Hi, I got the following explanation from the link http://www.perfectyourenglish.com/grammar/comparative-superlative.htm.<http://www.perfectyourenglish.com/grammar/comparative-superlative.htm>
When a group only has two members, we sometimes use the comparative instead of the superlative. - John and Tom are clever boys, but I think John is *the cleverer/cleverest *of the two. - Take *the shorter/shortest *of the two routes. - Alice and Mary are rich women. But Alice is *the richer/richest *of the two. Some people feel that a superlative is incorrect in this case. Is there any inputs? Best Regards Mariappan On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 8:23 PM, mariappan balraj < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Li, Thanks for the beautiful explanation. In the following > sentence, > > Raja is the tallest of the two. > > Why do we need to use superlative degree? In this sentence two > boys say Raja and Ram, Raja is taller than Ram. Here comparison is > only between two boys. > > The same sentence can be framed like the following: > > Raja is taller boy than Ram. > > What is the specific needs to use superlative degree here? > > I don't know whether I understood the meaning of the sentence > correctly. Please correct me. > > Best Regards > Mariappan > > > > > On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 7:03 PM, Lílian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> >> Hello Mariappan! >> >> 1 - Raja is the tallest of the two. >> 2 - Raja is the worst of the two. >> >> Comparatives and Superlatives are special forms of adjectives. They >> are used to compare two or more things. Generally, comparatives are >> formed using -er and superlatives are formed using -est. This page >> will explain the rules for forming regular comparatives and >> superlatives, and also show some basic ways of using them. >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> Forming regular comparatives and superlatives >> How these forms are created depends on how many syllables there are in >> the adjective. Syllables are like "sound beats". For instance, "sing" >> contains one syllable, but "singing" contains two -- sing and ing. >> Here are the rules: >> Adjective form Comparative Superlative >> Only one syllable, ending in E. Examples: >> wide, fine, cute Add -R: >> wider, finer, cuter Add -ST: >> widest, finest, cutest >> Only one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at the end. >> Examples: >> hot, big, fat Double the consonant, and add -ER: >> hotter, bigger, fatter Double the consonant, and add -EST: >> hottest, biggest, fattest >> Only one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant >> at the end. Examples: >> light, neat, fast Add -ER: >> lighter, neater, faster Add -EST: >> lightest, neatest, fastest >> Two syllables, ending in Y. Examples: >> happy, silly, lonely Change Y to I, then add -ER: >> happier, sillier, lonelier Change Y to I, then add -EST: >> happiest, silliest, loneliest >> Two syllables or more, not ending in Y. Examples: >> modern, interesting, beautiful Use MORE before the adjective: >> more modern, more interesting, more beautiful Use MOST before the >> adjective: >> most modern, most interesting, most beautiful >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> How to use comparatives and superlatives >> Comparatives Comparatives are used to compare two things. You can use >> sentences with THAN, or you can use a conjunction like BUT. Examples: >> >> Jiro is taller than Yukio. >> Yukio is tall, but Jiro is taller. >> >> Superlatives Superlatives are used to compare more than two things. >> Superlative sentences usually use THE, because there is only one >> superlative. Examples: >> >> Masami is the tallest in the class. >> Yukio is tall, and Jiro is taller, but Masami is the tallest. >> >> (http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/regcom.htm) >> (http://www.eflnet.com/tutorials/adjcompsup.php) >> >> Regards >> >> Lil >> >> >> >> >> On Sep 26, 4:02 am, "mariappan balraj" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> wrote: >> > Hi, >> > Please correct me in the usage of "degrees of comparison". >> > >> > Because comparative degrees can be used for comparing two things. >> > >> > 1) Raja is the taller of the two. (I think this usage is correct. >> but >> > the article 'the' before taller confuse me) >> > Raja is the tallest of the two. (Is this true? because comparison >> is >> > between two persons) >> > >> > 2) Which is the correct? The usage of article 'the' confuses me. >> > Raja is the worse of the two. >> > Raja is the worst of the two. >> > >> > Best Regards >> > Mariappan >> >> >> > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "English Learner's Cafe" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/english_learners?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
