Much more, Much less

Question

He can speak French, much more English.We have a right to our property, much more to our life.I cannot bear to walk, much less run.I cannot even read German, much less speak it.At first glance, I thought those are a comma splice. But, they say those are grammatical. I was wondering what I shall call them in a grammatical way. Could it be a comparative conjunction?It is certain that those are adverbials which are optional elements in the sentences.He can speak French. much more English.We have a right to our property. much more to our life.I cannot bear to walk. much less run.I cannot even read German. much less speak it.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

I have never seen the version with 'much more'. I find it hard to assign a meaning to it that parallels the usage of 'much less'. Where did you get the idea that 'much more' is used in this pattern?

I only know the usage of 'much less' after a negation.

In any case, I've never heard that construction called by any particular label. You may as well call it whatever you like, including "the much less construction" or, as you suggest, a comparative phrase.

Maybe someone else can give you a better label for that kind of phrase. Wait for more replies.

CJ

GPY · Answer

KeunChulLee1. He can speak French, much more English.
2. We have a right to our property, much more to our life.

The "much more" variant seems possible to me, though fairly uncommon. However, sentence (1) does not work very well for me. (2) seems OK to me.

To me, this pattern seems a shortened way of saying e.g. "I cannot bear to walk, (and) much less (can I bear to) run", and similarly for the others.

Much more, Much less

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