Grammar

Comparison

Djenidi Fathi Oudini A.razzak

Academic year : 2012 - 2013

Comparison, in grammar, is a property of adjectives and adverbs in most languages; it describes systems that distinguish the degree to which the modifier modifies its complement. , due to the complex etymology of its lexicon, has two parallel English systems of comparison. One involves the suffixes -er (the "comparative") and -est (the "superlative"). These inflections are of Germanic origin, and are cognate with the Latin suffixes -ior and -issimus. They are typically added to shorter words, words of Anglo-Saxon origin, and borrowed words that have been fully assimilated into the English vocabulary. Usually the words that take these inflections have fewer than three syllables. This system contains a number of irregular forms, some of which, like good, better, best, contain suppletive forms. These irregular forms include: Positive good well bad far far little Comparative better better worse farther further Superlative best best worst farthest furthest

smaller, less(er) smallest, least most

many, much more

1 more and most The second system of comparison in English appends the grammatical particles more and most, themselves the irregular comparatives of many, to the adjective or adverb being modified. This series can be compared to a system containing the diminutives less and least. This system is most commonly used with words of French or Latin derivation; adjectives and adverbs formed with suffixes other than -ly (e.g. beautiful); and with longer, technical, or infrequently used words. Knowing which words fall into which system is a highly idiomatic issue in English syntax. Some words require the suffixing system: e.g. taller is required; *more tall is not idiomatic English. Some words (e.g. difficult) require more and most. Some words (e.g. polite) can be used with either system; curiously, while polite can go either way, the derived word impolite requires more and most. The general rule is that words with one syllable require the suffix, words with three or more syllables require more or most and words with two syllables can go either way. Absolute adjectives A perennial issue in English usage involves the comparison of so-called "absolute" adjectives, adjectives that logically do not seem to admit of comparison. There are many such adjectives generally adjectives that name qualities that are either present or absent: nothing is *"more Cretaceous" or *"more igneous" than anything else. Other examples include perfect, unique, and parallel, which name qualities that are inherently superlative: if something is perfect, there can be nothing better, so it does not make sense to describe one thing as *"more perfect" than something else; if something is unique, it is one of a kind, so something cannot be *"very unique", or *"more unique" than something else. See also tautology (rhetoric) and pleonasm.

In general, terms like perfect and parallel cannot ever apply exactly to things in real life, so they are commonly used to mean nearly perfect, nearly parallel, and so on; and in this (inexact) use, more perfect (i.e., more nearly perfect, closer to perfect) and more parallel (i.e., more nearly parallel, closer to parallel) do seem to make sense.

2 Comparison with -er/-est

clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:
1) adjectives with one syllable clean new cheap cleaner cleanest newer newest

cheaper cheapest

2) adjectives with two syllables and the following endings: 2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y dirty easy happy pretty dirtier easier dirtiest easiest

happier happiest prettier prettiest

2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er clever cleverer cleverest

2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le simple simpler simplest 2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow narrow narrower narrowest

Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est

large big sad dirty shy larger bigger sadder dirtier shyer largest biggest Double the consonant after short vowel saddest dirtiest shyest Change -y to -i (consonant before -y) Here -y is not changed to -i. (although consonant before -y) leave out the silent -e

- Comparison with more - most

difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4)

- Irregular adjectives
good bad much many little little better worse more more less best worst most most least uncountable nouns countable nouns

smaller smallest

- Special adjectives
Some ajdectives have two possible forms of comparison.
common likely pleasant polite simple stupid subtle sure commoner / more common commonest / most common likelier / more likely likeliest / most likely

pleasanter / more pleasant pleasantest / most pleasant politer / more polite simpler / more simple stupider / more stupid subtler / more subtle surer / more sure politest / most polite simplest / most simple stupidest / most stupid subtlest surest / most sure

Difference in meaning with adjectives:

farther far further later late latter x old older furthest latest x last oldest people and things farthest distance distance or time

elder nearer near x

eldest nearest next

people (family) distance order