Irregular Comparatives: better, worse, more

The irregularity stems from a linguistic phenomenon called suppletion. This occurs when related forms of a word (like positive and comparative) are derived from entirely different historical roots. Good, bad, much, and many are among the oldest and most frequently used words in English. Their comparative forms (better, worse, more) developed from distinct Old English words (betera, wiersa, mara) that were once unrelated to their positive counterparts. Over centuries, these separate forms became associated due to semantic similarity. This process is common for high-frequency words across many languages because their constant usage makes them resistant to the regularizing forces that affect less common words.

No, in standard English, more good and more bad are grammatically incorrect. Always use better for the comparative of good and worse for the comparative of bad. Using more good or more bad is a common indicator of a learner and should be actively avoided in any context where grammatically correct English is expected, whether formal or informal. While you might occasionally hear them in very casual or non-standard speech, they are not acceptable in formal or grammatically sound communication.

Yes, less is an irregular comparative. It is the comparative form of little (meaning a small amount or quantity). For instance, you might say, I have very little patience today, but if you had even less yesterday, you would say, I had less patience yesterday than today. Like better and worse, less entirely changes its form from little and also originates from an Old English suppletive form (læssa). It is used with uncountable nouns.

At the A2 level, better, worse, and more are the most crucial. However, as you advance, you will encounter farther and further, which are irregular comparatives of far. Traditionally, farther refers to physical distance (e.g., New York is farther than Boston), while further can refer to both physical distance and abstract concepts like additional information or progress (e.g., We need further discussion on this topic). Additionally, remember that these irregular comparatives also have corresponding irregular superlative forms: best (from good/better), worst (from bad/worse), and most (from much/many/a lot of/more). These superlatives will be covered in detail in the chapter on Irregular Superlatives.

Not always. You use than when you are explicitly comparing two distinct quantities or amounts, such as I have more experience than he does. However, if you are simply requesting or stating an increased general amount without a direct, explicit comparison to another specific entity, than is not necessary. For example, Could I have more bread, please? or The team needs more resources. In these instances, more indicates 'an additional amount' or 'a larger quantity in general' rather than a direct comparative relationship to a second item or quantity.

Effective memorization goes beyond rote learning. Instead, focus on active exposure and application:

• Read widely: Pay close attention to how native speakers use better, worse, and more in authentic materials like books, articles, news reports, and online content. Contextual learning is powerful.
• Listen actively: Notice these words in movies, TV shows, podcasts, songs, and real-life conversations. The sound and rhythm of their correct usage will become familiar.
• Practice speaking and writing: Consciously incorporate these irregular comparatives into your own sentences. Create scenarios where you need to compare things. The act of producing the language reinforces the correct forms.
• Use flashcards or a sentence journal: Write down example sentences that use the correct forms. For instance, one side of a flashcard could have good, and the other better with an example like My English is getting better every day.