Is it ever wrong to use the word "more" in front of an adjective? For example, is the following sentence grammatically incorrect: "I am more happy when I am reading poetry"?
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1There's nothing at all "wrong" with *more happy*. But you'd probably do better asking any future questions on English Language Learners, where answers are more likely to be tailored to the needs of non-native speakers. – FumbleFingers May 19 '14 at 23:09
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1Note - the general case has been covered by “More clear” vs “Clearer”: when to use “more” instead of “-er”?, so arguably this is a duplicate. – FumbleFingers May 19 '14 at 23:35
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"Is it ever wrong"? No, not always. You will find occasions where more happy suits and happier doesn't; same applies to other adjectives as well. If I remember right, the question of "more versus -er" has already been dealt with here (or maybe on [ell.se] ) earlier. – Kris May 20 '14 at 05:56
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http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/2166/more-clear-vs-clearer-when-to-use-more-instead-of-er – Kris May 20 '14 at 05:59
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It would be more common to use a comparative, like happier, or something like very happy.
Oldcat
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2"Happiest" may also be appropriate, depending on context: "I sometimes read novels or nonfiction works, but I am happiest when I am reading poetry." – augurar May 20 '14 at 00:03
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1I didn't use that because the original poster used "more happy" rather than "most happy". – Oldcat May 20 '14 at 00:06
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'She couldn't have been more happy' sounds 'more substantial' than 'She couldn't have been happier'; there may be style advantages on occasion. Oh, and 'more happy' is still a comparative: a periphrastic comparative. – Edwin Ashworth May 20 '14 at 09:17
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It depends on whether a comparative or superlative form exists. As Oldcat rightly points out, those are preferred.
The happy, happier, happiest continuum doesn't hold up when applied to something like affluent.
Affluenter may be a word that I need to start using...
Eric Hauenstein
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2@Oldcat: Affluenter age on discovering that you got there first! (It probably works better with a Scottish or Northern accent though! :) – FumbleFingers May 19 '14 at 23:38