PLACE THE WORD MOST OR LEAST BEFORE THE MODIFIER. PLACE THE WORD...

2. place the word most or least before the modifier.Again, as a general rule, add -est to short modifiers (one or two syllables). Use most or least with mod-ifiers that are more than two syllables.Angelo is more organized than Reana, but Maurice is the most organized person I know.This newer model is clearly much safer than the older one.Amman is the least qualified candidate, but he is certainly the nicest.

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^OUBLE

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OMPARISONS AND

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^OUBLE

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^EGATIVES

Be sure to avoid double comparisons.Don’t use both -er/-est and more/less or most/least together.Incorrect: Horace is the most rudest man I know.Correct: Horace is the rudest man I know.Incorrect: These instructions are more clearer than those.Correct: These instructions are clearer than those.Likewise, be sure to avoid double negatives.When a negative word such as no or not is added to a state-ment that is already negative, a double negative results. Hardly and barely are also negative words. Remem-ber, one negative is all you need.Incorrect: The store doesn’t have no nails that size.Correct: The store doesn’t have any nails that size.The store doesn’t have nails that size.Incorrect: I can’t hardly hear you.Correct: I can hardly hear you.I can’t hear you.Incorrect: We don’t want no disagreement.Correct: We don’t want any disagreement.

Practice 6

Circle the correct choice in the parenthesis in each sentence below. You will find the Answer Key in Appendix A.