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Comparisons
This is one of the grammar points which appear to be easy but which bring about the most doubts. Is it funnier or more funny? Well, there are a few rules to help you out here. There are also a few exceptions, though; but they are nothing much to worry about.
Let´s start with the rules:
Absolute Adjectives
You generally use the singular form when referring to quantities if you have BULK in mind:
They cannot have comparative or superlative as this elevation would make no sense.
If something is unique there cannot be something else which is “uniquer.” When expressing shape you would not say that an object is “more triangular” than another one.
Yet, you will sometimes hear comments such us: “Her necklace is most unique”. In this case the speaker is using a more colloquial alternative to “very”.
Note the common expression “most grateful” used for emphasis and not for comparison.
Never use the superlative when comparing only two things. Avoid this common mistake. It is never correct to say ”I play football and rugby. Football is the easiest.”
If you want to express equality when comparing you should use ”as…as” in positive comparisons.
e.g. “I am as intelligent as she is.”
And not “so …as” for negative comparisons: e.g. “ Sally´s house is not so expensive as mine.”
Note though, that the modern tendency is to standarize on “as…as” for both positive and negative comparisons.
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Comparisons
This is one of the grammar points which appear to be easy but which bring about the most doubts. Is it funnier or more funny? Well, there are a few rules to help you out here. There are also a few exceptions, though; but they are nothing much to worry about.
Let´s start with the rules:
- Adjectives of one syllable take –er in the comparative and –est in the superlative: e.g. high - long - low - short - old - new - slow - fast, and the like.
- Adjectives of two syllables ending in -y, -ly, -le, and –ow take –er and -est.
e.g. cozy – cozier, lovely-loveliest, simple-simpler, narrow – narrowest, and so on. - Adjectives ending in -ant, -ent,-al, -ful, -ive, -less and -ous as well as adjectives of three or more syllables take more in the comparative and most in the superlative.
e.g. more intelligent, more gallant, most negative, more cordial, most beautiful, more callous. - Some adjectives of two syllables take –er and –est or more and most, according to their length and sound harmony.
This rule can create difficulties at times as it is not always easy to decide about euphony - harmony of sound.
Let´s take a closer look at a couple of words. “Valider” sounds awkward so let´s choose “more valid”. “Awkwardest” can´t be right, so let´s take “most awkward” and we will prefer “more afraid” to “afraider”.
But there is always a way round things, and that is to use more and most when you are in doubt. You can either say “commonest or most common, profoundest or most profound.”
We should also bear in mind irregular comparisons, they are few and easy to remember:
Good – better – best
Bad – worse – worst
Far – further – furthest (time and place)
Far – farther – farthest (place)
Little – less - least
Much/many – more – most
Absolute Adjectives
You generally use the singular form when referring to quantities if you have BULK in mind:
They cannot have comparative or superlative as this elevation would make no sense.
If something is unique there cannot be something else which is “uniquer.” When expressing shape you would not say that an object is “more triangular” than another one.
Yet, you will sometimes hear comments such us: “Her necklace is most unique”. In this case the speaker is using a more colloquial alternative to “very”.
Note the common expression “most grateful” used for emphasis and not for comparison.
Never use the superlative when comparing only two things. Avoid this common mistake. It is never correct to say ”I play football and rugby. Football is the easiest.”
If you want to express equality when comparing you should use ”as…as” in positive comparisons.
e.g. “I am as intelligent as she is.”
And not “so …as” for negative comparisons: e.g. “ Sally´s house is not so expensive as mine.”
Note though, that the modern tendency is to standarize on “as…as” for both positive and negative comparisons.
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