Thursday, December 15, 2011

EXCEPTIONAL COMPARATIVES

We usually use the word than when comparing. But I found an exemption to this rule. The comparatives senior, junior, superior, inferior etc., are followed by to, and not than. Here as some examples:

Incorrect: This paper is inferior than that.
Correct: This paper is inferior to that.
Incorrect: He is junior than me.
Correct: He is junior to me.
Incorrect: He is superior than you in strength.
Correct: He is superior to you in strength.

I never thought that there are words in which the use of than in comparison would be inappropriate. Now I will not be too hastily in using than. :)


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9 comments:

  1. Kenneth Casey M. TapnioDecember 18, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    "Now I will not be too hastily in using than."

    Revised:
    "Now, I will not be too hasty in using than."

    What does hastily modify?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Darwin D. DesilosDecember 18, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    Thanks for this enrichment. Anyway, in respect to tapnio's question about hastily, this word means almost the same as hasty does.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kersteine Joy ChuaDecember 18, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Some people use "than" instead of "to" when comparing with "superior". Aside from it is ungrammatical, it also sounds awkward.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Limor Kristine TengDecember 19, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    Thanks for sharing this Stephanie. This is a great help. Your post is easy to understand! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Angenica F. MartirezDecember 19, 2011 at 1:01 AM

    I learned new ideas because of your post and the link that you have given.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jessica Dyan Y. BonusDecember 19, 2011 at 4:35 AM

    Thanks for sharing the information. I hope I can manage to remember that when writing an essay.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Christina CarpioDecember 19, 2011 at 6:01 AM

    Your post is very helpful. I thought that the comparatives "inferior" and "superior" are the ones that is followed by "to".

    ReplyDelete
  8. juancarlowageDecember 19, 2011 at 6:35 AM

    Thanks for sharing a wonderful information.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jason Angelo TrabucoDecember 19, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    I never knew this before, thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete

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