The Different Ways of using Certain Comparatives and Superlatives

There are certain adjectives which are used in different ways as comparative and superlative. This lesson deals with such adjectives.

Mother	Excuse me, mam! May I come in?
Principal	yes, come in.
Mother	Good morning, mam.
Principal	Good morning, sit down; what can I do for you?
Mother	Mam, I need admission in your school for my old son.
Principal	old son!!?
Mother	Yes! old son.
Principal	How many sons do you have?
Mother	Two sons, old son is 5 your old, and the junior son is 2 years old
Principal	(laughs) you see, you should not say old son and junior son
Mother	Then?
Principal	The first born is elder son
Mother	The second one..............?
Principal	The younger son. By the by, where are you from?
Mother	By the side mam
Principal	By the side ...........!?
Mother	Yes, your school side
Principal	No......No....... you should say next street.
Mother	sorry mam!
Principal	It's o.k. Don't worry, in a few days your son will teach you all these.
Mother	Admission.......?
Principal	Sure! Your son is admitted.
Mother	Thank you mam.
Principal	You are welcome.

(I) Later, latter; latest, last:

a) Later and latest are used to refer to refer to a time or situation.

Later:

1. He was awarded the Nobel Prize later than we expected.
2. She was very happy in her later life.
3. I have met my friend 15 days later.

Latest:

1. This computer is based on the latest technology.
2. She has published her latest novel.
3. I got some latest news to tell you.

Latter, Last:

'Latter' and 'Last' refer to persons or things.

Latter:

1. I met Tom and Keats. The Latter is a poet.
2. You can choose the Latter as your specimen.
3. The Latter is our new principal.

Last:

1. John is the Last person to leave the hall.
2. The Last event was very interesting.
3. Today is the Last date to pay the fees.

Nearest: It refers to distance (Shortest distance)

1. The palace is the nearest place for us.
2. We try to reach the nearest post office.
3. Our street is nearest one to the lake.

Next: It refers to the sequence of things. (One after another)

1. What is your next plan?
2. She will leave at the next station.
3. When is the next flight?
4. The next person will be a lucky one.
5. The man standing next to her is her father.

There are some comparatives which have no positives and superlatives. They end in '-or' not in '-er'.

The following are used as positive adjectives as they have lost their comparative meaning.
[interior, exterior, ulterior, major, minor]

(ii) Examples:

1. The exterior of the building is very beautiful.
2. Don't be carried away by the exterior beauty of the house.
3. You should paint the interior part of the box.
4. Our house has modern interior decoration.
5. The major problem of our country is the unemployment problem.
6. Major Alan is very brave and intelligent.
7. The ministers say it is only a minor problem.
8. Don't be brooding over minor issue.
9. The court sent him to the juvenile home as he is a minor.
10. There may be an ulterior motive for his resignation.

(iii) We have some comparative adjectives which are followed by 'to' instead of 'than':

1. Modern music is inferior to the ancient music
2. We should not consider any one inferior to us
3. This model is superior to that one.
4. You should obey your superiors (superior to you )
5. Getting consent is prior to starting the project.
6. He met all his friends prior to his tour
7. The prior is very kind and prayerful (in prior position to others)
8. Michael is junior to mary in this office
9. Don't tease your junior (junior to you )
10. Donald is senior to all other players.

Exercises

Choose the right answer:

1. The_______news is unbelivable. ( later/ latter)
2. My _____brother is in America (elder/older).
3. This is the ________shop to us (next/nearest).
4. I will tell you in detail _______ ( latter/ later).
5. He was the ______ man rescued from the floods. (last/ latest).
6. The _______ news from the army was a pleading one (last/latest).
7. His ________ son is an engineer .(oldest/eldest).
8. You are ________ then my daughter.(older/ older).
9. We shall than about it in the _____meeting (next/nearest).
10. The ______part of the movie is very thrilling.(later/latter).
11. His father is the ________ man in our club (oldest/ oldest).
12. Do you have any _______news to tell us now ?(latter/later).
13. Kind deeds are superior _______ kind words (than /to ).
14. I revised all the chapters prior______ the examination .(to/ than).
15. The hero is junior _________the heroine ( than/ to ).

Answers

1. The_______news is unbelivable. ( later/ latter) later
2. My _____brother is in America (elder/older).elder
3. This is the ________shop to us (next/nearest). Nearest
4. I will tell you in detail _______ ( latter/ later). later
5. He was the ______ man rescued from the floods. (last/ latest). last
6. The _______ news from the army was a pleading one (last/latest). latest
7. His ________ son is an engineer .(oldest/eldest).eldest.
8. You are ________ then my daughter.(older/ older).older
9. We shall than about it in the _____meeting (next/nearest).next
10. The ______part of the movie is very thrilling.(later/latter). latter
11. His father is the ________ man in our club (oldest/ oldest). oldest
12. Do you have any _______news to tell us now ?(latter/later). later
13. Kind deeds are superior _______ kind words (than /to ). to
14. I revised all the chapters prior______ the examination .(to/ than). to
15. The hero is junior _________the heroine ( than/ to ). to