Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. We call these "irregular adjectives," and we must learn them if we haven't already.

Little or Few?

We use the irregular adjectives little, less, and least with things that cannot be counted. We use few, fewer, and fewest with things that can be counted.

• CANNOT BE COUNTED:
  My parrot shows less desire for vegetables than for fruits.
  The pet store owner has less affection for his finches than for his puppies.
  I have less time today than I had yesterday.

• CAN BE COUNTED:
  Does the parrot eat fewer vegetables than fruits?
  Will fewer spectators come to the parade this year?
  We will have fewer tests this semester.

Much or Many?

We use the irregular adjective much with things that cannot be counted, and we use many for things that can be counted.

• CANNOT BE COUNTED:
  There is not much time to complete this assignment.
  I don't need much help.
  There wasn't much debate.

• CAN BE COUNTED:
  We still have many assignments to complete.
  Many investors still purchase stock.

Examples 1

Choose the correct irregular adjectives for the sentences below.

1. (Little, less, least) snow falls in the valley than in the mountains.
2. That storm was the (baddest, worst) one in history.
3. There are (less, fewer) holidays in June than in November.
4. Last year, (less, fewer) smog polluted the air.
5. (Many, Much) of the birds have flown south.
6. I have (little, less, least) interest in skydiving than in scuba diving.
7. Hurricane Andrew was the (baddest, worst) hurricane I have ever experienced.
8. Teachers have (less, fewer) pupil-free days this year than last year.
9. In the past, (less, fewer) stores remained open on Sundays.

Solutions

We show correct usage of irregular adjectives:

1. Less snow falls in the valley than in the mountains. (The sentence is comparing snowfall in two places, so we use the comparative form of "little.")
2. That storm was the worst one in history. ("Baddest" is not a word.)
3. There are fewer holidays in June than in November. ("Holidays" can be counted.)
4. Last year, less smog polluted the air. ("Smog" cannot be counted.)
5. Many of the birds have flown south. ("Birds" can be counted.)
6. I have less interest in skydiving than in scuba diving. (The sentence is comparing two sports, so we use the comparative form of "little.")
7. Hurricane Andrew was the worst hurricane I have ever experienced. ("Baddest" is not a word.)
8. Teachers have fewer pupil-free days this year than last year. ("Days" can be counted.)
9. In the past, fewer stores remained open on Sundays. ("Stores" can be counted.)

Avoid Double Comparisons

We do not use double comparisons. In other words, we do not use more with er, or most with est.

• NO: The speed skater was more faster than the ice skater.
• YES: The speed skater was faster than the ice skater.

• NO: She was the most healthiest person at the gym.
• YES: She was the healthiest person at the gym.

• NO: Marilyn Monroe was more prettier than Tony Curtis.
• YES: Marilyn Monroe was prettier than Tony Curtis.

• NO: Julio was more better than Jonah at football.
• YES: Julio was better than Jonah at football.

• NO: Is your garage the most messiest on the block?
• YES: Is your garage the messiest on the block?

• NO: Was Oliver the most cleverest essayist of all? 
• YES: Was Oliver the cleverest essayist of all?

Absolute Adjectives

Some irregular adjectives do not normally permit comparison. Adjectives that represent an ultimate condition (square, round, maximum, equal, fatal, unique, dead, etc.) cannot be increased by degree. (For example, a square can't be "squarer" than another square; it's either square or it's not!) When necessary, careful writers can modify these adjectives by using words like almost, near, and nearly instead of more/less and most/least.

• NO: That pine tree looks deader now.
• YES: That pine tree looks nearly dead now.

Examples 2

Choose the correct adjective for each sentence.

1. The pigs are (noisier, more noisier) than the horses.
2. The lion's roar was the (fiercest, most fiercest) in the jungle.
3. She is (friendlier, more friendlier) than her sister.
4. That was the (bravest, most bravest) thing he ever did.
5. The Knave of Hearts was (hungrier, more hungrier) than the King of Hearts.
6. Stealing the tarts was the (worst, most worst) thing the Knave had ever done.
7. Crissy had the (most unique, unique) hairdo.

Solution

1. The pigs are noisier than the horses. ("More noisier" is a double comparison. We do not use more with er.)
2. The lion's roar was the fiercest in the jungle. ("Most fiercest" is a double comparison. We do not use most with est.)
3. She is friendlier than her sister. ("More friendlier" is a double comparison. We do not use more with er.)
4. That was the bravest thing he ever did. ("Most bravest" is a double comparison. We do not use most with est.)
5. The Knave of Hearts was hungrier than the King of Hearts. ("More hungrier" is a double comparison. We do not use more with er.)
6. Stealing the tarts was the worst thing the Knave had ever done. ("Most worst" is a double comparison. We do not use most with est.)
7. Crissy had the unique hairdo. Unique is an absolute adjective meaning "one of a kind." Something is either one of a kind or it's not, so we do not make comparisons with unique.