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An English Question

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AMonk

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An English Question
« on: June 23, 2007, 12:51:20 AM »
OK, then.....I am the first (oldest) of six children.  I have 3 sisters (all younger) and 2 brothers (also younger).  My question is this.....when I want to talk about them, do I call the more senior brother "my elder brother" or "my older brother"?  And when I want to speak about my sisters, do I say "the eldest sister" or "the oldest sister"?  (I already say "my younger" brother and "my middle" or "my youngest" sister).

I always did get confused about older/elder....... bibibibibi
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George

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2007, 01:01:03 AM »
I don't know. I just say " my brother" or "my sister". They are all younger than me.
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ericthered

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2007, 01:04:35 AM »
Not sure but I always use "older". I only use "elder" or "elderly" when describing people whom I am not connected with in any way, as for example "the elderly woman standing in line in front of me in the supermarket made me wonder if it was possible to bludgoen someone to death with a leek".
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Eagle

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2007, 02:41:57 PM »
I am old, my siblings aren't.  There that should solve the problem.  my youngest brother ... the baby ... hell ... this is too difficult.  I change my mind, I am old and I don't have any family relations whatsoever.
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dragonsaver

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2007, 03:42:05 PM »
Older brother - ge1ge
Younger brother - di4di
Older sister jie3jie
Younger sister - mei4mei
For more than one - you add da - big and xiao3 for little

So youngest brother would be xiao3 + last name or xiao3 di4 (I think)

You can also use er4 + relation for 2nd brother etc.

I know er4 jiu is mother's second brother. (er4 is two).
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DaDan

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2007, 04:42:42 PM »
if ya say "my older/elder brother..." I will assume you're talking about your brother that is older than you...

oldest might fit best for your oldest younger brother.

& this being China....
if you say "my little sister..."
I will assume you're talking about your.....  um.... your..... hmm...
afafafafaf
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cheekygal

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2007, 06:55:06 PM »
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/elder

either way is fine. It's like FURTHER and FARTHER. Same difference.
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The Clan

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2007, 06:59:36 PM »
There is a difference as to which you use further or farther, http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/course/76-451/watts.html.  Well in American terms at least.
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AMonk

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2007, 09:15:45 PM »
Quote from: DaDan on June 23, 2007, 04:42:42 PM
if ya say "my older/elder brother..." I will assume you're talking about your brother that is older than you...

oldest might fit best for your oldest younger brother



Yeah......but "oldEST" implies that I have more than two brothers.....you know the comparative and the superlative thingie.











Cheeksy...sorry, but there is actually a difference between "farther" and "further"; it's a very subtle difference, but it is there.  And my problem is specific in the older/elder situation.  Both my brothers are younger than me, but one of them is older than the other....so is he my "older" or my "elder" brother?....but being still junior to me.
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Lotus Eater

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2007, 10:15:42 AM »
I would use 'my younger brother" and "my youngest brother". Older/elder brother to me is clearly older than you.


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Vegemite

Re: An English Question
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2007, 05:22:23 PM »
Or how about the older of my younger brothers?

But then I 'spose that implies you have some older brothers... bibibibibi
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AMonk

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2007, 09:32:17 PM »
Freeakin Frustrating!! Innit?









And LE, I can't say youngEST brother, because I only have two, not 3 (or more)..at least that I am aware of... ahahahahah
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DaDan

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2007, 10:13:02 PM »
I'm confused....

why does it take Three to say oldest/youngest?

I thought two was enough to be able to have a oldest of the two?

You've got two younger brothers, the youngest one is younger than the other.

Is that not correct English?
« Last Edit: June 24, 2007, 10:16:28 PM by DaDan »
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dragonsaver

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2007, 10:13:51 PM »
But what is the one older than the youngest called?
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AMonk

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Re: An English Question
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2007, 10:28:07 PM »
Quote from: DaDan on June 24, 2007, 10:13:02 PM
I'm confused....

Is that not correct English?

No, it is not correct English.

Quote from: AMonk on June 23, 2007, 09:15:45 PM
"oldEST" implies that I have more than two brothers.....you know the comparative and the superlative thingie.

If you use the "-er" ending, then you compare two things/people, but if you use the "-est" ending, you have (at least) three lined up to show the differences.
e.g Tall....TallER....TallEST











Edit:  Ain't English a B***h!?!
« Last Edit: June 24, 2007, 10:31:17 PM by AMonk »
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