Grammar Question

Also, is there a word for when words repeat? (referring to the 'that that' in this post)

I don't think there's a general rule, but here's a rule of thumb you could try:

Germans almost always use the -er construction, while the French almost always modify adjectives using "plus" (meaning "more" in their language). At least that's how I remember it from a handful of classes in both subjects.

Perhaps you could look at where a particular English adjective came form. In the case of "intelligent", you're dealing with an adjective from the Latin/French side of English's family tree, so you'd write "more intelligent" (just like the French write "plus intelligent"). In the case of "smart" you're probably looking at something more Germanic, so the rule of thumb would tell to go with "smarter" as your comparative version of "smart".

Hello,

You have asked an excellent question. There are, indeed, rules. I suggest that you check the Web for the use of "more" vs. "-er."

In a short post such as this, I can give you some advice from two experts. They write: "[S]tudents should understand that the basic form of the comparative is 'more' and that the -er forms are surface lexical manifestations of 'more' + adjective / adverb."

The experts also say: "A good rule of thumb for nonnative speakers is the following: when the adjective has two or more syllables and you are in doubt, use 'more'; the worst mistake you will make is a register error." (By "register," they mean formal language vs. informal, spoken language.)

Finally, one last thing. They remind us that sometimes native speakers use the -er form to get attention. They cite Alice in Wonderland when Alice says "curiouser and curiouser." Usually, we do not use -er with an adjective that ends in -ous.


James



The two experts are Mesdames Marianne Celce-Murcia and Diane Larsen-Freeman in The Grammar Book.

Bad idea, Kolyo. Languages share rules only by happenstance, not by design.

Now that's more like it, James! Dump the silly prescriptivists in favor of accurate descriptivists.

I need rules, JTT. They give me a feeling of security. I'm a very old man. It's too late to change.

If the prescriptivists have a rule, I am going to follow it.

So I SHALL (not "will") continue to say "It is I" (not "me") and "If I WERE " (not "was") and "I am not as tall as HE (not "him"). [In fact, since the last sentence is negative, I agree with some people who prefer "I am not SO tall as he."]


James's answer (Not "James' answer.")

You have rules, James, millions of them. And learning the really rules of language is infinitely more interesting than memorizing old wives tales.



Why would you want to follow rules that are not rules of the English language?



That [prefer] tells you right there that it isn't a rule. We all have preferences, depending on the situation. And you've indicated that you are ready to break the "rule".

Thanks again for your input.


James