As an expert in the field of linguistics and language usage, I can provide a detailed explanation on the usage of "smart" and "smarter" in English.
In English, when we want to compare two things, we use the comparative form of an adjective. The comparative form of an adjective usually ends in "-er". For example, "bigger" is the comparative form of "big", "happier" is the comparative form of "happy", and "stronger" is the comparative form of "strong".
The same rule applies to the adjective "smart". To compare two things and say that one is more intelligent or clever than the other, we use the comparative form "smarter". So, if we want to say that Sally is more intelligent than Tom, we would say "Sally is smarter than Tom".
However, there is an exception to this rule. When we want to say that something is to a greater degree or extent, we can use "more" before the base form of the adjective. So, we can say "Sally is more intelligent than Tom" to mean the same thing as "Sally is smarter than Tom". Both sentences convey the same meaning, but they use different grammatical structures.
It's important to note that while both "smarter" and "more intelligent" can be used to make comparisons, they are not always interchangeable. The choice between them can depend on the context and the specific meaning you want to convey. "Smarter" is a direct comparison between two things, while "more intelligent" can imply a broader or more general comparison.
In addition, when forming superlatives, we use the superlative form of the adjective. The superlative form of "smart" is "smartest". So, if we want to say that Sally is the most intelligent person in her class, we would say "Sally is the smartest person in her class".
In conclusion, both "smarter" and "more intelligent" can be used to make comparisons in English. The choice between them depends on the context and the specific meaning you want to convey. "Smarter" is the direct comparative form of "smart", while "more intelligent" can imply a broader or more general comparison. When forming superlatives, we use "smartest".
Now, let's move on to the next step.
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