English for Research: Usage, Style, and Grammar

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A.Wallwork - English for Research Usage, Style, and Grammar - 2013

YES NO 1 This is the biggest and most productive
19 Comparative and superlative -er , -est , irregular forms

19.1
form and usage
1. All monosyllable adjectives require -er / -est (exceptions more true or
truer , more real ). All adjectives with three or more syllables require more /
most.
2. Two-syllable adjectives ending in a vowel sound (e.g. easy , happy,
narrow ) take -er / -est , whereas those ending in a consonant sound
(e.g. complex, massive, useful ) require more / most. Note clever ,
common, friendly, gentle, quiet and simple and be used with either form (most common, commonest). See also spelling (
28.1
).
3. Use the comparative form (e.g. bigger, better, more beautiful ) to compare two things or two groups of things.
YES
NO
1 This is the biggest and most productive machine in the world. This is the most big and
productivest machine in the world.
2 This is the busiest and heaviest period of the year, but yet also the most
peaceful . This is the most busy and most
heavy period of the year, but yet also the peacefullest .
3 Brazil is bigger than Argentina. Brazil is biggest than Argentina.
3 The system performed better / worse /
less efficiently more efficiently bin the first test than in the second test. The system performed best /
worst / least efficiently most
ef fi ciently in the first test than in the second test.
19 Comparative and superlative -er , -est ,
irregular forms

170
19.1 form and usage (cont.)
4. Use the superlative form (e.g. the biggest, the best, the most beautiful ) to describe something in absolute terms. Note that the is used before all superlatives, except for the case given in Rule 6.
5. Note these irregular forms good / better / best bad / worse / worst far /
further / furthest (alternative spelling farther / farthest ).
6. Note the difference between (a) Poverty in London was the highest in
England (bi Poverty was highest in England. Ina) we are talking about two places that are in relation to each other (London and England. In b) we are talking about poverty without putting two countries indirect relation to each other. This subtle difference is only applicable when the superlative does not directly precede a noun.

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