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Simonmm Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Gradable adverbs with comparative adjectives

To all,

I hope someone can help with this question Emotion: smile

A student wrote the following two sentences.

Driving is extremely faster than walking.
Walking is highly more convenient than taking the bus.

Does anyone know the rules of which gradable adverbs you can use with which comparative adjectives?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.
  

Top answer

All I know is that you cannot do that in formal English. You are limited to ' much faster' and ' much more convenient'.

— Mister Micawber

  • All I know is that you cannot do that in formal English.
  • You are limited to ' much faster' and ' much more convenient'.
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3 Answers
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All I know is that you cannot do that in formal English. You are limited to 'much faster' and 'much more convenient'.
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Mister Micawber,

Thanks for the reply.

For sentence one you could also use
slightly, a little bit, considerably and a few others.

I have looked at many sites and tried to find the rules for which adverbs go with which comparative adjectives, but I am at a loss.

Any further help/suggestions?

Thanks in advance
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Ah, yes, I see. I'm afraid I cannot be much help. Quirk et al (Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language) have only a short and rather vague section on this problem, listing only the 'common' intensifiers with comparatives (much as you have) Here are some good ones: a good bit, a heck of a lot, a **** sight.

Also, this comment:

Only much and far can be used a
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