Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which sentence uses the correct form of the adjective brave? A. Of all of those heroes, who seemed most bravest to you?
B. Which of the first two heroes in this story was bravest?
C. Who was more braver: Robin Hood or Ivanhoe?
D. I think Maid Marian was braver than Robin Hood.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is D. I think Maid Marian was braver than Robin Hood.
Explanation:
When determining the correct form of the adjective “brave,” it’s essential to understand how comparative and superlative forms function in English. The word “brave” is a positive adjective used to describe someone who displays courage or valor.
- Positive Form: This is the base form of the adjective, simply “brave,” used to describe a quality without comparison (e.g., “She is brave.”).
- Comparative Form: This is used to compare two entities. For most one-syllable adjectives, the comparative form is typically created by adding “-er” to the adjective. In the case of “brave,” the correct comparative form is “braver.” Thus, when comparing two subjects, one would say “braver” (e.g., “He is braver than she is.”).
- Superlative Form: This is used to compare three or more entities, and for “brave,” it becomes “bravest.” The superlative form typically uses “the” before it when making comparisons among multiple subjects (e.g., “She is the bravest of all.”).
Now, let’s analyze the incorrect options:
- A. Of all of those heroes, who seemed most bravest to you?: This sentence incorrectly uses “most bravest.” The superlative form “bravest” already implies the highest degree of bravery, so it should not be modified by “most.”
- B. Which of the first two heroes in this story was bravest?: This option is technically correct but less preferred in standard usage. It sounds awkward without the proper context because it’s missing an article or qualifier that usually precedes superlatives.
- C. Who was more braver: Robin Hood or Ivanhoe?: This sentence incorrectly combines “more” with “braver.” The comparative form “braver” does not need “more”; it’s already in its comparative form.
Therefore, D is the best option, as it correctly uses the comparative form “braver” when comparing Maid Marian to Robin Hood, demonstrating proper grammatical structure.