Anyone studying English will tell you that it’s not the most straightforward language in the world. There are plenty of grammar rules to learn, but the English language frequently likes to break them! One area that causes particular confusion for people studying English: the comparative/superlative. But don’t worry – we’re here to make things clearer. Or should that be more clear? Our guide will help you find out!
Let’s first take a look at what we mean by comparatives and superlatives.
Comparative adjectives compare two things:
I am happier now
I need a bigger suitcase
My sandwich is tastier than yours
Superlative adjectives compare more than two things, and we use the with superlatives:
John is the tallest man in town – here we’re comparing all the men in town, not just two
It was the happiest day of my life
Sirius is the brightest star in the sky
Now, the basic rules are:
One syllable adjectives take ‘-er’ to form comparatives
Clear > clearer
Fit > fitter
Tall > taller
Bright > brighter
And ‘-est’ to form superlatives
Clear > clearer > clearest
Fit > fitter > fittest
Tall > taller > tallest
Bright > brighter > brightest
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Two syllable adjectives ending in consonant + y take ‘-ier’ to form comparatives
Happy > happier
Pretty > prettier
Hairy > hairier
Lovely > lovelier
And ‘-iest’ to form superlatives
Happy > happier > happiest
Pretty > prettier > prettiest
Hairy > hairier > hairiest
Lovely > lovelier > loveliest
Multi-syllable adjectives take ‘more’ to form comparatives
Incredible > more incredible – not incredibler
Horrible > more horrible – not horribler
Terrifying > more terrifying – not terrifyinger
So, clearer or more clear?
The basic rules tell us that because clear is a one syllable adjective there is no need to use ‘more.’ But the reality is that in everyday usage, both are perfectly acceptable, and you’ll often hear and see both being used. Do a Google search and you’ll find millions of uses of both.
It’s really down to your personal preference which one you choose, and different scenarios may favour one over the other. ‘Clearer’ tends to be used more conversationally:
“Thanks, you’ve helped make it clearer for me”
While more clear might be considered to be more formal:
“Thank you, you have helped to make it more clear for me”
But clear is a special case. In most instances the basic rule still stands – a one syllable adjective uses ‘-er’ while longer adjectives require the addition of ‘more.’
Grammar alert! More clearer
One thing to remember is that you either use ‘-er’ or ‘more’ but never both. So you would never say:
More clearer – clearer already means ‘more clear’, so this would be like saying ‘more more clear’, which is incorrect
More clearest – clearest already means the ‘most clear’, and you can’t get and clearer than that, so you cannot have ‘more most clear’
Well, have we made things any clearer for you? We hope so! What comparatives have confused you in the past? Do you have any questions that we can help to clear up for you?Join EF English Live, take an online English classand ask one of our teachers.
As a language enthusiast and expert in linguistics, particularly in English grammar, I can confidently shed light on the intricacies of comparative and superlative adjectives, a topic that often perplexes learners of the English language.
The comparative and superlative forms play a crucial role in expressing degrees of comparison, allowing us to convey nuances in meaning. Let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article:
1. Comparative Adjectives: Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things. The article provides examples such as:
- "I am happier now."
- "I need a bigger suitcase."
- "My sandwich is tastier than yours."
2. Superlative Adjectives: Superlative adjectives, on the other hand, compare more than two things and are used with "the." Examples from the article include:
- "John is the tallest man in town."
- "It was the happiest day of my life."
- "Sirius is the brightest star in the sky."
3. Rules for Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives: The article outlines the basic rules for forming comparatives and superlatives:
- One-syllable adjectives take '-er' for comparatives and '-est' for superlatives.
- Two-syllable adjectives ending in consonant + 'y' take '-ier' and '-iest.'
- Multi-syllable adjectives use 'more' for comparatives and 'most' for superlatives.
4. Examples: The article provides examples for each category, such as:
- "Clear > clearer > clearest"
- "Happy > happier > happiest"
- "Incredible > more incredible"
5. Special Cases: The article acknowledges that some adjectives, like "clear," may have variations in everyday usage. While the basic rule suggests 'clearer' for a one-syllable adjective, both "clearer" and "more clear" are commonly accepted in practical usage.
6. Usage Preferences: The article explores the nuances of usage preferences, noting that 'clearer' might be more conversational, while 'more clear' may be considered more formal. It emphasizes that personal preference often dictates the choice between the two.
7. Grammar Alert: An important point made is the avoidance of redundancy, emphasizing that one should not use both '-er' and 'more' simultaneously. Expressions like "More clearer" or "More clearest" are grammatically incorrect.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the complexities of comparative and superlative adjectives in English, offering clarity on the rules while acknowledging the flexibility and variations in everyday usage. If you have further questions or areas of confusion, feel free to ask for clarification!
