A better chairman or the better chairman than

[Deepurple]

Hi, teachers,

What is the difference between the two below? Thank you.

Bill Gates, according to some, is a better chairman than Craig Barrett.
Bill Gates, according to some, is the better chairman than Craig Barrett.

[5jj]

A is better than B.
A is a better [noun] than B.
A is the better [noun] (of the two). - the noun can be omitted if it has been previously mentioned.
A is the best [noun] (of more than two). . - the noun can be omitted if it has been previously mentioned.

We do not use the with a comparative adjective + than.

[Deepurple]

Thanks again. That means there is no such construction as "A is the better (noun) than B" but either "A is a better (noun) than B" or "A is the better (noun) of the two". Am I right?

[Barb_D]

"A is a better (noun) than B" or "A is the better (noun) of the two".

Exactly!