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Latest post Sat, Jan 12 2008 3:53 PM by Grammar Geek. 5 replies.
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Vincent Teo  +  462982 Fri, 11 Jan 08 11:10 AM

Can I say,

 

(a) The giraffe is the tallest animals in the world.

(b) The girrafe is the tallest.

 

Joined on Sat, Mar 31 2007
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Feebs11  +  462997 Fri, 11 Jan 08 12:03 PM
 Vincent Teo wrote:

Can I say,

 

(a) The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world.

(b) The girrafe is the tallest.  Presupposes that other animals have already been described.

 
Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006
UK
Veteran Member 5,015
Vincent Teo, 1 yr 314 days ago

Can I say,

(a ) The giraffe is the tallest than other animals. / than others.

Grammar Geek  +  463254 Sat, 12 Jan 08 04:06 AM

Of all the animals, the giraffe is the tallest.

Don't use the -est form with "than" - use the -er form with than.

The hippo is taller than the warthog. The elephant is the tallest of the three.

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006
Veteran Member 19,650
Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!
Vincent Teo, 1 yr 314 days ago

Can I say,

(a) A giraffe is the tallest.

(b) A giraffe is the tallest animal in the world.

Grammar Geek  +  463405 Sat, 12 Jan 08 03:53 PM
 Vincent Teo wrote:

Can I say,

(a) A giraffe is the tallest. The tallest WHAT? This is missing something, unless you have already been having a conversation about tall animals.

(b) A giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. This is fine.

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