The key feature of the comparative form of adjectives is -abb/-ebb. We simply add -abb/-ebb to the dictionary form of the adjective to form the comparative verison.

• gyorsabb faster
• kisebb smaller
• melegebb hotter
• gazdagabb richer
• nagyobb larger (irregular)

On its own, -abb is only of limited use. To say, "I am smarter" is not very helpful without "than you".

We form this by adding , mint ....

• Én nagyobb vagyok, mint te I am larger than you.
• Te gyorsabbvagy, mint én You are faster than I*.
• Ő kisebb, mint én He is smaller than I*.
• Ők gazdagabbak, mint én They are richer than I*.
• Ez a toll jobb, mint az enyém This pen is better than mine.
• Ez a toll nem jobb, mint az enyém This pen is not better than mine.
• Ági lassabban vezet, mint Daniel. Ági drives more slowly than Daniel.**

Note the comma. This literally translates as I am smarter, than you.
You are taller, than I.

*I Note how it's correct to say, than I, not than me. See my page on English pronouns

** Note that we say lassabban, more slowly ; we do not say slower. See the section on adverbs.

There is a second way of saying than. This does not use mint, nor the comma, rather the target of the comparison is put into the -nál/-nél (adessive) form.

• Én nagyobb vagyok nálad. I am larger than you.
• Te gyorsabb vagy nála. You are faster than he.
• Ő kisebb nálam. He is smaller than I.
• Ők gazdagabbak vannak nálunk. They are richer than we.
• Ez a toll jobb az enyémnél. This pen is better than mine.
• Ez a toll nem jobb az övénél. This pen is not better than his.
• Ági lassabban vezet Danielnél. Ági drives more slowly than Daniel.

Just like with absolute (dictionaty) forms of adjectives , we must put the comparative forms into the plural when they are in predicative form.

• Ez a lány magasabb, mint az a fiú? Is this girl taller than that boy?
• Ezek a lányok magasabbak, mint azok a fiúk? Are these girls taller than those boys?

Here is a great example, from Whitney, which compares the London and Budapest bridges. He uses both the mint and the -nál/-nél forms to show their equivilence. Note well how when we compare plural objects, we also but the adjective into the plural.

• London nagyobb Budapestnél?
  Is London larger than Budapest?
• Igen, sokkal nagyobb, és sokkal több híd van Londonban, mint Budapesten.
  Yes, much larger, and there are many more bridges in London than in Budapest.
• Hosszabbak a londoni hidak, mint a budapesti hidak?
  Are the London bridges longer than the Budapest bridges?
• Nem, a budapesti hidak hosszabbak a londoni hidaknál
  No, the Budapest bridges are longer than the London bridges.
• Minél szebb a lány, annál büszkébb a fiú.
  The more beautiful the girl, the prouder the boy.
• Budapesten több híd van, az egyik szebb, mint a másik.
  The are several bridges in Budapest, each more beautiful than the next.
• Ez szebb a többinél.
  This is more beautiful than the others.
• Minél nagyobb a forgalom, annál több hídra van szükség.
  The more traffic, the more bridges are needed.