[Grammar] the larger/largest of the two?

[Rosamond00]

In a grammar book, the author marked that "I paid the larger of two the bills" is the correct sentence, though "I paid the largest of the two bills" is commoner, because we are comparing two items.

Then, would this structure be grammatically correct too: "I paid the largest bill of the two"? or should be "the larger bill"?

 

[buggles]

In a grammar book, the author marked that "I paid the larger of two the bills" is the correct sentence, though "I paid the largest of the two bills" is commoner, because we are comparing two items.

Then, would this structure be grammatically correct too: "I paid the largest bill of the two"? or should be "the larger bill"?

When there's two, it's always "the larger/ smaller /closer" and so on.


Unfortunately, in everday speech, I'm afraid that few people apply this rule and you'll tend to hear "closest" used no matter what number is involved.

buggles (not a teacher)