2024.11.15. GPT와 영어공부 : more, -er

Certainly! Here’s an explanation of why we don't use "more" and "-er" together in English grammar:
In English, "more" and "-er" both serve to indicate a comparative form, which means they both show that something has a higher degree of a quality than something else. However, because they both imply a comparison, using them together creates a redundancy, which makes the sentence sound awkward and grammatically incorrect.
Here’s how we decide which form to use:

1. For shorter, one-syllable adjectives, we typically use the "-er" ending to form the comparative. For example, words like "tall" or "fast" become "taller" and "faster" when we want to indicate that something has more height or speed than something else. So, it’s correct to say:
   • "He is taller than his brother."
   • "This car is faster than that one."
   It would sound incorrect to say "more taller" or "more faster" because the comparative meaning is already clear with the "-er" ending alone.
2. For longer adjectives, generally those with two syllables or more, we usually add "more" before the adjective instead of using "-er." Words like "beautiful," "interesting," or "expensive" take "more" to form the comparative. For instance:
   • "She is more beautiful than her sister."
   • "This movie is more interesting than the last one."
   Trying to say "beautifuller" or "interestinger" would not be correct, as these words need "more" to indicate comparison due to their length and structure.
3. Exceptions exist with certain two-syllable adjectives that can take either form depending on common usage, such as "friendly" or "simple," which can be "friendlier" or "more friendly," but generally speaking, most longer adjectives will use "more" instead of "-er."

This rule helps English remain clear and avoids unnecessary repetition. By choosing either "more" or "-er" based on the adjective’s syllable count and structure, we can communicate comparisons effectively without making sentences overly complex or repetitive.
 

1. "-er"을 사용하는 단음절 형용사 비교급 예문

• "Tall":
  • "My brother is taller than I am." (내 남동생은 나보다 키가 크다.)
• "Fast":
  • "This car is faster than my old one." (이 차는 내 이전 차보다 빠르다.)
• "Cheap":
  • "The restaurant down the street is cheaper than this one." (길 건너편에 있는 식당이 여기보다 더 싸다.)

2. "More"를 사용하는 긴 형용사 비교급 예문

• "Beautiful":
  • "The garden looks more beautiful in the spring." (그 정원은 봄에 더 아름다워 보인다.)
• "Interesting":
  • "The book became more interesting as I read on." (그 책은 읽을수록 더 흥미로워졌다.)
• "Expensive":
  • "This hotel is more expensive than the one we stayed at last time." (이 호텔은 우리가 지난번에 묵었던 호텔보다 더 비싸다.)