Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 26

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1.  
   • Sam is junior than me. (wrong)
   • Sam is junior to me. (correct)
   • • Explanation : The comparative forms senior and junior take 'to' rather than 'than'. 
2.  
   • The quality of this bed is inferior than that.  (wrong)
   • The quality of this bed is inferior to that.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : Inferior and superior take 'to' (rather than 'than') as the comparative marker. 
3.  
   • I prefer bread than rice.  (wrong)
   • I prefer bread to rice.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : Prefer is followed by the preposition 'to', and not 'than'. 
4.  
   • Have you met the eldest woman of the villiage ? (wrong)
   • Have you met the oldest woman of the villiage ? (correct)
   • • Explanation : Eldest is used only when we are comparing the members of the same family. 
5.  
   • He is better talented than any other man.  (wrong)
     
   • He is more talented than any other man.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : Better is the comparative of good. The comparative of talented will be more talented. 
6.  
   • This is the best of the two options available.  (wrong)
   • This is the better of the two options available.  (correct)
   • Explanation : As we are comparing only two options, we have to use 'better'. 
7.  
   • Rita and Natasha are sisters. The latter is elder than Rita.  (wrong)
   • Rita and Natasha are sister. The latter is elder to Rita.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : Elder and younger are followed by 'to', not 'than'. 
8.  
   • This is the last that I can do for you.  (wrong)
   • This is the least that I can do for you.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : Least means 'smallest amount' whereas last means 'final'. Last is inappropriate in this context. 
9.  
   • Whole country was celebrating its independence.   (wrong)
   • The whole country was celebrating its independence.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : The expression 'whole country' has a countable noun as its head. As it is a definite expression, it must have 'the' preceding it. 
10.  
    • We can give you an appointment only for Sunday next.  (wrong)
    • We can give you an appointment only for next Sunday.  (correct)
    • • Explanation : The qualifier 'next' must precede the noun Sunday. In almost all cases, adjectives precede the nouns they qualify. 
11.  
    • Ruby is precious than any other stone.  (wrong)
    • Ruby is more precious than any other stone.  (correct)
    • • Explanation : As there is a comparison between ruby and any other stone, we must have the comparative marker 'than' between them. 

Shared by Bhargav Gupta Yechuri

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