Question

Some people consider the Yankees to be the (greatest, greater) baseball team ever.

Short answer

The correct answer is 'greatest'. The completed sentence is 'Some people consider the Yankees to be the greatest baseball team ever'.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the context

First, understand the sentence 'Some people consider the Yankees to be the (greatest, greater) baseball team ever'. Here, we are comparing the Yankees to all baseball teams throughout history, not just to one.

Select the correct adjective form

Since we are comparing the Yankees to all baseball teams ever, we need to use the superlative form of the adjective which is 'greatest'.

Implement the correct adjective form

Now, we replace the bracketed words in the sentence with the correct adjective form. The finalized sentence is 'Some people consider the Yankees to be the greatest baseball team ever'.

Key concepts

Comparative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives are a useful tool in English grammar that help us compare two objects, people, or situations. They usually describe how one thing is more or less than another. For instance, we might say "The cat is faster than the dog". Here, "faster" is a comparative adjective. It compares the speed of the cat and the dog.

To form comparative adjectives, different rules apply based on the number of syllables in the adjective and if it ends with certain letters:

• For one-syllable adjectives, typically add "-er" (e.g., taller, faster).
• If the single-syllable adjective ends in "-e," just add "-r" (e.g., nicer).
• For two-syllable adjectives ending in "-y," replace "-y" with "-ier" (e.g., prettier).
• For adjectives with two or more syllables, use "more" or "less" before the adjective (e.g., more beautiful, less interesting).

Using comparative adjectives correctly hinges on understanding these rules and applying them based on what you're comparing.

Superlative Adjectives

Superlative adjectives go a step further than comparative adjectives, allowing us to express the highest degree of a quality among three or more items. This gives a sense of the utmost: the tallest, the fastest, the most beautiful.

Superlative adjectives are usually formed by:

• Adding "-est" to one-syllable adjectives (e.g., tallest, smallest).
• For one-syllable adjectives ending in "-e," add "-st" (e.g., largest).
• Replacing "-y" with "-iest" for two-syllable adjectives ending in "-y" (e.g., happiest).
• Using "most" or "least" before multi-syllable adjectives (e.g., most important, least effective).

The superlative form often includes "the" before it since it identifies one as the pinnacle or extreme of its quality. In our example sentence, "greatest" signals that, among all baseball teams, the Yankees hold the highest regard in terms of quality.

Sentence Structure

Understanding sentence structure is crucial for conveying your thoughts clearly. A well-formed sentence provides a clear foundation for the correct use of adjectives and other parts of speech.

A typical sentence structure includes:

• Subject: The entity performing the action or being described.
• Predicate: Contains the verb and provides information about the subject's action or state of being.
• Object: Receives the action of the verb (in transitive verbs).

Adding adjectives, especially comparative and superlative forms, can modify the noun offering a layer of meaning. Using "the greatest" modifies "baseball team," giving clear emphasis and focus to the sentence.

Contextual Understanding

Contextual understanding is about grasping the full situation surrounding a sentence, which helps in choosing the right words. In our example, realizing that we speak of the Yankees in the context of all baseball teams ever is vital.

This involves comprehension skills like:

• Recognizing comparisons involving all members of a group vs. just two, which guides adjective form.
• Understanding historical or situational references, such as "ever," which imply a broad scope.
• Placing emphasis on certain parts or ideas within the sentence based on context.

Developing strong contextual understanding ensures the accurate usage of language elements like adjectives, ensuring communication is effective and precise.