Mixing
Using the definite article with comparative adjectives
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It appears that the stronger argument is in favour of grandparents living independently.
We normally use the with superlative adjectives. Here the is used before stronger as a comparative adjective; making me confused.
grammaticality
edited Aug 14 at 14:41
kiamlaluno
15.4k2373150
asked Aug 14 at 8:59
mehrane
1246
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up vote
3
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favorite
It appears that the stronger argument is in favour of grandparents living independently.
We normally use the with superlative adjectives. Here the is used before stronger as a comparative adjective; making me confused.
grammaticality
edited Aug 14 at 14:41
kiamlaluno
15.4k2373150
asked Aug 14 at 8:59
mehrane
1246
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
It appears that the stronger argument is in favour of grandparents living independently.
We normally use the with superlative adjectives. Here the is used before stronger as a comparative adjective; making me confused.
grammaticality
edited Aug 14 at 14:41
kiamlaluno
15.4k2373150
asked Aug 14 at 8:59
mehrane
1246
It appears that the stronger argument is in favour of grandparents living independently.
We normally use the with superlative adjectives. Here the is used before stronger as a comparative adjective; making me confused.
grammaticality
edited Aug 14 at 14:41
kiamlaluno
15.4k2373150
asked Aug 14 at 8:59
mehrane
1246
edited Aug 14 at 14:41
kiamlaluno
15.4k2373150
edited Aug 14 at 14:41
kiamlaluno
15.4k2373150
edited Aug 14 at 14:41
kiamlaluno
15.4k2373150
15.4k2373150
asked Aug 14 at 8:59
mehrane
1246
asked Aug 14 at 8:59
mehrane
1246
asked Aug 14 at 8:59
mehrane
1246
1246
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
That's because the definite article chooses someone/thing that is specific. Say,
Two boxers are fighting. The stronger one wins.
Here, the article picks one from those two.
However, you are right that the definite article is common with superlative degrees.
answered Aug 14 at 9:06
Maulik V♦
50.1k56201377
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
If the sentence read:
It appears that the strongest argument is...
that would mean that there are at least three arguments.
However, since it reads:
It appears that the stronger argument is...
that seems to imply we are talking about two opposing stances on an issue.
Either way, when we refer to just one of those multiple arguments, we can use the definite article:
- It appears the weaker argument is...
- It appears the most foolish argument is...
- It appears the less sensible argument is...
- It appears the easier option would be...
and so forth.
answered Aug 14 at 9:08
J.R.♦
94.5k7121236
1
There is no reason why "the strongest" can't apply to two.
– Paul Childs
Aug 14 at 9:56
2
@Paul Childs: Indeed. Doubtless the vast majority of contexts for may the best man win involve just two contenders. But I'm sure most instances of the sequence two children the eldest / elder would be for the construction under consideration here, and charting those strongly supports J.R.'s assertion re the norm.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 14 at 12:26
@PaulC - Good point. Some pedantic grammarians might disagree with you, but I won't.
– J.R.♦
Aug 14 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
That's because the definite article chooses someone/thing that is specific. Say,
Two boxers are fighting. The stronger one wins.
Here, the article picks one from those two.
However, you are right that the definite article is common with superlative degrees.
answered Aug 14 at 9:06
Maulik V♦
50.1k56201377
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
That's because the definite article chooses someone/thing that is specific. Say,
Two boxers are fighting. The stronger one wins.
Here, the article picks one from those two.
However, you are right that the definite article is common with superlative degrees.
answered Aug 14 at 9:06
Maulik V♦
50.1k56201377
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
That's because the definite article chooses someone/thing that is specific. Say,
Two boxers are fighting. The stronger one wins.
Here, the article picks one from those two.
However, you are right that the definite article is common with superlative degrees.
answered Aug 14 at 9:06
Maulik V♦
50.1k56201377
That's because the definite article chooses someone/thing that is specific. Say,
Two boxers are fighting. The stronger one wins.
Here, the article picks one from those two.
However, you are right that the definite article is common with superlative degrees.
answered Aug 14 at 9:06
Maulik V♦
50.1k56201377
answered Aug 14 at 9:06
Maulik V♦
50.1k56201377
answered Aug 14 at 9:06
Maulik V♦
50.1k56201377
answered Aug 14 at 9:06
Maulik V♦
50.1k56201377
50.1k56201377
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
If the sentence read:
It appears that the strongest argument is...
that would mean that there are at least three arguments.
However, since it reads:
It appears that the stronger argument is...
that seems to imply we are talking about two opposing stances on an issue.
Either way, when we refer to just one of those multiple arguments, we can use the definite article:
- It appears the weaker argument is...
- It appears the most foolish argument is...
- It appears the less sensible argument is...
- It appears the easier option would be...
and so forth.
answered Aug 14 at 9:08
J.R.♦
94.5k7121236
1
There is no reason why "the strongest" can't apply to two.
– Paul Childs
Aug 14 at 9:56
2
@Paul Childs: Indeed. Doubtless the vast majority of contexts for may the best man win involve just two contenders. But I'm sure most instances of the sequence two children the eldest / elder would be for the construction under consideration here, and charting those strongly supports J.R.'s assertion re the norm.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 14 at 12:26
@PaulC - Good point. Some pedantic grammarians might disagree with you, but I won't.
– J.R.♦
Aug 14 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
If the sentence read:
It appears that the strongest argument is...
that would mean that there are at least three arguments.
However, since it reads:
It appears that the stronger argument is...
that seems to imply we are talking about two opposing stances on an issue.
Either way, when we refer to just one of those multiple arguments, we can use the definite article:
- It appears the weaker argument is...
- It appears the most foolish argument is...
- It appears the less sensible argument is...
- It appears the easier option would be...
and so forth.
answered Aug 14 at 9:08
J.R.♦
94.5k7121236
1
There is no reason why "the strongest" can't apply to two.
– Paul Childs
Aug 14 at 9:56
2
@Paul Childs: Indeed. Doubtless the vast majority of contexts for may the best man win involve just two contenders. But I'm sure most instances of the sequence two children the eldest / elder would be for the construction under consideration here, and charting those strongly supports J.R.'s assertion re the norm.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 14 at 12:26
@PaulC - Good point. Some pedantic grammarians might disagree with you, but I won't.
– J.R.♦
Aug 14 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
If the sentence read:
It appears that the strongest argument is...
that would mean that there are at least three arguments.
However, since it reads:
It appears that the stronger argument is...
that seems to imply we are talking about two opposing stances on an issue.
Either way, when we refer to just one of those multiple arguments, we can use the definite article:
- It appears the weaker argument is...
- It appears the most foolish argument is...
- It appears the less sensible argument is...
- It appears the easier option would be...
and so forth.
answered Aug 14 at 9:08
J.R.♦
94.5k7121236
If the sentence read:
It appears that the strongest argument is...
that would mean that there are at least three arguments.
However, since it reads:
It appears that the stronger argument is...
that seems to imply we are talking about two opposing stances on an issue.
Either way, when we refer to just one of those multiple arguments, we can use the definite article:
- It appears the weaker argument is...
- It appears the most foolish argument is...
- It appears the less sensible argument is...
- It appears the easier option would be...
and so forth.
answered Aug 14 at 9:08
J.R.♦
94.5k7121236
answered Aug 14 at 9:08
J.R.♦
94.5k7121236
answered Aug 14 at 9:08
J.R.♦
94.5k7121236
answered Aug 14 at 9:08
J.R.♦
94.5k7121236
94.5k7121236
1
There is no reason why "the strongest" can't apply to two.
– Paul Childs
Aug 14 at 9:56
2
@Paul Childs: Indeed. Doubtless the vast majority of contexts for may the best man win involve just two contenders. But I'm sure most instances of the sequence two children the eldest / elder would be for the construction under consideration here, and charting those strongly supports J.R.'s assertion re the norm.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 14 at 12:26
@PaulC - Good point. Some pedantic grammarians might disagree with you, but I won't.
– J.R.♦
Aug 14 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
1
There is no reason why "the strongest" can't apply to two.
– Paul Childs
Aug 14 at 9:56
2
@Paul Childs: Indeed. Doubtless the vast majority of contexts for may the best man win involve just two contenders. But I'm sure most instances of the sequence two children the eldest / elder would be for the construction under consideration here, and charting those strongly supports J.R.'s assertion re the norm.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 14 at 12:26
@PaulC - Good point. Some pedantic grammarians might disagree with you, but I won't.
– J.R.♦
Aug 14 at 15:24
1
1
There is no reason why "the strongest" can't apply to two.
– Paul Childs
Aug 14 at 9:56
There is no reason why "the strongest" can't apply to two.
– Paul Childs
Aug 14 at 9:56
2
2
@Paul Childs: Indeed. Doubtless the vast majority of contexts for may the best man win involve just two contenders. But I'm sure most instances of the sequence two children the eldest / elder would be for the construction under consideration here, and charting those strongly supports J.R.'s assertion re the norm.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 14 at 12:26
@Paul Childs: Indeed. Doubtless the vast majority of contexts for may the best man win involve just two contenders. But I'm sure most instances of the sequence two children the eldest / elder would be for the construction under consideration here, and charting those strongly supports J.R.'s assertion re the norm.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 14 at 12:26
@PaulC - Good point. Some pedantic grammarians might disagree with you, but I won't.
– J.R.♦
Aug 14 at 15:24
@PaulC - Good point. Some pedantic grammarians might disagree with you, but I won't.
– J.R.♦
Aug 14 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
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