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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > More and the most
More and the most
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fingerkiss
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More and the most
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HI everyone, I need your help and I would appreciate your comments. The following sentences work with comparative and superlative. Jenny didn´t study anything for the test. I studied more. I studied the most. Can you tell me if the use of "more" and "the most" is correct? please, add some extra exercises. |
25 Jul 2015
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yanogator
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According to the formal "rules", you can �t use the superlative with only two people/things, but in practice, it is definitely used, so your sentences are correct. Bruce
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25 Jul 2015
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almaz
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It �s generally accepted by most grammarians nowadays that because the superlative is the default for set comparison (i.e. comparison between the members of a set � as in "the smallest in the class"), there is nothing ungrammatical about a sentence like "George and Linda were the only candidates, and Linda was clearly the best". Alejandro �s set consists of two people (Jenny and I), so that is why "the most" is acceptable if you �re referring to the set, but if it �s a straightforward term comparison (expressing the relationship between them), then you �d expect to use "more" (i.e. more than Jenny). And before anyone jumps down my throat (you know who you are), I �m perfectly aware that the comparative is also used in a set comparison when there are only two members, particularly in an explicit of phrase: John is the smaller of the two.
Alex
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26 Jul 2015
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blondie88
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The comparative is used when comparing 2 things. Superlative is used to compare 3+. t |
26 Jul 2015
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almaz
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Well, blondie88, that is most interesting... Actually, it reminds me of the scene in one of the Hornblower books when Horatio receives a letter from his wife which starts, "My dearest husband..." which starts him off imagining what her other husbands are like. |
26 Jul 2015
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cunliffe
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Almaz, if you are referring to me, then OMG, I wouldn �t dare! ;-)
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26 Jul 2015
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fingerkiss
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Thank you again. Your information was very useful. God bless you all.
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26 Jul 2015
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