The form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two or more things. English comparatives are formed with the suffixes -er/-est or the words more/most.
18
votes
3answers
45k views
“More clear” vs “Clearer”: when to use “more” instead of “-er”?
Which one of these adjectives is correct? I can see that both of them are being used, I'm just not sure which one is grammatically correct.
Is there any general rules to follow as of the use of one ...
15
votes
5answers
1k views
Are the rules regarding absolute modifiers too absolute?
A common grammar lesson that was taught to me in the US and that I've had to teach abroad in EFL classrooms is that we're not to use adverbs of emphasis with absolute modifiers, just as we're not ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Use of the superlative when only two items are present
When speaking with my mother a couple of days ago, I read to her a message I was sending to my cousin on her behalf ending with: "... the birthday of your youngest." [implying her child]
She ...
12
votes
6answers
6k views
“Like something more” or “like something better”
When people like something more than something else, it's common for me to hear them say they like it better than something else. Is this proper English? I've always thought the word more fits better, ...
6
votes
3answers
6k views
“Much more easy” versus “much easier”
My mom and I are having a dispute on much more easy versus *much easier. For example, consider the sentence:
It's [much more easy]/[much easier] to do action X than action Y.
I say that much ...
8
votes
5answers
944 views
Are there any “-nk-” or “-nc-” words in English where there isn't a “ng” before the “k” sound?
In words like think and lank, we actually seem to be saying "thing-k" and "lang-k." Can anyone thing-k of any words or rules for sound use where this doesn't happen?
13
votes
12answers
5k views
What is the difference between “quicker” and “faster”?
What is the correct word to use here and why:
I will get there quicker [than you]
vs.
I will get there faster [than you]
There must be similar adverbs for "slower".
3
votes
6answers
466 views
“More perfect” versus “less imperfect”
"More perfect" is presumably bad English (Preamble to the US
Constitution notwithstanding), since something is either perfect (and
thus can't be improved) or not.
"Less imperfect", however, seems ...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the correct usage of 'worse' and 'worst'?
I've noticed a lot of people who, according to the way I was taught, misuse the words 'worse' and 'worst'. The way I understand it, 'worse' is for comparisons, and 'worst' is the superlative. But more ...
1
vote
2answers
814 views
Usage and correctness of the term “Better than Best”
I have heard the term "Better than Best" used at few places.
How is it different than saying just "best"?
For example :
a) He is better than the best.
b) He is the best.
1) How are (a) and (b) ...
1
vote
2answers
592 views
Is there a comparative form of the word “different?” [closed]
Does the adjective "different" have a comparative form? If so what is it?
7
votes
3answers
883 views
Increasingly + positive or increasingly + comparative?
For instance, would you rather say "It became increasingly hard" or "It became increasingly harder"?
From my understanding, both are possible, but their meaning is slightly different. The first ...
6
votes
1answer
100 views
Does English have half-graded antonyms?
In a recent question about comparatives, a dispute arose in the comments about gradable antonyms like useful/useless where English speakers strongly prefer to use comparative forms only for half of ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Is “very less” correct English?
Is using very less correct English? My friend suggests it should be very little. Are they both correct, or is there a difference?
4
votes
2answers
307 views
Comparative adverbs
"Officially" (or so I believe) English doesn't have comparative adverbs (a single word rather than "more" + an adverb), but faster is in common usage as one, for example:
Do it faster
When ...
2
votes
1answer
230 views
Am I right using “as” for equality and “than” to point out differences?
I would like to know whether I am right when I use "as" meaning: similar, equal or equivalent, and the comparative, "than", to point out a difference between the nouns.
3
votes
2answers
641 views
The meaning of “no more … than”
These two attitudes are no more
contradictory than those two.
Which of the following interpretations is right (or give me a better one if possible):
Relatively, these two attitudes are not ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Comparative and superlative adverbs?
I'm a native speaker of English, and I don't know how many times I've wanted to say "happilier" instead of "more happily", or "happiliest" instead of "most happily". Is there any record of such ...
1
vote
2answers
273 views
Does a comparative always need to compare with something?
As I understand it, comparatives compare with something. So something that is colder is more cold than another thing. However, can't a word like colder be used as an adjective without being compared ...
1
vote
4answers
2k views
“Lower number” vs. “smaller number”
Is −9 a smaller number than −8?
And is −9 a lower number than −8?
What is the difference between lower and smaller here?
