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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Oldest - Eldest?

Hello everybody Emotion: smile

I'd be grateful if someone could explain me the right way to use the words the oldest or the eldest

Thank you so much!
  

Top answer

Hi! 1) contra the first answer: "eldest" can be used ONLY of people, but "oldest" can be used for anything (people, animals, things) 2) "eldest" may be used to emphasize rank or seniority ("oldest" does not do this), and need not be emphasizing age 3) "eldest" is used in comparing a group ("my eldest son"/"the eldest of my three sons"), but "oldest" can be used in a more absolute sense ("the oldest man alive")

— Lucus Ong

  • Hi!
  • 1) contra the first answer: "eldest" can be used ONLY of people, but "oldest" can be used for anything (people, animals, things) 2) "eldest" may be used to emphasize rank or seniority ("oldest" does not do this), and need not be emphasizing age 3) "eldest" is used in comparing a group ("my eldest son"/"the eldest of my three sons"), but "oldest" can be used in a more absolute sense ("the oldest man alive")
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3 Answers
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Hi!

1) contra the first answer: "eldest" can be used ONLY of people, but "oldest" can be used for anything (people, animals, things)

2) "eldest" may be used to emphasize rank or seniority ("oldest" does not do this), and need not be emphasizing age

3) "eldest" is used in comparing a group ("my eldest son"/"the eldest of my three sons"), but "oldest" can be used in a mor
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Hi,

In everyday spoken English, I almost never hear the word 'eldest'.

Clive
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Try using the forum's search function. There are already quite a few threads about "oldest vs eldest". This one, for example:
/English/EldestOldest/gdgc/post.htm
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