Question

Jim is 19 years old. Tony is 15. Jim is ____________than Tony. (Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.)
A. younger
B. oldest
C. older
D. youngest

Answer 1

Hint: An adjective is a term that modifies or represents the referent of a noun or a noun phrase in linguistics. There are many different types of adjectives Superlative adjective
Descriptive Adjectives, Quantitative Adjectives etc.

Complete answer:
When comparing one noun to another, comparative adjectives are used. Just two objects are being contrasted in these cases. When comparing three or more nouns, superlative adjectives are used. They can also be used to equate one thing to the rest of a group of things.

A superlative adjective expresses a quality's severe or highest level. A superlative adjective is used to define the exceptional nature of one item among many. When talking about three or more things, we can use superlative adjectives.

Now let us look into the given options:
Option A. If we choose this option then the sentence formed will be- Jim is 19 years old. Tony is 15. Jim is younger than Tony. This is incorrect because the sentence formed is factually wrong, as it is given that Jim is 19 and hence, is younger than Tony.

Option B. If we choose this option then the sentence formed will be- Jim is 19 years old. Tony is 15. Jim is the oldest than Tony. This is incorrect because the sentence that is formed is factually correct, as it is given that Jim is 19 and hence, is older than Tony, but we do not have any information if he is indeed the oldest, therefore we cannot assume. We do not use oldest because that would be a superlative adjective and superlative adjectives are only used when there is a comparison between more than two nouns. But in the given question the comparison is between only two nouns (Jim and Tony). Therefore, it is clear that we cannot use the word “oldest”.

Option C. If we choose this option then the sentence formed will be- Jim is 19 years old. Tony is 15. Jim is older than Tony. This is correct because the sentence that is formed is factually and grammatically correct, as it is given that Jim is 19 and hence, is older than Tony. This sentence is also an example of comparative adjectives meaning only two objects are being compared.

Option D. If we choose this option then the sentence formed will be- Jim is 19 years old. Tony is 15. Jim is the youngest of Tony. This is incorrect because the sentence formed is factually wrong, as it is given that Jim is 19 and hence, is older than Tony. Also, the word ‘youngest’ is an example of a superlative adjective, therefore will not fit in the given sentence.

Therefore, Option C is correct because it is factually and grammatically correct.

Note: Comparing nouns (people, things, animals, and so on) to something else is one way to explain them. You're more apt to use adjectives like smaller, larger, taller, more interesting, and less expensive when comparing two objects. Take note of the er ending, as well as the words more and less.

You'll probably use terms and phrases like shortest, largest, tallest, most interesting, and least interesting when comparing more than two objects. Take note of the -est ending, as well as the words most and least. When forming these superlatives, make sure to use the correct ending or superlative adjective.