LoginOlder vs. Elder
What is Their Main Difference?
Both are comparative adjectives indicating someone who has lived longer than another. However, 'elder' only refers to humans, and can function as a noun, too, whereas, 'older' can be used for both humans and animals.
Differences
As mentioned above, 'elder' is a comparative adjective indicating that someone has lived longer than another person. It can also function as a noun to refer to someone who is in a higher position. Look below:
Among the ten sisters, she is the elder one.
My elder brother used to be a doctor.
'Older', on the other hand, can only function as a comparative adjective. Take a look at the examples below:
How dare you talk to your older sister like that?
Is there an older version of the Qoran?
Similarities
As stated above, they are both comparative adjectives indicating that someone has lived longer than them. Look:
'Respect your elders' they always say.
Many say 'the older you get, the wiser you become', but I don't believe in the relation between time and maturity.
Are They Interchangeable?
Most people use these two terms interchangeably. Just remember that 'elder' can be a noun, whereas 'older' is only an adjective. Compare:
✓ The elders always got the VIP seats.
X The olders always got the VIP seats.
As mentioned above, this one is wrong because 'older' can never be a noun.
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