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adjectives with -er/-est,

more/most, less/least in

comparative/superlative

Kim from South Korea writes:

In a BBC article on a business news web page, a

ournalist wrote:

"The emerging markets that investors can easily

ut money into seem a lot more r iskythan they

did."

Shouldn't it be riskier? Can you explain? Thank

you in advance.

Roger Woodham replies:

-er /-est or more/most with one/three-syllable adjectives?It is clear that adjectives of one syllable normally end in -er and -

est in their comparative and superlative forms whilst the

comparative and superlative ofadjectives with three or more

syllables are formed with more and most:

The water in the pool was colderthan I expected it to be onwhat was the hottestday of the year.

They always go to the most expensive restaurantswhereyou can see the most glamorous peoplein the world.

The work I do is now more satisfyingbecause theconditions under which I work are more satisfactory.

-er /-est or more/most with two-syllable adjectives?When it comes to two-syllable adjectives, the case is less clear cut.

With some two-syllable adjectives, -er/-est and more/most are

both possible:

The water here is shall ower / more shall owthan it isfurther up the beach.

The grey squirrel is one of the most common /commonestrodents that you will see in England.

Others, with particular endings, tend to folllow either one or the

other pattern:

-y > -ierTwo-syllable adjectives which end with consonant + -y nearly

always form their comparatives and superlatives with -ier and -

iest:

You are one ofthe messiestpeople I know. Even Janeis tidierthan you are.

I'm busierthan I used to be so I have to get upeven earlierthan before.

It would be unusual, I think, for the comparative or superlative to

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be formed with more ormost in these examples. However, in your

example, Kim, with risky, both patterns appear possible. It may be

the case that more risky works well here because it is combined

with a modifying phrase such as a lot. Compare also the following:

Walking along this mountain path is much more riskyinwinter than it is in summer.

However, as a general rule, stick to -ier / -iest with two-syllable

adjectives which end with consoant + y

-ful / -less / -ing / -ed / -ousNote that two-syllable adjectives with these endings always form

their comparatives and superlatives with more and most:

Having a tooth extracted was more painfulthan I expectedit to be.

The situation is even more hopelessthan I thought. She willnever recover.

The most boringpart of the weekend was listening toJane's jokes.

I'm more worr iedthan you are about Tom and I've onlyknown him for two days.

The two brothers are both well-known internationally, but Iwould say that Giles is the more famous.

less / leastNote that when we are making the not-so-much

comparison, lessand least are the only options open to us, unless

we use the construction not asas:

I'm not as hungrytoday asI was yesterday. I am less hungrytoday thanI was yesterday. I was angriestwith John about the spoilt weekend. I'm less

angrywith you. But I'm stillangry, nevertheless.

Why don't you sit here? This is the least uncomfortableofour chairs.

Note that we tend not to use less and least to form

comparatives / superlatives with one syllable adjectives, as

short adjectives often have other words as their opposites.

Compare the following:

Your cooking is less blandthan Mary's. - Your cookingis spicier thanMary's.

It's less warmtoday, don't you think? - It's coolertoday,don't you think?