MORE + adjective

‘More‘ is an adverb when it forms the comparative of adverbs and adjectives.  In the English Grammar Profile, at A2, point 9 in ADJECTIVES/comparatives/ COMPLEMENT OF ‘BE’ overlaps point 26 in ADJECTIVES which is defined as:

a range of comparative adjective phrases using ‘more’ + longer adjectives (usually three or more syllables).

A search in the iWeb corpus for:

more _JJ

1 MORE LIKELY 479744 B2 modality + infinitive + passive

I‘m about seven times more likely to be stopped and searched.

TED

2 MORE IMPORTANT 265541 B2 intensified attributive comparative with MUCH

Well

these guardians are doing a much more important job

 right here on Earth

just without the soundtrack.

 

3 MORE DIFFICULT 212237

It’s only during high stress 

or in the heat of the moment 

that teens may find it more difficult

 to manage emotions.

TED

Results 4-50 were profiled:

4 MORE EXPENSIVE 195809 5 MORE EFFICIENT 157888 6 MORE EFFECTIVE 147382 7 MORE COMPLEX 128787 8 MORE COMFORTABLE 121407 9 MORE COMMON 114386 10 MORE POWERFUL 113817 11 MORE INTERESTING 101011 12 MORE ACCURATE 87315 13 MORE COMPLICATED 85470 14 MORE DETAILED 84341 15 MORE ADVANCED 81772 16 MORE FUN 76688 17 MORE SERIOUS 76304 18 MORE POPULAR 74762 19 MORE RECENT 63965 20 MORE SPECIFIC 59237 21 MORE AFFORDABLE 56158 22 MORE TRADITIONAL 53150 23 MORE PRODUCTIVE 48664 24 MORE FLEXIBLE 47219 25 MORE USEFUL 47064 26 MORE CONVENIENT 46637 27 MORE INTERESTED 46216 28 MORE SOPHISTICATED 44972 29 MORE ATTRACTIVE 44434 30 MORE CHALLENGING 43705 31 MORE SUCCESSFUL 42433 32 MORE NATURAL 41628 33 MORE AGGRESSIVE 41554 34 MORE ACTIVE 40601 35 MORE STABLE 40423 36 MORE VALUABLE 40379 37 MORE MODERN 40212 38 MORE LIKE 40122 39 MORE CONFIDENT 39744 40 MORE RELIABLE 39633 41 MORE SECURE 38696 42 MORE ACCESSIBLE 38524 43 MORE REALISTIC 37439 44 MORE POSITIVE 35995 45 MORE OPEN 35858 46 MORE ENJOYABLE 35817 47 MORE SEVERE 34994 48 MORE APPROPRIATE 34660 49 MORE FREQUENT 34208 50 MORE DANGEROUS 33824

 

A2 vocabulary in EVP:

more + (advanced|attractive|comfortable|dangerous|interested|modern|popular|useful) in PELIC occurs over 300 hits.  Here we take one of each:

But in the future, the world’s ethics should be more advanced.

Japanese, Female, level 4, writing class

Also, I think that soccer [is] more exciting than football because in a soccer game you can feel more excited because at any minute the score could change and the game will be more attractive.

Arabic, Male, level 4, writing class

They want to have a more comfortable life 

and find a job living like Americans.

Spanish,Male, level 4, writing class

To summarize, it is dangerous to do nothing, but what is more dangerous is to dream nothing.

Korean, Male, level 3, writing class

Since computers were invented, many people have become more interested in using them.

Chinese, Female, level 4, writing class

Moreover, there is a new trend in the European educational system, which is trying to evolve and to adapt its consolidated method of teaching in a more modern method that is quite similar to the American system.

Italian, Male, level 5, writing class

I think the Olympics are becoming more popular because they are the international activities.

Chinese, level 2, reading class

It’s good for you to learn more useful English.

Chinese, Female, level 3, writing class

 

Note that ‘more’ + ADVERB is considered B2.

 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *