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Villani Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
The + comparative
Hello,
I am a brand new member about to proceed with my first question.
As is implied by the title, it involves the use of comparative in conjunction with the definitive article. Here is an example:
“The competition will determine who is the better player”.
By definition, comparative involves two quantities. For example, we should say:
“Which of you two is the better footballer?” or “Jack is a better student than the rest of his classmates”
Nevertheless, this is not the case in the first example which makes me wonder whether it is actually wrong, for once, or if it just has a subtle difference in meaning with
“The competition will determine who is the best player”.
I have heard it being used several times but haven’t had enough feedback to solidify my own opinion yet. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks you in advance.
I am a brand new member about to proceed with my first question.
As is implied by the title, it involves the use of comparative in conjunction with the definitive article. Here is an example:
“The competition will determine who is the better player”.
By definition, comparative involves two quantities. For example, we should say:
“Which of you two is the better footballer?” or “Jack is a better student than the rest of his classmates”
Nevertheless, this is not the case in the first example which makes me wonder whether it is actually wrong, for once, or if it just has a subtle difference in meaning with
“The competition will determine who is the best player”.
I have heard it being used several times but haven’t had enough feedback to solidify my own opinion yet. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks you in advance.
Top answer
Villani “The competition will determine who is the better player”. This would be fine in a context such as: A and B have each won the same number of International competitions this year, and each has beaten the other twice. There is little doubt that both will reach the semi-finals of this year's Ingolstadt Competition and, unless there is a major upset, the finals..
- Villani “The competition will determine who is the better player”.
- This would be fine in a context such as: A and B have each won the same number of International competitions this year, and each has beaten the other twice.
- There is little doubt that both will reach the semi-finals of this year's Ingolstadt Competition and, unless there is a major upset, the finals..
- This competition, the toughest in the world, will decide who is the better player.
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3 Answers
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Villani“The competition will determine who is the better player”.This would be fine in a context such as:
A and B have each won the same number of International competitions this year, and each has beaten the other twice. There is little doubt that both will reach the semi-finals of this year's Ingolstadt Competition and, unless there is a major u
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True that.
What I am actually asking is, what if there are more than two participants, say A B C and D.
Thanks
What I am actually asking is, what if there are more than two participants, say A B C and D.
Thanks
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VillaniTrue that.What I am actually asking is, what if there are more than two participants, say A B C and D.ThanksIf you are talking about more than two, then it should be 'the best'. I was merely pointing out that, occasionally, people appear to be talking about more than two when they are not.
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