heavier or more heavy/happier or more happy

[Lecword]

Hi all,

I'd like to know if these comparatives are correct. I've always been told that if an adjective has two syllables and the ending -y, it takes -ier. But I've just read in a grammar book that adjectives ending in -y can take both forms: -er and more. Is this correct?

Many thanks

 

[MikeNewYork]

As with most things in English, the "rules" are not set in concrete. With adjectives ending in "y" either comparative is correct in many cases.

Lovely, lovelier, loveliest
Lovely, more lovely, most lovely

 

[Raymott]

That's possibly all true, but 'heavier' and 'happier' would be more common out of this pair, in my opinion.