In English, comparative and superlative sentences can be misleading, especially when they are phonetically similar. As if that weren't enough, using majority comparatives and irregular relative superlatives is often difficult, especially if you've recently gotten used to the -er and -est rule. To properly use worse and worst, follow these guidelines.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Using Worse Correctly
Step 1. Learn the definition of worse
It means "of inferior quality; less inviting, pleasant, etc.; more serious or serious". In Italian, it translates as "worst", and is the majority comparative of bad, "bad".
Step 2. Use worse to compare two terms of comparison
Worse is an example of a majority comparative. The comparative form is used to compare the characteristics of the terms of comparison. Two nouns are compared in a sentence, which can indicate concrete objects, concepts, places or people.
- I think eggplant is worse than boiled cabbage, but that's just my opinion; "I think eggplant is worse than boiled cabbage, but that's just my opinion."
- That red dress looks worse on you than the white one; "The red dress fits you worse than the white one."
- Which is worse for your health, smoking or drinking?; "What is worse for your health, smoking or drinking?".
Step 3. Use worse with than
Since worse is a majority comparative, it is usually used with the term than to compare two nouns. Sentences generally have the following structure:
- Noun + verb + comparative of majority + than + noun.
- Winter weather is worse than summer weather; "The winter weather is worse than the summer one".
- When two or more collective nouns are presented, it becomes more difficult to use worse.
- The car is worse than the other two you showed me; "This car is worse than the other two you showed me." In this example, the two terms of comparison are car and the other two, which acts as a single object. Consequently, the comparison still occurs between two things.
Step 4. Use worse to describe something that is in bad shape
In this case, technically there are no two explicit terms of comparison, but in any case two things are compared: two states, two situations. Often, one of them is implied instead of being named directly.
- This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better; "This situation will get a lot worse before it gets better."
- I think my handwriting is worse [than it was before]; "I think my handwriting has gotten worse" (compared to before).
- I am feeling worse [than I was before]; "I feel worse" (than before).
Step 5. Pay attention to the implicit comparison
In some sentences, the than is implied. This means that two terms of comparison within them will not be explicitly compared, the second will be expressed indirectly.
Bob and Fred are bad drivers, but I think Bob is worse [than Fred]; "Bob and Fred can't drive, but I think Bob is worse (than Fred)."
Part 2 of 3: Using Worst Correctly
Step 1. Learn the definition of worst
It means "the worst, least useful or practical thing of all; the most unfavorable or compromised". It is the superlative of the adjective bad, "bad", so the exact translation in Italian is "bad".
Step 2. Use worst to say that one thing is inferior to multiple other terms of comparison
Worst is precisely the superlative of bad, so it is used to denote the worst term of comparison with respect to the other nouns of a group. It is used to compare three or more things.
- Contrary to worse, you can't only use worst when you are comparing two things.
- Dirty diapers smell worse than rotten milk, but week-old fish is the worst of all; "Dirty nappies smell worse than spoiled milk, but the smell of week-old fish is the worst ever."
- Math is the worst of all my classes; "Mathematics is the worst of all my subjects".
Step 3. Understand the correlation with -er and -est
Worse and worst have the same degree of comparison of adjectives such as colder and coldest.
- Use worse whenever you would use a majority comparative, or -er.
- The weather in Boston is colder than it is in Miami / The weather in Boston is worse than it is in Miami; "Boston's climate is colder than Miami / Boston's climate is worse than Miami's."
- Use worst whenever you would use a relative superlative, i.e. -est.
- Washington state has the wettest weather in the US / Washington state has the worst rain in the US; "Washington State has the wettest climate in the United States / Washington State has the highest atmospheric precipitation in the United States."
- The scale of growth of the intensity of the word bad is the following: bad, worse, worst. Worst would be equivalent to most bad and worse than more bad.
- The weather in November is bad, but it's worse in December. The worst weather of all winter is in January; "In November the weather is bad, but it is worse in December. The month with the worst weather of all winter is January".
Step 4. Worst is preceded by the article the. Since worst is used to isolate a comparison term that is inferior to all the others, the definite article always follows.
- The disagreements. Eggplant and boiled cabbage are both vile, but squash is the worst!; "I disagree. Eggplant and boiled cabbage are both awful, but pumpkin is the worst of the worst!"
- That is the worst cake I have ever tasted; "This is the worst cake I've ever tasted".
Step 5. Find out when the comparison is implied
Use worst to compare one thing to others implied, not stated directly.
- Chartreuse is the worst color [of all]; "Chartreuse is the ugliest color (of all)".
- He's the worst person imaginable [in the entire human population]; "He is the worst person there is (among the entire human population)".
Part 3 of 3: Using Worse and Worst in Idioms
Step 1. Worst case scenario it's an idiom. This expression refers to the worst possible outcome of a situation. Since it indicates an extreme possibility, the superlative, worst is used.
The reason people say Worse case scenario is due to phonetic reasons. In many common words, the -t is omitted; as a result, you seem to hear worse, when instead the person who is speaking actually means worst, so Worst case scenario
Step 2. Another popular idiom is Worst comes worst or Worse comes to worse
According to the modern use made of it, it is possible to say If worst comes to worst, If worse comes to worse or If worse comes to worst.
The expression was used for the first time in 1596. More precisely, the phrase If the worst was used as to the worst. He was referring to the most pessimistic hypothesis that could be foreseen. In 1719, Daniel Defoe wrote If the worse came to the worst in the book Robinson Crusoe. This new use of the idiom indicates the possibility of a progressive worsening of a situation from worse, comparative, to worst, superlative
Advice
- Defining worse as less good and worst as least good can help you remember the difference.
- Don't say more worse; it is wrong and redundant.
- Don't confuse worst with worsted; this word means "worsted wool", a type of wool with a textured, lint-free (smooth) surface. Example: He wore a worsted suit; "He was wearing a worsted wool suit."
