulgarian |
|---|---|---|---|
| more | Both (countable + uncountable) | "I have more work than you." "There are more trees here." | повече |
| less | Uncountable nouns | "There is less traffic today." "She has less time than me." | по-малко (неброимо) |
| fewer | Countable nouns | "There are fewer birds in winter." "I have fewer meetings this week." | по-малко (броимо) |
In casual speech, many English speakers use less for everything. For formal/written English, and for exams, use fewer with countable nouns.
In real conversations, comparisons usually end in a decision. These phrases help you sound natural when choosing between options — in shops, at work, or when giving opinions.
Short adjectives: repeat the -er form twice.
fast → faster and faster | cheap → cheaper and cheaper | busy → busier and busier
Long adjectives: use more and more — the adjective appears only once.
expensive → more and more expensive | comfortable → more and more comfortable
Common verbs: get / become / grow / feel
"It is getting colder and colder." | "Work became more and more difficult."
When the noun is already clear, replace it with one. This is one of the most common patterns in spoken English.
| Pattern | Example | Bulgarian |
|---|---|---|
| the + adj + one | "I prefer the comfortable one." | Предпочитам удобното. |
| the + comparative + one | "I'll take the cheaper one." | Ще взема по-евтиното. |
| the + superlative + one | "Give me the freshest one." | Дайте ми най-свежото. |
| Which one? | "Which one do you recommend?" | Кое препоръчвате? |
| this / that one | "Not that one — this one." | Не онова — ето това. |
| ones (plural) | "I want the red ones." | Искам червените. |
In everyday adult life you constantly compare amounts, durations and costs. These words let you do that precisely.
| Word / Phrase | Example | Bulgarian |
|---|---|---|
| more than | "There are more than 50 people in the meeting." | повече от |
| less than | "The flight is less than 2 hours." | по-малко от (неброимо) |
| fewer than | "Fewer than 10 wolves live in this forest." | по-малко от (броимо) |
| over | "He earns over 2,000 leva a month." | над |
| under | "The ticket costs under 50 leva." | под |
| at least | "You need at least 3 years of experience." | поне / най-малко |
| almost | "It took almost 2 hours." (= not quite 2) | почти |
| twice / three times as … as | "The Amazon is twice as long as the Danube." | два / три пъти по-… |
over / under are more common in spoken English. more than / less than are slightly more formal. Both are correct at A1 level.
Elena is a nature guide. She works in a national park. She says the park is one of the most beautiful places in Bulgaria. The trees are much taller and thicker than trees in the city. The air is also much fresher.
The park has many rare animals. The wolves are fiercer than dogs, but they are not as dangerous as people think. In winter, there are fewer birds in the park than in summer. The deer are more common than the wolves, and they are much gentler.
Elena prefers working in the park to working in an office. She says the office was a bit more comfortable, but the park is a lot more relaxing. She thinks the park is the best place to work in the whole country. "I'll take fresh air and wild animals over a boring office any day," she says.
Stefan is thinking about two jobs. The first job is at a big company in Sofia. The second is at a smaller company in Plovdiv. Both are good, but he has to make a decision.
The Sofia job pays more, but it is also much more stressful. The commute is a lot longer — he would travel almost two hours every day. The office is more modern, but the people are not as friendly as at the Plovdiv company.
The Plovdiv job is a bit easier and the tasks are less difficult. The commute is much shorter — only twenty minutes by bus. There is less traffic in Plovdiv than in Sofia, and the city is not as expensive. Stefan also has fewer meetings in Plovdiv, which means more time for his work.
"I think the Plovdiv job is better for me," Stefan says. "The salary is a little lower, but the quality of life is much higher. I prefer a shorter commute and a more relaxed atmosphere over a bigger salary."