Is it correct to say "Nora is the shorter of the two girls"?
Sender Rahmah Atef Position Student
Yes. When we are comparing only two things, some people prefer the comparative rather than the superlative. However, it is also possible to use the superlative because we are comparing members of a group, even if the group has only two members. And of course we always use the superlative when comparing three or more.
Nora is the shorter of the two girls.
Nora is the shortest of the two girls. (not acceptable to some)
Nora is the shortest girl in the class.
In real life, native speakers often use the superlative when comparing only two things, especially in informal speech.
Some think that this is incorrect and that the comparative must be used.
A question of this sort should not appear on an exam because there are two possible answers. Students have been taught that when they see the, they must use the superlative. But which of the rules would an examiner follow -- that the comparative must be used when only two things are compared, or that the must be followed by the superlative? This would be an unfair question on an exam
http://www.longmansec.com.eg/QuestAns.aspx?QA_ID=910