38. Common preposition + noun combinations
• At the cinema; at the theatre; at the party; at university
• By car/bike/bus/train/boat/plane/land/sea/air
• On the radio; on TV; on the phone
• In pen/pencil/ink • In a suit/raincoat/shirt/skirt/hat etc
39. Comparatives and superlatives
The comparative (e.g. taller, sharper, stronger, heavier, shorter etc.) is used to compare one person or thing with another person or thing.
• John is taller than Peter.
• Alice is cleverer than Mary. The superlative (e.g. tallest, sharpest, strongest, heaviest, shortest etc.) is used to compare somebody or something with the whole group to which she/he/it belongs.
• John is the tallest boy in the class.
• Alice is the prettiest of the four girls.
• He is the best player in the team. When a group has only two members, we prefer the comparative to the superlative.
• Incorrect: Take the shortest of the two routes.
• Correct: Take the shorter of the two routes.
• Incorrect: She is the prettiest of the two sisters.
• Correct: She is the prettier of the two sisters.
40. Comparatives: a common error In comparative sentences be careful to compare the same part of two things.
That of, these of and those of are necessary words that are often omitted.
• Incorrect: His teaching was like Jesus Christ.
• Correct: His teaching was like that of Jesus Christ.
• Incorrect: The size of the shoe must be the same as this shoe.
• Correct: The size of the shoe must be the same as that of this shoe.
• Incorrect: My books are better than my friend.
• Correct: My books are better than those of my friend.
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