more
A1 (Core)Universal (neutral across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
Comparative marker indicating a greater amount, number, or degree.
Used to form the comparative degree of most adjectives and adverbs with more than one syllable; used as a pronoun meaning 'a greater or additional quantity'; used as a noun meaning 'an extra amount'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a grammatical function word (determiner, pronoun, adverb). Its core function is comparison. Can express addition ('more coffee'), intensification ('more quickly'), or act as a pro-form ('I need more').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Possible minor preference in 'more than' (quantity) vs 'over' (spatial) in prescriptive guidelines, but both are used in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally high frequency. No significant variation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ADJ + more + than + NOUNVERB + more + than + NUMBERmore + of + DETERMINER + NOUNmore + ADJ/ADV (comparative form)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “more or less”
- “no more ... than”
- “more's the pity”
- “the more the merrier”
- “more often than not”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for quantitative analysis, growth targets, and resource requests ('We need more investment', 'more efficient processes').
Academic
Frequent in comparative analysis, qualifying statements, and logical connectors ('Moreover, ...', 'furthermore', 'more specifically').
Everyday
Extremely common for everyday comparisons, quantities, and requests ('more time', 'more milk', 'more interesting').
Technical
Used in precise measurements and comparative specifications ('requires more torque', 'yielded more significant results').
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- He needs to work more carefully.
- I like this one more than the other.
American English
- Could you speak more slowly, please?
- She visits more frequently in the summer.
adjective
British English
- For a more thorough analysis, see appendix B.
- She couldn't have been more helpful.
American English
- We need a more comprehensive plan.
- He's in more serious trouble now.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I want more water.
- London is more expensive than Leeds.
- Two is more than one.
- We need more time to finish the project.
- This film is much more interesting.
- Could I have some more soup, please?
- The results were more conclusive than we had anticipated.
- Moreover, the data suggests a long-term trend.
- He's more of a philosopher than a scientist.
- The initiative, more than any other policy, defined her premiership.
- Her argument became more and more tenuous as the debate progressed.
- It's more a case of managing expectations than delivering a miracle.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MORE = Measure Of Relative Excess. It's the ruler for comparing amounts.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS UP / MORE IS UP ('prices went up', 'add more'); IMPORTANCE IS SIZE ('more important').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'more' with 'most' (больше vs самый/наиболее).
- Overusing 'more better' due to literal translation of 'более лучше'.
- Using 'more' with short comparative adjectives that already end in -er (e.g., 'more bigger').
- Mistaking 'no more' for 'no longer' (больше не).
Common Mistakes
- *more better (double comparative)
- *more faster
- Using 'more' with countable nouns instead of 'fewer' ('more people' is correct, but 'less people' is incorrect for countables).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'more' correctly as a comparative adverb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, this is a double comparative error. The correct form is 'easier', as it is a one-syllable adjective taking '-er'.
'More' refers to an additional quantity of something uncountable or plural ('more water', 'more books'). 'Another' refers to one additional singular countable item ('another book').
Generally, one-syllable adjectives/adverbs use '-er' (fast → faster). Those with three or more syllables use 'more' (beautiful → more beautiful). Two-syllable words vary; many ending in -y, -le, -ow, -er take '-er' (happier, simpler), others take 'more' (more famous).
Yes, with plural countable nouns ('more people', 'more ideas'). For singular countable nouns implying 'an additional one', use 'another'.