You use より〜ほうが to compare two things and say which one has more of a quality. The pattern is [A] のほうが [B] より + adjective\/verb, but actually the order is often [B] より [A] のほうが. Both orders work, but the ほうが part marks the winner, and より marks the loser (the thing you compare against). For example, to say 'summer is hotter than winter', you say 夏のほうが冬より暑いです. The subject is marked with は if it's clear, but in a comparison, のほうが acts like a special subject marker.

For verbs and adjectives, you use the plain past form before ほうが and より. For example, 食べるより寝るほうが好き means 'I prefer sleeping to eating.' Notice ほうが is attached to the whole phrase. When comparing nouns, don't forget the の: 猫のほうが犬より好き. The の is needed because ほうが is a noun.

This is a very common, everyday pattern in N5. It's used in both speaking and writing, and it's polite enough for any situation. Just remember that より is like 'than' and ほうが is like 'the one that is more'.