Uses of Various Adjectives

Uses of first, former, latter, last, later, latest

later and latest refer to time, while first, former, latter and last refer to position in a sequence/order.

Later Vs. Latest

• Later - it means after some time.
• Latest - it means the most recent.

I will complete this task later.
There has been some incident at the LOC as per the latest news.

Last, Former and Latter

• Last - the last item in a sequence/order.
• Former - the earlier item in a group of two.
• Latter - the later item in a group of two.

The last act of this novel is most intriguing.

Both cigarette and coffee are harmful if over-consumed, the former due to nicotine and the latter due to caffeine.

You have given me two choices but the later is better than the former. (incorrect)
You have given me two choices but the latter is better than the former. (correct)

Former Vs. First

Concept 1

To indicate the first in a group of two - we use ‘former’.

You are talking about investing in shares and debt bonds, but I don’t want to invest in the first. (incorrect)
You are talking about investing in shares and debt bonds, but I don’t want to invest in the former. (correct)

Concept 2

To indicate the first in a group of three or more - we use ‘first’ (and not former).

Shakespear, Milton, and Kalidas are great poets but I like the former most. (incorrect)
Shakespear, Milton, and Kalidas are great poets but I like the first most. (correct)

Latter Vs. Last

Concept 1

To indicate the last in a group of two (or near the end of a series/ process/ stage/…..) - we use ‘latter’.

I lost the line of thought of the author in the latter half of the book.

Virat played well during the latter stage of the tournament.

Concept 2

To indicate the last one in a group of three or more - we use ‘last’.

Out of 8 runners in the final race, the Turkish runner came in last.

Uses of elder, older, eldest, oldest

Positive degree - old
Comparative degree - older, elder
Superlative degree - oldest, eldest

Concept 1

• older and oldest - used for both persons and things.
• elder and eldest - used only for persons (not for animals or things).

Anand is my eldest son.
Saurav is the oldest boy in the team.
This is the oldest temple in Varanasi.

Delhi is elder than Mumbai. (incorrect)
Delhi is older than Mumbai. (correct)

Concept 2

Also, elder and eldest are used only for the members of the same family. That is:

• When we have to tell that something or someone is more in age – we use older, oldest
  
• But when we are to tell that someone in blood relation is more in age - we use elder, eldest

Rakhi is my older daughter. (incorrect)
Rakhi is my elder daughter. (correct – In case of blood relation we use elder)

Uses of farther, further, nearest, next

Farther Vs. Further

• To express distance – we can use either farther or further.
  Andaman is farther/further from Chennai than Kolkata.

• To mean additional – we use further (and not farther)
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Nearest Vs. Next

Nearest means the shortest distance away.
Next refers to the subsequent thing/person in a sequence/series/order.

The nearest Airforce airfield is in Ghaziabad.
My niece lives in the house next to that pawn shop.
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Extra Books and Tools

If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.