Page 148 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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groups with two members
When a group only has two members, we sometimes use a comparative instead of a superlative.
I like Betty and Maud, but I think Maud's the nicer/nicest ofthe two.
I'll give you the bigger/biggest steak: I'm not very hungry.
Some people feel that a superlative is incorrect in this case.
double comparatives: fatter and fatter; more and more slowly
We can use double comparatives to say that something is changing.
I'm getting fatter and fatter.
We're going more and more slowly. (NOT ••• m6Fe s16wly and: 1ft6Fe s16wly.)
the ... the .•.
We can use comparatives with the . .. the . .. to say that things change or vary together.
Word order (in both clauses):
the + comparative expression + subject + verb
The older I get, the happier I am. (NOT Oltlet' {get, m6re l am happy.) The more dangerous it is, the more I like it.
(NOT The 1'I'l6Fe it is ti:anget'6ltS, •••) The more I study, the less I learn.
More can be used with a noun in this structure.
The more money he makes, the more useless things he buys.
In longer structures, that is sometimes used before the first verb.
The more information that comes in, the more confused the picture is.
A short form of this structure is used in the expression The more the merrier, and in sentences ending the better.
How do you like your coffee?- The stronger the better.
Note that in this structure, the word the is not really the definite article - it was originally a form of the demonstrative pronoun, meaning 'by that much'.
than me; than I (am)
In an informal style, object pronouns (me etc) are used after than. In a more formal style, subject pronouns (I etc) are used (usually with verbs).
She's older than me. (informal) She is older than 1 (am). (formal) the happiest man in the world
After superlatives, we do not usually use ofwith a singular word referring to a place or group.
I'm the happiest man in the world. (NOT ••• 6J"the ftl6rlti.)
She'sthefastestplayerintheteam. (NOT ••• 6J"theteam.) But ofcan be used before plurals, and before lot.
She's thefastest player ofthem all. He's the best ojthe lot.
Note also the structure with possessive's.
He thinks he's the world's strongest man.
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comparison (5): using comparatives and superlatives 139
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