Page 71 - Basic English Usage

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85 comparison: using comparatives and superlatives

1 The difference between comparatives and superlatives
’ We use the comparative to compare one person or thing with (an)other
person(s) or thing(s).
We use the superlative to compare one person or thing with his/her/its
whole group.
Compare:
Mary's taller than her three sisters.
Mary's the tallest of the four girls.
Your accent is worse than mine.
Your accent is the worst in the class.
Paul is older than.Charles. Sally is younger than Paul. Albert is older
than Sally. Charles is younger than Sally. Paul is younger than Eric.
Eric is older than Albert. Who is the oldest? Who is the youngest?

Mary's taller than her three sisters. Mary's the tallest of the four girls.

older than Ese #7. older than S
>
>
qty > Hf p

Ky
the the
oldest youngest
We use than after comparatives.
The weather's better than yesterday.
that
better
OR
(NOT ... betteras-yesterday yesterday)
You sing better thanme. (OR __. than! do.)
(For /and me etc after than, see 331.4.)