Re: Usage of "older man"

Will wrote:

Fiance wrote:

Hello,

I'm curious about the usage of comparatives in the following way:

"Portrait of the artist as an older man".

Is it correct English? How can a comparative be used in phrases when
there is no word to draw a comparison on? That is, "older" than who?


It's logically inconsistent. When I were a nipper (aged 12) I was
entered for a scholarship exam to an English Public School (translation
- an English private (i.e. fee-paying) school allowed prospective
pupils (ModE "students") to take an examination. The winners (or,
rather, their parents) would be entitled to a reduction in the school
fees.)

One of the mathematics papers was a Logic exam. One of the questions
was:

"What is wrong with this sentence:

Kit-e-Kat is 50% better for your cat".


Is "quite old" implied here?


Yes. An older man is often a man who has seen something of the world,
who has an insight into how the world operates. Maybe he knows what a
woman wants - no, it's not a vodka and Red Bull. An older man will
often compensate in skill what he lacks in stamina.

Which is a generalisation, considering that I did my usual 18 mile
Sunday run on Cleeve Hill at my usual speed, and I'm 49, which I think
qualifies me as an "older man". Well, I'm older than my brothers.
Though not as old as Bob Cunningham.


You're a younger man from where I am, although I'd have to be a bit older to consider you a toy boy, I think.

And I'm always impressed by people who can remember exam *questions* from their youth. I was trying, unsuccessfully, to remember my GCE O level *results* the other day.


--
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)

www.laurieengelfund.org
.

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