Question

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence at the underlined point (multiple options may be correct)
Of the two options presented, the first is the best.
A) Better
B) The better
C) Best
D) No change

Answer 1

Hint: Adjectives are words which are used to describe nouns and pronouns. For e.g. She is a good painter. Adjectives are also used to compare two characters for e.g. She is a better painter than me. (comparative degree). Finally, it is used to specify the superlative extent to which a noun possesses a characteristic. For e.g. She is the best painter.

Complete answer:
In the given sentence, we can see that ‘two options are presented’. Hence, it means that the options are being compared. Let us choose the options according to the comparison being made in the sentence.
Option A) Better – ‘Better’ is the comparative degree of the adjective ‘good’. It is only used when a comparison is made. In the given sentence, there is a comparison being made between two options. Thus, ‘better’ can be used to refer to the option that is ‘better’ out of the two. Thus, this option is correct.
Option B) The better – This is also the same comparative degree as ‘better’. But in this case we also have an article ‘the’. When ‘the’ is used with a comparative form, it means that we are referring to a specific ‘option’ out of the ‘two options’ given in the sentence. That is why a definite article is used in this case. This is also a correct way to use comparative degrees. Thus, this option is also correct.
Option C) Best – This is a superlative degree and used while describing qualities at their extremities. For e.g. This is the best car. It means that there is no comparison to that particular car. But in the given sentence we have a comparison between two options. Thus, this option is incorrect.
Option D) No change – This option is incorrect because in the sentence given in the question the words ‘the best’ has been used in a comparative sentence. Whereas ‘best’ is only used for superlative scenarios. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Thus, the correct answer is;
Option (A) Of the two options presented, the first is better.
Option (B) Of the two options presented, the first is the better.

Note: When we use the superlative degree of the adjective we always use the article ‘the’ before it. When we use the comparative degree, there are conditions when we can use ‘the’ and when we cannot use ‘the’. When we use the word ‘than’ with the adjective, we do not use the article ‘the’. For e.g. The first option is better than the second option.