Comparative: guidelines for comparative forms.

[rafaelgan]

Example fast=faster

 

[coiffe]

No, not all. Remember there are exceptions to every rule!!

"far" changes to "farther" or "further"
"handsome" changes to "more handsome" (although some would accept "handsomer")
"distant" changes to "more distant"
"useful" changes to "more useful"

etc.

But most adjectives will add simply -er for the comparative, yes.

 

[la reine victoria]

Example fast=faster

Hi rafaelgan,

It depends on the adjective.

Pretty - changes to prettier.
Huge - you can't say "huger".
Big - becomes 'bigger'.
Good - becomes "better".

I'm afraid it's a case of learning as you go along. There are many irregularities.

LRV

 

[Thomas Tompion]

I think most adjectives of three syllables or more form the comparative with more + adjective, rather than adding -er.

Viz.

enormous - more enormous
flexible - more flexible
heavenly - more heavenly

There's something for someone to find fault with.

 

[Orange Blossom]

I think you are asking, Can I always form the comparative adjective by adding -er, and by extension the superlative by adding -est?

You can in many cases, but there are times when you cannot.

When you cannot or if in doubt, use the more, most constructions.

Here is an example of one you can't use the -er, -est endings:

beautiful
beautifuller
beautifullest
more beautiful
most beautiful

More and most constructions are always right, though they may sound a little strange at times depending on context and rhythm.

This dress is redder than that one. <-- More commonly used

This dress is more red than that one.

Here is one where I'm uncertain.

This dress is purpler than that one. Because I'm not sure if 'purpler' has entered the lexicon, I would say: This dress is more purple than that one. Which still sounds a bit odd to me, possibly because the folks I hang around with don't go around comparing the degree of purple in things.

Orange Blossom

 

[Siberia]

You generally use "more" infront of adjectives with more than two syllables like: beautiful, interesting etc. These adjectives are long enough already so you don't add on another syllable!!
Be careful with bi syllabled adjectives that end in -ow, -er, -le, and -y they generally use -er while other bisyllabled adjectives use "more".

 

[Orange Blossom]

Be careful with bi syllabled adjectives that end in -ow, -er, -le, and -y they generally use -er while other bisyllabled adjectives use "more".

Can you provide some examples? Of the top of my head, I cannot think of a single adjective ending in '-ow' or '-er'

Orange Blossom

 

[Thomas Tompion]

Shallow, yellow, bitter, for starters.

 

[mrbilal87]

Hi,

"Er" is added to words with one syllable or two syllables, if the second syllable ends in -y:

cold - colder
warm - warmer
tall - taller

early - earlier
happy - happier
crazy - crazier

Note the change in spelling ("y" becomes "ier")

----------------------

For adjectives that end in "e", simply add "r" to the end:

nice - nicer
safe - safer

--------------------

If the word has two syllables and does not end in -y, use more:

honest - more honest
difficult - more difficult
common - more common

--------------------

More is always used with words having three syllables:

difficult - more difficult
expensive - more expensive
colorful - more colorful (note in CaE the adjective of "colour" is not "colourful")

--------------------

For the three-letter consonant-vowel-consonant words, double the last consonant before adding "er":

big - bigger
fat - fatter
hot - hotter

Hope that helps.

Cheers!

 

[gaer]

You generally use "more" infront of adjectives with more than two syllables like: beautiful, interesting etc. These adjectives are long enough already so you don't add on another syllable!!
Be careful with bi syllabled adjectives that end in -ow, -er, -le, and -y they generally use -er while other bisyllabled adjectives use "more".

Could someone explain to me what "bisyllabled adjectives" are?

 

[mrbilal87]

Could someone explain to me what "bisyllabled adjectives" are?

I think they're referring to adjectives that have only syllables, such as "common" and "tired".

 

[Orange Blossom]

It's a fancy way of saying: Adjectives with two syllables.

bi- <-- means two just as in bicycle
syllabled <-- having syllables.

Orange Blossom

 

[Siberia]

My 'fancy' bisyllabled adjectives OB are for example: narrow - narrower, clever - cleverer, simple - simpler, happy - happier.

 

[mplsray]

If the word has two syllables and does not end in -y, use more:

honest - more honest
difficult - more difficult
common - more common

Both "commoner" and "more common" are acceptable. Do a Google search for

"commoner more common"

and you will find them given in lists of adjectives which can form the comparatives using either -er or more.

 

[mrbilal87]

Hi mplsray,

Actually, I believe a commoner is a type of person; a common person without a noble rank or title. It's not an adjective, but a noun.

Cheers!

 

[panjandrum]

A forum search for comparative superlative lists many threads that discuss this topic.

Commoner gets a thread of its own:
Commoner or more common, commonest or??
which includes links to others, and this helpful comment:

IMO commoner is OK.
"Commoner is a person who is not born into nobility." - The context will lead you. The English language is swarming with words that have an amazing variety of meanings.