Learning a new language is an exciting journey filled with new vocabulary, grammatical structures, and cultural insights. However, one of the trickiest aspects for many learners is mastering the art of comparison. Comparisons are essential for effective communication as they allow us to express differences and similarities between people, objects, and ideas. Yet, this is an area where many language learners stumble. In this article, we’ll delve into some common comparison pitfalls and offer tips to avoid them.
Misusing Comparative and Superlative Forms
One of the most frequent mistakes involves the misuse of comparative and superlative forms. In English, comparative forms typically end in “-er” (e.g., taller, smarter) or use “more” (e.g., more beautiful). Superlative forms usually end in “-est” (e.g., tallest, smartest) or use “most” (e.g., most beautiful).
**Common Pitfall**: Using “more” or “most” with an adjective that already has a comparative or superlative form.
*Incorrect*: She is more taller than her sister.
*Correct*: She is taller than her sister.
*Incorrect*: This is the most smartest dog I’ve ever seen.
*Correct*: This is the smartest dog I’ve ever seen.
**Tip**: Remember that one-syllable adjectives typically take “-er” for comparatives and “-est” for superlatives. Adjectives with three or more syllables usually use “more” for comparatives and “most” for superlatives.
Confusing “Fewer” and “Less”
Another frequent error is the confusion between “fewer” and “less.” Both words are used to indicate a smaller quantity, but they are not interchangeable.
**Common Pitfall**: Using “less” when “fewer” is the correct word.
*Incorrect*: There are less people in the room now.
*Correct*: There are fewer people in the room now.
**Tip**: Use “fewer” for countable nouns (e.g., people, apples) and “less” for uncountable nouns (e.g., water, money).
Incorrect Use of “Than” and “Then”
The words “than” and “then” may sound similar but have different meanings and uses.
**Common Pitfall**: Using “then” in place of “than” in comparisons.
*Incorrect*: She is taller then her brother.
*Correct*: She is taller than her brother.
**Tip**: “Than” is used for comparisons, while “then” is used to indicate time or sequence.
Omitting “More” or “Most”
Some adjectives, especially those with three or more syllables, require “more” or “most” to form their comparative and superlative forms.
**Common Pitfall**: Omitting “more” or “most” when forming comparatives or superlatives.
*Incorrect*: She is beautifuller than her sister.
*Correct*: She is more beautiful than her sister.
*Incorrect*: This is the beautifullest painting in the gallery.
*Correct*: This is the most beautiful painting in the gallery.
**Tip**: For adjectives with three or more syllables, always use “more” for comparatives and “most” for superlatives.
Using Double Comparatives or Superlatives
Sometimes learners make the mistake of using both “more” or “most” and the “-er” or “-est” ending at the same time.
**Common Pitfall**: Using double comparatives or superlatives.
*Incorrect*: She is more taller than her brother.
*Correct*: She is taller than her brother.
*Incorrect*: This is the most smartest student in the class.
*Correct*: This is the smartest student in the class.
**Tip**: Stick to one form. Use either the “-er” or “-est” ending or “more” and “most,” but not both.
Misplacing the Comparative Adjective
The placement of comparative adjectives can also be a source of confusion. The adjective should come directly before the noun it modifies.
**Common Pitfall**: Misplacing the comparative adjective in the sentence.
*Incorrect*: She is than her sister taller.
*Correct*: She is taller than her sister.
**Tip**: Always place the comparative adjective directly before the noun or after the verb “to be.”
Incorrect Use of “As…As” Structures
Comparative structures using “as…as” are another area where mistakes are common. This structure is used to show that two things are equal in some way.
**Common Pitfall**: Incorrectly using “as” with comparative adjectives.
*Incorrect*: She is as taller as her brother.
*Correct*: She is as tall as her brother.
**Tip**: Use the base form of the adjective (not the comparative form) in “as…as” structures.
Using “More” with Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in “-y”
Adjectives with two syllables that end in “-y” typically change to “-ier” for comparatives and “-iest” for superlatives.
**Common Pitfall**: Using “more” with two-syllable adjectives ending in “-y.”
*Incorrect*: She is more happy than her friend.
*Correct*: She is happier than her friend.
**Tip**: For two-syllable adjectives ending in “-y,” change the “y” to “i” and add “-er” or “-est.”
Misusing Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that don’t follow the usual rules.
**Common Pitfall**: Using regular forms for irregular adjectives.
*Incorrect*: She is gooder at math than her brother.
*Correct*: She is better at math than her brother.
*Incorrect*: This is the goodest cake I have ever tasted.
*Correct*: This is the best cake I have ever tasted.
**Tip**: Familiarize yourself with the common irregular comparatives and superlatives like “good” (better, best), “bad” (worse, worst), and “far” (farther, farthest).
Misunderstanding “More” and “Most” with Uncountable Nouns
“More” and “most” are used with both countable and uncountable nouns, but their use with uncountable nouns can cause confusion.
**Common Pitfall**: Incorrectly using “fewer” or “less” with uncountable nouns in place of “more” or “most.”
*Incorrect*: There are fewer water in the bottle.
*Correct*: There is more water in the bottle.
**Tip**: Use “more” and “most” with uncountable nouns to indicate a greater quantity.
Using “More” with Adjectives Ending in “-ed”
Adjectives that end in “-ed” usually use “more” to form the comparative and “most” to form the superlative.
**Common Pitfall**: Using the “-er” or “-est” ending with adjectives ending in “-ed.”
*Incorrect*: She is tired-er than her friend.
*Correct*: She is more tired than her friend.
**Tip**: For adjectives ending in “-ed,” always use “more” and “most.”
Confusing “Older” and “Elder”
The adjectives “older” and “elder” are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct uses.
**Common Pitfall**: Using “elder” when “older” is the correct word, and vice versa.
*Incorrect*: She is my older sister.
*Correct*: She is my elder sister.
*Incorrect*: He is elder than I am.
*Correct*: He is older than I am.
**Tip**: Use “elder” when referring to family members and “older” for general comparisons of age.
Forgetting to Include “Than” in Comparisons
When making comparisons, it’s essential to include the word “than” to clarify the relationship between the two items.
**Common Pitfall**: Omitting “than” in comparative sentences.
*Incorrect*: She is taller her brother.
*Correct*: She is taller than her brother.
**Tip**: Always include “than” when making a comparison to avoid confusion.
Using “Less” with Comparatives
While “more” is used to indicate a greater quantity, “less” is used to indicate a smaller quantity. However, “less” is not used with comparative adjectives.
**Common Pitfall**: Using “less” with comparative adjectives.
*Incorrect*: She is less taller than her brother.
*Correct*: She is shorter than her brother.
**Tip**: Use “less” with uncountable nouns and “fewer” with countable nouns, but not with comparative adjectives.
Confusing “Much” and “Many” with Comparatives
“Much” and “many” are used to indicate quantity, but their use with comparatives can be confusing.
**Common Pitfall**: Using “much” with countable nouns and “many” with uncountable nouns in comparative sentences.
*Incorrect*: She has much more friends than I do.
*Correct*: She has many more friends than I do.
**Tip**: Use “much” with uncountable nouns and “many” with countable nouns when making comparisons.
Using “So” Instead of “As” in Comparisons
The word “so” is often used to indicate degree, but it is not used in comparative structures.
**Common Pitfall**: Using “so” instead of “as” in comparisons.
*Incorrect*: She is so tall as her brother.
*Correct*: She is as tall as her brother.
**Tip**: Use “as…as” to indicate equality in comparisons.
Incorrect Use of Double Negatives in Comparisons
Double negatives can make comparative sentences confusing and grammatically incorrect.
**Common Pitfall**: Using double negatives in comparative sentences.
*Incorrect*: She is not no better than her brother.
*Correct*: She is no better than her brother.
**Tip**: Avoid using double negatives to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.
Using Comparatives with Absolute Adjectives
Absolute adjectives describe qualities that are either present or not, and they do not have comparative or superlative forms.
**Common Pitfall**: Using comparatives with absolute adjectives.
*Incorrect*: She is more perfect than her sister.
*Correct*: She is perfect, just like her sister.
**Tip**: Recognize absolute adjectives such as “perfect,” “unique,” “dead,” and “complete,” and avoid using comparatives or superlatives with them.
Conclusion
Mastering comparisons in English can be challenging, but understanding these common pitfalls can significantly improve your language skills. By paying attention to the correct forms and usage of comparative and superlative adjectives, as well as understanding the nuances of words like “fewer,” “less,” “than,” and “then,” you’ll be well on your way to making accurate and effective comparisons. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—every error is an opportunity to learn and improve. Happy learning!
