More Than: comparing the quality of two items

More / -er

Comparing the quality of two items

Adjectives

-ER	MORE	LESS
With a one-syllable word or a word ending in -y or -ly add the suffix -er to form a comparative phrase with than.	With an adjective or adverb of more-than-one syllable, use more to create the comparative phrase with than.	With an adjective or adverb of more-than-one syllable, use less to create the comparative phrase with than.
This apple is better than that one. (good - better)	This apple is more beautiful than that one.	This apple is less beautiful than that one.
This apple is redder than the other one. (red)	This apple is more flavorful than the other one.	This apple is less flavorful than the other one.
This apple is heavier than that one. (heavy)	This apple is more exceptional than that one.	This apple is less exceptional than that one.
This apple is uglier than that one. (ugly)	This apple is more desirable than that one.	This apple is less desirable than that one.

Exceptions – Adjectives with -er

angry — angrier	friendly — friendlier / more friendly	handsome — handsomer	good — better
busy — busier	gentle — gentler / more gentle	far — farther (distance) / further (quantity, degree)	bad — worse
happy — happier	little — littler	clever — cleverer / more clever*	little — less (noncount nouns)
ugly — uglier	narrow — narrower	simple — simpler / more simple*	few — fewer (noncount nouns - regular)
funny — funnier	silly — sillier	fun — funner / more fun (see below)	many / much — more

Much

Adding Emphasis to a Comparison

Much -er / Much More

MUCH -ER	MUCH MORE
Use much (an adverb) to add emphasis to the comparison word formed with -er. (also: much, far, rather, a bit a lot)	Use much (an adverb) to add emphasis to the comparison formed with more. (also: much, far, rather, a bit a lot)
This apple is much better than that one. (good - better)	This apple is much more beautiful than that one.
This apple is much redder than the other one. (red)	This apple is far more flavorful than the other one.
This apple is a bit heavier than that one. (heavy)	This apple is a bit more exceptional than that one.
This apple is far uglier than that one. (ugly)	This apple is a lot more desirable than that one.

See: Much / More

Adverbial Comparisons

Comparing the manner of two actions

Adverbs

-ER	MORE	LESS
Use -er with a one-syllable adverb that does not take the -ly ending (loud, fast, hard, etc.)	Use more with most adverbs ending in -ly.	Use less with most adverbs ending in -ly.
Can you drive faster than this?	Can you drive more rapidly than this?	Can you drive less rapidly than this?
On this one, you push harder on the brake than on that one.	You push more forcefully on the brake than on that one.	You push less forcefully on the brake than on that one.
This car runs quieter than the other one. (informal use)	This car runs more quietly than that one.	This car runs less quietly than that one.
This car warms up slower than that one. (informal use)	This car warms up more slowly than that one.	This car warms up less quickly than that one.

See Adverb exceptions.

Exceptions – Adverbs with -er

bad — worse	high — higher	near — nearer	easy — easier (informal)
early — earlier	late — later	soon — sooner	loud — louder (informal)
fast — faster	long — er	well — better	slow — slower (informal)
hard — harder	low — lower		quick — quicker (informal)

Clause Shortening

Subject v. Object Pronoun

Clause Shortening

SUBJECT PRONOUN IN CLAUSE	OBJECT PRONOUN IN CLAUSE
When making a comparison, two like things are compared. The verbs should be parallel (the same form, tense). After than the main verb is not usually repeated. Use the subject pronoun and optionally use the auxiliary verb. (Use this form in business and academic English.)	In informal English, the object pronoun occurs. This pattern seems to treat than more like a preposition (the pronoun being the object of the preposition).
I speak five languages. You speak six languages. You speak more languages than I do. / I . [than I speak]	You speak more languages than me.
You are an hour late. He is thirty minutes late. You are later than he is. / he. [than he is late]	You are later than him.
We liked the movie. Chelsea loved the movie. Chelsea liked the movie more than we did. / we. [than we liked it]	Chelsea liked the movie more than we.
He bought a new car this year. They bought a new car last year. He has a newer car than they do. / they. (they have. – British English)	He has a newer car than them.
He has been difficult to please. You have been difficult to please. He has been more difficult to please than you have. / you. [than you have been]	He has been more difficult to pleasethan you.

(Swan 139.6, 429.2)
(CaGEL 460, 1113)

Tesla

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
There are several new electric cars on the market. Tesla is a faster car. Compared to what?	Tesla is a fast car. Tesla is a faster car than the other electric cars on the market.
I bought a prettier dress. Do you want to see it. Compared to what?	I bought a pretty dress. It is prettier than the one I returned. We usually state the two items in the comparison unless the second item is understood from earlier mention or shared knowledge.
Eleni and Maria are a bit shorter than me.	Eleni and Maria are a bit shorter than I. / I am. Adding the auxiliary verb after the pronoun often helps a speaker remember that a subject pronoun is needed.
I was working more quickly than he did.	I was working more quickly than he was. [was working] Use parallel verb forms when making a comparison.

Pop-Q "Shorter than"

video game

Fun — Noun v. Adj

NEW USAGE	COMPARATIVE FORM
The word fun is a word that is changing in use. Originally used as a noun, it started to be used as a noun modifier and then an adjective dating to around 1850 to 1950. Currently, it is being used as an adjective along side of an earlier adjective form – funny. Both words are in use now with different meanings.	The comparative form of fun is currently more fun; however, advertising is starting to use the expected grammatical pattern of funner. The use may change in time to the -er comparative form or it may remain frozen with the 'more' form.
Let's have some fun. a noun This is game is fun. an adjective - informal use (amusing) This is a fun game. an adjective - informal use This is a funny game. an adjective - causes laughter, or is odd or peculiar	The new version is funner than the last one. causes more amusement - informal use! The new version is more fun than the last one. informal to formal use The new version is funnier than the last one. causes more laughter, or is odder Pop-Q "Funner"

NEW USAGE

COMPARATIVE FORM

The word fun is a word that is changing in use. Originally used as a noun, it started to be used as a noun modifier and then an adjective dating to around 1850 to 1950. Currently, it is being used as an adjective along side of an earlier adjective form – funny. Both words are in use now with different meanings.

The comparative form of fun is currently more fun; however, advertising is starting to use the expected grammatical pattern of funner. The use may change in time to the -er comparative form or it may remain frozen with the 'more' form.

Let's have some fun. a noun

This is game is fun. an adjective - informal use (amusing)

This is a fun game. an adjective - informal use

This is a funny game. an adjective - causes laughter, or is odd or peculiar

The new version is funner than the last one. causes more amusement - informal use!

The new version is more fun than the last one. informal to formal use

The new version is funnier than the last one. causes more laughter, or is odder

Pop-Q "Funner"

Quinion, Michael. "World Wide Words: Funner and funnest." 2009 World Wide Words: English from a British Viewpoint. 03 Dec 2009. <http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-fun1.htm>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 1993. p. 469. Also, Merriam-Webster.com. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funner>
Wiki Answers: "Why can't you say funner instead of more fun?." 2009. Answers.com. 03 Dec 2009. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_can't_you_say_funner_instead_of_more_fun>

Practice 1

The Smart car vs. Toyota Yaris

Making comparisons

Select the word or words that best complete the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer to the right by clicking the "check" button.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK YOUR ANSWER
1.	Miles per gallon (city) : Smart – 33; Yaris – 29 The Smart car gets mileage than the Yaris.
2.	Length: Smart – 106.1 inches; Yaris– 150.6 inches The Yaris is than the Smart car.
3.	Width: Smart – 61.4 inches; Yaris– 66.7 inches The Yaris is than the Smart car.
4.	Height: Smart – 60.7 inches; Yaris– 60 inches The Yaris is than the Smart car.
5.	Overall Size: Both cars are very tiny (small). However, the Smart car than the Yaris.
6.	Horsepower: Smart – 70 @ 5800; Yaris – RPM 106 @ 6000 RPM The Smart car is than the Yaris.
7.	Road Sound: Smart car – noisy; Yaris – quiet The Yaris drives than the Smart car.
8.	Horn Sound: Smart car – like a little car; Yaris – like a large car The horn on the Yaris honks than the horn on the Smart car.
9.	Engine Size: Smart car – 1L 70hp; Yaris – I3 1.5L 106hp I4 The Yaris drives than the Smart car.
10.	People Appeal: Smart car – "sexy"; Yaris – "practical" The Smart car is than the Yaris.
11.	The manufacturer's recommended price (MSRP): Smart – $11,990; Yaris – $13,105 The Smart car is than the Yaris.
12.	Miles per gallon (city) : Smart – 33; Yaris – 29 The Yaris car uses fuel than the Smart Car.

Practice 2

Comparing Abilities

Select the word or words that best complete the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer to the right by clicking the "check" button.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK YOUR ANSWER
13.	Mario is a good player. Mario believes he is a player than his teammate, Lucas.
14.	Mario plays well. Mario thinks he plays than his teammate, Lucas.
15.	Mario gets up early in the morning to practice. Mario gets up than his teammate, Lucas.
16.	Mario runs fast. Mario thinks he can run than his teammate, Lucas.
17.	Mario shoots the ball high. Mario shoots the ball in the air than his teammate, Lucas.
18.	Mario thinks highly of himself. (regards himself as being good; self-esteem) Mario regards himself than his teammate, Lucas.
19.	Mario is not very humble. (humble (adj) – considers others to be equally important) Mario is than his teammate, Lucas.

Practice 3

Clause Shortening Practice

Select the word or words that best complete the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer to the right by clicking the "check" button.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK YOUR ANSWER
20.	Michael sends a few text messages a month. Andrea sends over 30 text messages a day. Andrea sends more text messages than
21.	Andrea can type 60 words a minute. Michael types 45 words a minute. Andrea can type faster than
22.	Andrea has a keyboard on her mobile phone. Michael does not. Andrea has a better phone for texting than .
23.	Andrea has owned a cell phone for five years. Michael has just started using a cell phone. Andrea has owned a cell phone longer than
24.	Andrea's phone cost over $200. Michael's phone cost under $100. Andrea's phone cost more than .
25.	Michael has an average cell phone bill each month. Andrea pays twice as much as Michael. She pays more for service than
26.	Andrea uses her phone to keep in touch with her friends. Michael uses his phone for emergencies. Andrea has more social uses for her phone than

Grammar-Quizzes.com

PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

More / -er

Comparing the quality of two items

Adjectives

Exceptions – Adjectives with -er

Much

Adding Emphasis to a Comparison

Much -er / Much More

Adverbial Comparisons

Comparing the manner of two actions

Adverbs

Exceptions – Adverbs with -er

Clause Shortening

Subject v. Object Pronoun

Clause Shortening

Common Mistakes

Fun — Noun v. Adj

Practice 1

Making comparisons

Practice 2

Comparing Abilities

Practice 3

Clause Shortening Practice