[§ 432]. Government.—The only adjective that governs a case, is the word like. In the expression, this is like
him, &c., the original power of the dative remains. This we infer—
1. From the fact that in most languages which have inflections to a sufficient extent, the word meaning like governs a dative case.
2. That if ever we use in English any preposition at all to express similitude, it is the preposition to—like to me, like to death, &c.
Expressions like full of meat, good for John, are by no means instances of the government of adjectives; the really governing words being the prepositions to and for respectively.
[§ 433]. The positive degree preceded by the adjective more, is equivalent to the comparative form—e.g., more wise = wiser.
The reasons for employing one expression in preference to the other, depend upon the nature of the particular word used.
When the word is at one and the same time of Anglo-Saxon origin and monosyllabic, there is no doubt about the preference to be given to the form in -er. Thus, wis-er is preferable to more wise.
When, however, the word is compound, or trisyllabic, the combination with the word more, is preferable.
| more fruitful | fruitfuller. |
| more villainous | villainouser. |