Worse/Worst

Question

Can someone discuss the rules concerning choice of worse/worst?ThanksTom Banks

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Can someone discuss the rules concerning choice of worse/worst?[/nq]
Adjectives have three forms:
simple, comparative, superlative
e.g. red, redder, reddest;
e.g. long, longer, longest.
Many adjectives are irregular,
e.g. good, better, best;
e.g. bad, worse, worst.
Your choice between these two words is the
choice between the comparative and superlative
forms.

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Can someone discuss the rules concerning choice of worse/worst?[/nq]
[nq:1]Adjectives have three forms: simple, comparative, superlative e.g. red, redder, reddest; e.g. long, longer, longest. Many adjectives are irregular, e.g. ... between these two words is the choice between the comparative and superlative forms. Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)[/nq]
Thanks. And yet there seems to be times when either form of the word (worse) is correct. Can you expound on this?
Prof Marvel

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Adjectives have three forms: simple, comparative, superlative e.g. red, redder, ... words is the choice between the comparative and superlative forms.[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks. And yet there seems to be times when either form of the word (worse) is correct. Can you expound on this?[/nq]
They are not really interchangeable. If you're thinking of the phrase "if worse comes to worse/worst," there is much confusion about it, and it's probably reached the status of an idiom with two variations. If language followed logic, it would always be "if worse comes to worst," because "worst" is the superlative, so you go from something comparatively bad ("worse") to something as bad as things can bet ("worst"). But language doesn't always follow logic. That's part of the fun.
In most, if not all, other uses the words are not interchangeable. "Worse" needs an implied or stated comparison. "John is a bad athlete, but Max is worse." "This painting is even worse than your last one." "Worst" means as bad as it can get worse than everything else. "Max is the worst athlete I know." "Of all your paintings, this one is the worst." Switch from one to another in any of my examples and you wind up with near nonsense.

"Bad" and "worse" have different etymologies but became attached to other at some point long ago, just as did, say, "go" and "went." Also, "worse" and "worst" sound more alike than do most pairs of comparative and superlative forms. So the confusion is understandable. But, idioms aside, their grammar is clear and they are differentiable.

Bob Lieblich
Not my worst answer ever

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Thanks. And yet there seems to be times when either form of the word (worse) is correct. Can you expound on this?[/nq]
[nq:1]They are not really interchangeable. If you're thinking of the phrase "if worse comes to worse/worst," there is much confusion ... comparative and superlative forms. So the confusion is understandable. But, idioms aside, their grammar is clear and they are differentiable.[/nq]
Thanks loads.
Marvel

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Thanks. And yet there seems to be times when either form of the word (worse) is correct. Can you expound on this?[/nq]
[nq:1]They are not really interchangeable. If you're thinking of the phrase "if worse comes to worse/worst," there is much confusion ... to something as bad as things can bet ("worst"). But language doesn't always follow logic. That's part of the fun.[/nq]
Just to be contrary, I did indeed learn it as "If worse comes to worse...", and there's a certain logic which could suggest that the second worse is simply more worse than the first worse in comparison. There's a companion saying "Going from bad to worse" in which it's assumed that the new situation is more bad than the first one was, no matter how bad in absolute terms it was. I always got the impression that if the worse came to the worst, which is a superlative, you'd popped your clogs.

wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Quiet part of Hertfordshire
England

Worse/Worst

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