[Grammar] when you were young or younger

Status
Not open for further replies.

Heidi

Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
Dear friends,

If Jenny is ten years old, should I say "did you keep the photos you took when you were young" or "did you keep the photos you took when you were younger"?

If Jenny is, say, fifty years old, should I use 'when you were young' or 'when you were younger'?

Thank you!
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Dear friends,

If Jenny is ten years old, should I say "did you keep the photos you took when you were young" or "did you keep the photos you took when you were younger"? '. . .when you were younger.'

If Jenny is, say, fifty years old, should I use 'when you were young' or 'when you were younger'? '. . .when you were young.'

Thank you!

Of course, you may want to be more specific: '. . .when you were 5 or 6'; ' . . when you were in your twenties.'

Rover
 

Heidi

Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
Of course, you may want to be more specific: '. . .when you were 5 or 6'; ' . . when you were in your twenties.'

Rover
Dear Rover,

Could you please give me more explanation about why we use '...when you were younger' if Jenny is 10 years old? I thought adjective+er is used when we want to make comparasion.

Thank you!
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Dear Rover,

Could you please give me more explanation about why we use '...when you were younger' if Jenny is 10 years old? I thought adjective+er is used when we want to make comparison.

Thank you!
The comparison is implied, "When you were younger (than you are now)".
 

konungursvia

VIP Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
The comparison is implied, "When you were younger (than you are now)".

Yes, "When you were younger" can be used for anyone.

However, it would be ridiculous to say "When you were young" to anyone under 27. They ARE young.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top