I need some grammar advice, once again. I know that I'm really supposed to be a grammar expert - or at least as a native English speaker I'm supposed to be the English "expert" when I'm teaching here in Japan. But sometimes I start to look at the English in these Japanese textbooks, and the English that the students are learning, and it seems wrong. Then I begin to second-guess myself, and I can't find the right answers online or in my books.
We've been teaching comparatives and superlatives - you know, I'm taller than my sister. My brother is the tallest in my family ... etc...
But one of the comparative/superlatives that confuses me is when we talk about things we like.
For example:
I like strawberries better than I like bananas.
or
I like strawberries better than bananas.
But how about this sentence:
I like strawberries more than I like bananas.
And what about the superlative version? Which is preferable, for you?
I like strawberries the best (of all fruits).
OR
I like strawberries the most (of all fruits).
when we ask the question, "Which fruit do you like (the most) (the best)?
Isn't it okay to use both "best" and "most" when we talk about our favorite things?
Because in this case, we're not using "best" to mean quality - as in "Sushi is the best Japanese food." And we're not using "most" to mean quantity - as in "I have more books than she does - I have the most books."
I think when we're talking about what we like, it is interchangeable to use "most" and "best" - but then again I am always doubting myself as an English grammarian!
So what do you think?
We've been teaching comparatives and superlatives - you know, I'm taller than my sister. My brother is the tallest in my family ... etc...
But one of the comparative/superlatives that confuses me is when we talk about things we like.
For example:
I like strawberries better than I like bananas.
or
I like strawberries better than bananas.
But how about this sentence:
I like strawberries more than I like bananas.
And what about the superlative version? Which is preferable, for you?
I like strawberries the best (of all fruits).
OR
I like strawberries the most (of all fruits).
when we ask the question, "Which fruit do you like (the most) (the best)?
Isn't it okay to use both "best" and "most" when we talk about our favorite things?
Because in this case, we're not using "best" to mean quality - as in "Sushi is the best Japanese food." And we're not using "most" to mean quantity - as in "I have more books than she does - I have the most books."
I think when we're talking about what we like, it is interchangeable to use "most" and "best" - but then again I am always doubting myself as an English grammarian!
So what do you think?
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