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MrGuedes Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Farther/farthest vs further/furthest
Hello! Is there any difference between farther and further, and between farthest and furthest?
Both farther and further are comparative forms for the adjective far, and both farthest and furthest are the superlative forms, right? If so, what is the difference? Thanks in advance for the answer!
Both farther and further are comparative forms for the adjective far, and both farthest and furthest are the superlative forms, right? If so, what is the difference? Thanks in advance for the answer!
Top answer
MrGuedes Both farther and further are comparative forms for the adjective far, and both farthest and furthest are the superlative forms, right? Right. MrGuedes what is the difference?
- MrGuedes Both farther and further are comparative forms for the adjective far, and both farthest and furthest are the superlative forms, right?
- Right.
- MrGuedes what is the difference?
- This question has been answered quite a few times.
- Please use the search box.
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9 Answers
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MrGuedesBoth farther and further are comparative forms for the adjective far, and both farthest and furthest are the superlative forms, right?Right.
MrGuedeswhat is the difference?This question has been answered quite a few times. Please use the search box.
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Farther has more literal sense. Farther means that something is farther in phisical way, for example:
"It's much farther to London then to Dover."
Further has a metaphorical meaning, for example:
"If you keep talking further, I'm going to leave"
We sometimes also say: "go further" it means do next step. So, farther is literal, further not
"It's much farther to London then to Dover."
Further has a metaphorical meaning, for example:
"If you keep talking further, I'm going to leave"
We sometimes also say: "go further" it means do next step. So, farther is literal, further not
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OK, thanks, Lotta! I suppose the same thing happens between farthest and furthest, right?
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This is an interesting usage note:
Usage Note:
Since the Middle English period many writers have used farther and further interchangeably. According to a relatively recent rule, however, farther should be reserved for physical distance and further for nonphysical, metaphorical advancement. Thus 74 percent of the Usage Panel prefers farther
Usage Note:
Since the Middle English period many writers have used farther and further interchangeably. According to a relatively recent rule, however, farther should be reserved for physical distance and further for nonphysical, metaphorical advancement. Thus 74 percent of the Usage Panel prefers farther
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—Usage. Although some usage guides insist that only FARTHER should be used for physical distance (We walked farther than we planned), FARTHER and FURTHER have been used interchangeably throughout much of their histories. However, only FURTHER is used in the adverbial sense “moreover” (Further, you hurt my feelings) and in the adjectival senses “more extended” (n
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Cool BreezeHowever, only FURTHER is used in the adverbial sense “moreover” (Further, you hurt my feelings) and in the adjectival senses “more extended” (no further comment) and “additional” (Further bulletins came in).And in the verbal sense advance, while we’re at it: He wanted to further his career.
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You're absolutely right, the meaning is the same, only gradability changes 
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