Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
Among all the students (1) / he is the better (2) / in mathematics (3) / and physics(4).
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
he is the better (2)
Explanation
The error is located in part (2) of the sentence due to an incorrect degree of comparison.
In English grammar, the comparative degree (better) is strictly used when comparing exactly two people or things. When a comparison involves more than two entities—indicated here by the phrase "Among all the students"—you must use the superlative degree (best).
Therefore, "the better" is grammatically incorrect and must be replaced with "the best".
The correct sentence should read: Among all the students, he is the best in mathematics and physics.
Key Points
Use the comparative degree (e.g., better, taller, smarter) when comparing exactly two entities.
Use the superlative degree (e.g., best, tallest, smartest) when comparing three or more entities, often signaled by words like among, all, or in the class.