When learning English, one of the trickiest parts can be understanding how to compare things. Most of the time, we use the familiar “-er” ending or the word “more” to create comparatives. For example, “big” becomes “bigger,” and “interesting” becomes “more interesting.” However, English wouldn’t be English without its share of exceptions. These exceptions are known as irregular comparatives, and they deviate from the usual rules. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of irregular comparatives, exploring their forms, meanings, and usage.
What Are Irregular Comparatives?
Irregular comparatives are words that do not follow the regular pattern of adding “-er” or using “more” to form their comparative and superlative forms. Instead, they change completely or in unexpected ways. These words often trip up even advanced learners because they seem to follow no logical rule.
Common Irregular Comparatives
There are a handful of irregular comparatives that you will encounter frequently. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones:
1. **Good** – better – best
2. **Bad** – worse – worst
3. **Far** – farther/further – farthest/furthest
4. **Little** – less – least
5. **Much/Many** – more – most
Diving Deeper into Each Example
Let’s explore each of these irregular comparatives in more detail, including how they are used in sentences and some nuances to keep in mind.
Good – Better – Best
The adjective “good” has the comparative form “better” and the superlative form “best.”
– **Good**: He is a good player.
– **Better**: She is a better player than him.
– **Best**: They are the best players on the team.
Notice how “good” completely changes to “better” and “best.” There is no addition of “-er” or “more.” It’s essential to remember this change, as saying “gooder” or “more good” is incorrect.
Bad – Worse – Worst
Similarly, “bad” changes to “worse” in the comparative form and “worst” in the superlative form.
– **Bad**: His behavior was bad.
– **Worse**: Her behavior was worse than his.
– **Worst**: Out of everyone, their behavior was the worst.
Again, the word changes form entirely, so “badder” or “more bad” would be incorrect.
Far – Farther/Further – Farthest/Furthest
The word “far” is unique because it has two sets of comparatives and superlatives: “farther/further” and “farthest/furthest.”
– **Far**: She lives far from here.
– **Farther**: He lives farther away than she does.
– **Further**: Let’s discuss this further.
– **Farthest**: He traveled the farthest of us all.
– **Furthest**: This is the furthest point we can reach.
“Farther” and “farthest” are often used for physical distances, while “further” and “furthest” can be used both for physical distances and abstract concepts like discussions or efforts.
Little – Less – Least
The word “little” changes to “less” in the comparative form and “least” in the superlative form.
– **Little**: He has little money.
– **Less**: She has less money than he does.
– **Least**: They have the least money of all.
Note that “less” and “least” are commonly used with uncountable nouns, whereas “fewer” and “fewest” are used with countable nouns.
Much/Many – More – Most
The adjectives “much” and “many” both change to “more” in the comparative form and “most” in the superlative form.
– **Much**: I have much respect for her.
– **Many**: There are many options available.
– **More**: She has more respect for him than I do.
– **Most**: Out of all the options, this is the most interesting.
“More” and “most” are used universally with both countable and uncountable nouns.
Other Irregular Comparatives
While the examples above are the most common irregular comparatives, there are other less frequently used words that also fall into this category. Here are a few:
1. **Old** – older/elder – oldest/eldest
2. **Late** – later – latest
3. **Near** – nearer – nearest/next
Old – Older/Elder – Oldest/Eldest
The word “old” can have two sets of comparatives and superlatives: “older/oldest” and “elder/eldest.”
– **Old**: He is an old man.
– **Older**: She is older than him.
– **Oldest**: Out of the three, he is the oldest.
– **Elder**: She is his elder sister.
– **Eldest**: He is the eldest son.
“Older” and “oldest” are more commonly used, while “elder” and “eldest” are often used in familial relationships.
Late – Later – Latest
The word “late” changes to “later” in the comparative form and “latest” in the superlative form.
– **Late**: He arrived late to the meeting.
– **Later**: She arrived later than he did.
– **Latest**: This is the latest update.
These forms follow a more regular pattern but are still considered irregular because they don’t simply add “-er” or “more.”
Near – Nearer – Nearest/Next
The word “near” changes to “nearer” in the comparative form and can either be “nearest” or “next” in the superlative form.
– **Near**: The library is near my house.
– **Nearer**: The park is nearer than the library.
– **Nearest**: The nearest hospital is five miles away.
– **Next**: The next chapter is my favorite.
“Nearest” is used for physical proximity, while “next” is used for sequence or order.
Usage Tips for Irregular Comparatives
Understanding the forms of irregular comparatives is just the first step. Knowing how to use them correctly in sentences is equally important. Here are some tips to help you master their usage:
Context Matters
The context in which you use irregular comparatives can often dictate which form is appropriate. For example, when talking about distance, “farther” is generally used for physical distances, while “further” can be used for both physical and abstract distances.
– Physical: He ran farther than she did.
– Abstract: We need to discuss this further.
Practice Makes Perfect
Like any other aspect of language learning, practice is crucial. Try to incorporate irregular comparatives into your daily conversations and writing. The more you use them, the more natural they will become.
Listen and Read
Pay attention to how native speakers use irregular comparatives in conversations, movies, and books. Listening to and reading authentic English content will help reinforce the correct usage and forms.
Use Comparatives and Superlatives Correctly
Remember that comparatives are used to compare two things, while superlatives are used to compare three or more things.
– Comparative: She is better than him.
– Superlative: She is the best of all.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even advanced learners can make mistakes when using irregular comparatives. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:
Using Regular Forms Incorrectly
One of the most common mistakes is applying regular comparative rules to irregular adjectives. For example, saying “gooder” instead of “better” or “badder” instead of “worse.”
– Incorrect: She is gooder than him.
– Correct: She is better than him.
Confusing Farther and Further
Another common mistake is using “farther” and “further” interchangeably without considering the context.
– Incorrect: Let’s discuss this farther.
– Correct: Let’s discuss this further.
Mixing Up Less and Fewer
“Less” is used with uncountable nouns, while “fewer” is used with countable nouns. Mixing these up is a frequent error.
– Incorrect: There are less people here today.
– Correct: There are fewer people here today.
Conclusion
Irregular comparatives may seem daunting at first, but with practice and a little attention to detail, you can master them. Remember that these words don’t follow the regular rules, so memorization and frequent use are key. By paying attention to how native speakers use these comparatives and practicing them in your own speech and writing, you’ll become more comfortable and accurate in their usage. Keep these tips and examples in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering irregular comparatives in English.
