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peedrosup

can one add an “er” to a n adjective with more than 3 syllables such as “expensier” i think you can’t!

can one add an “er” to a n adjective with more than 3 syllables such as “expensier” i think you can’t!

Top 6 Answers
igglydooble

Favorite Answer

Interesting question!! I’ve never heard a rule about this, but it sure seems like you’re right.

We say “bluer”, but not “ceruleaner”.

We say “surer”, but not “deliberater”.

We say “weirder”, but not “anachronistic[k]er”.

We say “shinier”, but not “scintillatinger”.

Seems like the most likely 4-syllable candidates would be adjectives that are either really frequently used in common speech, or ones that are compounds of shorter words. But I’m not coming up with anything in those categories that accepts -er as a suffix.

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Megan B
The more proper form of that would be ‘expensiver’ but it’s still not proper english. It’s ‘more expensive’ as is the same with most long adjectives.
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nosoop4u246
No.

funny = funnier

red= redder

expensive= more expensive

Nosoop4u

EDIT: Natalie, friendly is 2 syllables…

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Anonymous
Not usually, it would have ‘more’ in front of the word.
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Anonymous
if it finishes with “y” yes you can. even for 4 or more syllables

likle friendly —-> friendlier

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paul
definately not. you say “more expensive”
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