Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers




Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 12-Jul-2006, 10:34
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Country: india
Posts: 1
First Language: hindi
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
shikha_kandwal is on a distinguished road
Default Older and elder

What is the difference between older and elder
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 12-Jul-2006, 13:32
hector51's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Country: Vietnam
Posts: 241
Current Location: Saigon
First Language: Vietnamese
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
hector51 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Older and elder

basically,they are the same...but there is little difference in their meaning.When referring to someone who is older than you in your family or someone that have close relationship with you,you should use "elder".

Hope that helps
my 2 cents
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 12-Jul-2006, 15:42
sheena55ro
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Older and elder

Quote:
Originally Posted by shikha_kandwal
What is the difference between older and elder
Positive Comparative Superlative
old - older - the oldest
-elder - the eldest


This house is old. It is older than that one over there.

" elder" and "the eldest" are used only attributivelly [preceding a noun]when talking about the members of the same family:
e.g.
My elder sister is two years older than me.
His elder brother works in a factory. He is older than me. He is the oldest worker in that factory.
The eldest brother [of all brothers] is Jim.

Regards,

Last edited by sheena55ro; 12-Jul-2006 at 15:53.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 12-Jul-2006, 15:43
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Country: Korea
Posts: 124
Current Location: Busan
First Language: korean
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
spoon is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Older and elder

By the way,

hector51, what does that mean, " my 2 cents"?

I've been curious about the meaning.

Could you tell me the meaning?

Thanks..

Spoon
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 12-Jul-2006, 15:54
sheena55ro
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Older and elder

Quote:
Originally Posted by shikha_kandwal
What is the difference between older and elder

old - older [comparative] - the oldest[superlative]
-elder[comparative] - the eldest[superlative]


This house is old. It is older than that one over there.

" elder" and "the eldest" are used only attributivelly when talking about the members of the same family:
e.g.
My elder sister is two years older than me.
His elder brother works in a factory. He is older than me. He is the oldest worker in that factory.

Regards,
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 12-Jul-2006, 18:19
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Country: england
Posts: 39
First Language: english
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
thestudentproofreader is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Older and elder

Just to add....

Usually, 'older' and 'elder' are used before or after a noun/subject, i.e:

The older/elder brother

OR

John was older/eldest

Noe: In regards to 'elder', this can be used (unlike older) to act as a subject, i.e:

Respect your elders

OR

The elders observed the youngsters

Hope this helps

http://www.studentproofreader.com
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 13-Jul-2006, 09:31
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,755
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 591 Times in 517 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default Re: Older and elder

Quote:
Originally Posted by spoon
what does that mean, " my 2 cents"?
It's a phrase used when people give an opinion, a way of suggestiung that it is what they think and not necessarily an accepted fact.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 13-Jul-2006, 13:07
hector51's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Country: Vietnam
Posts: 241
Current Location: Saigon
First Language: Vietnamese
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
hector51 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Older and elder

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
It's a phrase used when people give an opinion, a way of suggestiung that it is what they think and not necessarily an accepted fact.
I'm with you,tdol
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
older, elder

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
elder and older vannak Ask a Teacher 8 03-Aug-2007 12:13
older or elder??? ruthy930 Ask a Teacher 1 28-May-2006 01:08
elder and older kong vannak Ask a Teacher 1 07-Feb-2006 00:13
older & elder Unregistered Ask a Teacher 2 14-Mar-2005 06:44
older,elderand eldest dean Ask a Teacher 3 12-Feb-2004 13:32


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 13:28.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com