Larger vs Bigger? What’s the difference?

Vocabulary / By

Most people believe that the two adjectives, larger and bigger, are synonyms but these similar words have two significantly different meanings in grammar. Larger typically refers to quantities or amounts and bigger refers to a size, either metaphorically or literally.

In some instances, bigger and larger can be interchanged because of their similar meanings. However, knowing the rules of grammar can strengthen your writing.

Grammar rules assert that writers can determine which adjective based on its function. Consider the role of the adjective with its pronoun to understand which adjective to select.

What is the difference between ‘Larger’ or ‘Bigger’?

The main difference between the two adjectives, larger and bigger, is how these adjectives get used in sentences. The meaning of these words are very similar, and in some cases, they can be interchangeable. However, knowing the rules of grammar can make your writing more reliable.

All adjectives pair with pronouns. To determine which adjective you must use, refer to the pronoun in the sentence. Below, you will see a few examples of these words used in regular sentences.

When to use the adjective ‘larger’?

Larger is an adjective that indicates quantity. Quantity can refer to many things, including people. It may also refer to inanimate objects, measurements, equations, and more.

Consider the pronoun in the sentence when selecting which adjective you use. The pronoun in your sentence should be an object pronoun.

Let’s look at some examples:

The larger team won the game today.
There are a larger number of cats than dogs.
The total was larger than expected.

Use the third-person, subject, and object pronoun it with choosing the adjective larger. When using the adjective larger, the third-person pronoun or pronouns in your sentence should exclude the words he or she.

When to use the adjective ‘bigger’?

The main use of the adjective bigger is to describe the size of something. These descriptions can be metaphorical or physical. People use the word bigger to describe a difference in sizes and weights of people. There are also many other uses too.

All adjectives are reliant on their pronoun. Bigger is especially reliant on pronouns, namely third-person, subject pronouns.

Examples of the good use of the adjective bigger:

His fanbase is bigger than the competitors.
The outcome of his party was bigger than we thought.
They loaded bigger baggage into the plane first.

Subject pronouns are the most commonly paired pronouns with the adjective “bigger.” Object pronouns help identify the thing that you want to describe the size.

Conclusion

Bigger and larger are two very popular adjectives, which have similar meanings. The difference between these adjectives is their function. In some cases, these adjectives are synonymous, which means you can interchange them. However, not all sentences will allow you to do this.

Bigger refers to a size relative to items or things. Larger describe quantities of things, people, and places While you may interchange these words, selecting the correct word can make your writing more effective. For instance, to describe a difference in size, you would use the word bigger.

If you are still confused, refer to the pronoun in your sentence. Pronouns can help you determine what type of adjective you may use in your sentence. “Larger” and “bigger” are often paired together with third-person subject and object pronouns.

Conor
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