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Mkate42 Posted 23 years ago
Grammar
Comparisons
A co-worker is taking an ESL course and had a question I couldn't answer.
Why is it tall, taller, tallest for example, but more expensive. What is the rule for using er or est or more?
Why is it tall, taller, tallest for example, but more expensive. What is the rule for using er or est or more?
Top answer
Words with one syllable go with -er/-est: fine, finer, finest. Words with 3 syllables or more go with more/most: expensive, more/most expensive. Words with two syllables, ending in -y go with -er/-est: silly, sillier, silliest Words with two syllables, not ending in -y go with more/most: modern, more/most modern.
- Words with one syllable go with -er/-est: fine, finer, finest.
- Words with 3 syllables or more go with more/most: expensive, more/most expensive.
- Words with two syllables, ending in -y go with -er/-est: silly, sillier, silliest Words with two syllables, not ending in -y go with more/most: modern, more/most modern.
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2 Answers
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Words with one syllable go with -er/-est: fine, finer, finest.
Words with 3 syllables or more go with more/most: expensive, more/most expensive.
Words with two syllables, ending in -y go with -er/-est: silly, sillier, silliest
Words with two syllables, not ending in -y go with more/most: modern, more/most modern.
Words with 3 syllables or more go with more/most: expensive, more/most expensive.
Words with two syllables, ending in -y go with -er/-est: silly, sillier, silliest
Words with two syllables, not ending in -y go with more/most: modern, more/most modern.
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Thank you very much for your prompt reply. Now my friend can go into class and be one up on her teacher. He didn't seem to know the answer to her question, either.
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