Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
This is the old tree in the colony.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. oldest.
Error concept: Wrong degree of adjective.
What is wrong: The sentence uses “the old tree”, which is incorrect because “the” before an adjective in such context requires the superlative degree to indicate the tree is the oldest among all in the colony.
Grammatical concept:
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Positive degree: old (no comparison).
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Comparative degree: older (comparison between two).
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Superlative degree: oldest (comparison among many, always used with “the”).
Incorrectness of the concept in context: Using “the old tree” is grammatically incomplete and does not express the intended superlative meaning.
How to correct: Replace “the old tree” with “the oldest tree.”
Correct phrase/ correction: oldest
Final sentence: This is the oldest tree in the colony.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.