Page 185 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

C o m p a r i s o n w i t h a d j e c t i v e s ( l ) : - e r / m o r e . . . ;
e n o u g h , s u f f i c i e n t l y , t o o ; e t c .

-er/more...;-est/most...
We usually add the ending -er to one-syllable adjectives to make their comparative forms and
-est to make their superlative forms. For adjectives with three or more syllables we usually add
more/less and most/least.

Some adjectives with two syllables are only used or are most commonly used with more/less and
most/least, particularly participle adjectives (e.g. pleased, worried, boring) (see Unit 85);
adjectives ending in -ful and -less (e.g. careful, careless); afraid, alike, alert, ashamed, alone,
aware; and also cautious, certain, complex, confident, eager, exact, formal, frequent, modern,
recent. Most other adjectives with two syllables can take either form.
9Some adjectives have a comparative or superlative meaning so they are rarely used with
-er/-est or more/less/ most/least. These include complete, equal, favourite, ideal, unique.

An exception: 'All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.'
(George Orwell: Animal Farm)

D Enough, sufficiently, too
We use enough before nouns (e.g. 'Is there enough bread?') and after adjectives (and adverbs):
• The house was comfortable enough but not luxurious, (not ...enough comfortable...)
• We are not in a strong enough financial position to cut taxes, (not ...an enough strong...)
Compare the position of enough in these sentences with adjective + noun:
• I haven't got big enough nails for the job. (= the nails that I've got aren't big enough) and
• I haven't got enough big nails for the job. (= I've got some big nails, but not enough)
We use sufficiently before adjectives with a meaning similar to enough. Sufficiently is often
preferred in more formal contexts:
© • The policies of the parties were not sufficiently different, (or ...not different enough.)
• • Things would be easier if we only had a sufficiently simple system, (or ...a simple enough
system.)

Study these sentences with adjective + enough and too + adjective:
• The beams have to be strong enough to support the roof.
• She was too ashamed to admit her mistake.
• The garage was just about big enough for two cars to fit in.
• The suitcase was too small (for him) to get all his clothes in.
<j)We talk about an action in the to-infinitive clause. If we need to mention the things or people
'involved, we do this with for... .

In rather formal English we can use too + adjective + a/an + noun:
• I hope you haven't had too tiring a day. (not ...a too tiring day.)
(In a less formal style we might say 'I hope your day hasn't been too tiring.')

The sooner the better
To say that as one thing changes, another thing also changes, we can use sentences like:
• The better the joke (is), the louder the laugh (is).
• The longer Sue stays in Canada, the less likely she will ever go back to England.
• It almost seems that the more expensive the wedding, the shorter the marriage!

Comparison with adjectives (2) =