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Original poster

Did you do a double think on the grammar here?

116 replies

Awumminnscotland · 31/05/2023 10:06

My 7 yr old was reading the "blub" as she calls it on the back of her reading book and tells me that her teacher said this was wrong, that it should be "strongest". I'm afraid my eyebrows couldn't get any higher on my head and my mouth dropped. But maybe my expectations are too high?
I'm 52 and in primary didn't get taught much grammar but I knew this...
Not a teaching bashing thread just a v surprised mum and I know most mums of 7 yr olds are younger so just looking for perspective really.

Did you do a double think on the grammar here?
OP posts:
ArdeteiMasazxu · 31/05/2023 10:08

Stronger is correct for a comparison between two. You can use strongest if the comparison is between 3 or more.

GrazingSheep · 31/05/2023 10:11

The teacher is wrong.

W0tnow · 31/05/2023 10:15

I’d have said ‘who is stronger’ or ‘who is the strongest’. Same for faster/est, slower/est. So the presence of the word ‘the’ would make the difference for me. I’ve no idea of the ‘rule’ here. It’s just how my brain has been wired to work. Rightly or wrongly. 🤷‍♀️

TeddyBeans · 31/05/2023 10:17

I'd have said 'who is stronger' or 'who is the strongest'... 'who is the stronger' just looks wrong

halfsiesonapotnoodle · 31/05/2023 10:18

ArdeteiMasazxu · 31/05/2023 10:08

Stronger is correct for a comparison between two. You can use strongest if the comparison is between 3 or more.

Agreed. This is it.

KnickerlessParsons · 31/05/2023 10:20

W0tnow · 31/05/2023 10:15

I’d have said ‘who is stronger’ or ‘who is the strongest’. Same for faster/est, slower/est. So the presence of the word ‘the’ would make the difference for me. I’ve no idea of the ‘rule’ here. It’s just how my brain has been wired to work. Rightly or wrongly. 🤷‍♀️

That's not right.

What others have said - it's stronger of two, strongest of three or more.

ClaraThePigeon · 31/05/2023 10:24

Isn't it a double take?

W0tnow · 31/05/2023 10:24

I’m sure you’re right that it’s not right @KnickerlessParsons , and I’m normally pretty good with grammar, being a child of the 70s when it was drummed into us! It would be interesting to see how many follow the same thinking process as me though.

RhosynBach · 31/05/2023 10:25

I would say stronger for 2, strongest for 3 or more

I wouldn’t say the stronger though. It doesn’t look right. I’d say who is stronger

itsgettingweird · 31/05/2023 10:28

RhosynBach · 31/05/2023 10:25

I would say stronger for 2, strongest for 3 or more

I wouldn’t say the stronger though. It doesn’t look right. I’d say who is stronger

Agree with this.

Who is the stronger.

Stronger of the two.

Original poster
Awumminnscotland · 31/05/2023 10:28

RhosynBach · 31/05/2023 10:25

I would say stronger for 2, strongest for 3 or more

I wouldn’t say the stronger though. It doesn’t look right. I’d say who is stronger

Yes. I think it runs better nowadays without the 'the' but no idea if that's correct or not.

OP posts:
araiwa · 31/05/2023 10:28

Who is stronger?

Who is the strongest?
Bob is stronger than Rita and Sue

Original poster
Awumminnscotland · 31/05/2023 10:29

ClaraThePigeon · 31/05/2023 10:24

Isn't it a double take?

Yes. There is a double take. But I did a double think. Had to think twice about it not look twice😆

OP posts:
DailyCake · 31/05/2023 10:30

I was taught grammar from primary school to O' Levels and the rule is er for a comparison between two and est for more than two, as a previous poster said. For the poster who mentioned strongest looking wrong - it's because of hearing/seeing common incorrect usage. For example, it's correct to say "It is I", but we are so accustomed to hearing/saying "It's me", that the first sounds wrong.

Testino · 31/05/2023 10:31

ClaraThePigeon · 31/05/2023 10:24

Isn't it a double take?

Thought so too. Thought the thread title was the test.

Original poster
Awumminnscotland · 31/05/2023 10:31

DailyCake · 31/05/2023 10:30

I was taught grammar from primary school to O' Levels and the rule is er for a comparison between two and est for more than two, as a previous poster said. For the poster who mentioned strongest looking wrong - it's because of hearing/seeing common incorrect usage. For example, it's correct to say "It is I", but we are so accustomed to hearing/saying "It's me", that the first sounds wrong.

Agree. Hence the double think!

OP posts:
ShanghaiDiva · 31/05/2023 10:32

Stronger is correct.

ClaraThePigeon · 31/05/2023 10:33

Interesting. I've never heard that term before unless used in an Orwellian context when it's written as one word.

Original poster
Awumminnscotland · 31/05/2023 10:33

W0tnow · 31/05/2023 10:24

I’m sure you’re right that it’s not right @KnickerlessParsons , and I’m normally pretty good with grammar, being a child of the 70s when it was drummed into us! It would be interesting to see how many follow the same thinking process as me though.

Interesting. I'm also child of the 70s but in Scotland so completely different here but I may just have forgotten alot!

OP posts:
Jacopo · 31/05/2023 10:34

Definitely strong, stronger, strongest. Stronger is for comparing two. Strongest is for three or more.
Perfectly ok to have “the” there as well. The implication is “he is the stronger (of the two)”.

DailyCake · 31/05/2023 10:34

Yes OP. Double think is when you initially question yourself, so you have to think about it again. Double take has to do with sight.

ClaraThePigeon · 31/05/2023 10:35

I may just have forgotten alot!

Is anyone else thinking the same thing that I am?

Original poster
Awumminnscotland · 31/05/2023 10:36

Thanks for the replies. I think it's maybe normal nowadays to not see strictly correct grammar in writing alot of the time so we're all a little innured to it.

OP posts:
Adviceneeded234 · 31/05/2023 10:38

Who is stronger or who is strongest

CharlottenBurger · 31/05/2023 10:38

Ah. What we were taught. Using a superlative (e.g. 'biggest'), for one of two items has been in continuous & widespread use for centuries. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage refers to objections to this as 'a perfect shibboleth, serving no practical function except to separate those who observe the rule from those who do not.'.

If you refer to something as the best of the pair, rather than the better, the only 'rule' you are breaking is one of usage (read: opinions), and not of grammar (the structure of the language).