Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[worksmart]

I am confused on this?

Are the following have the same meaning and grammatically correct?

1) Which one do you like best?
2) Which one do you like THE best?
3) Which one do you like more?
4) Which one do you like better?

Do the first two mean that there are more than two things to choose from.
And the last two mean only two things to choose from?

Thanks!

[2006]

Although some people say "like (better)(best)", it is not good English and should not be used. You should say 'like (more)(most)'. Of course you use "more" for two of something and "most" for more than two.
You can say 'like the most' but you cannot say 'like the more'.

[Lorikeet]

[2006]

Hi Lorikeet
Even though it is used (? how prevalent), I just think that "like" and "(better)(best)" is a strange and even illogical verb/adverb combination. Of course students can decide for themselves but I think using 'like" with "(more)(most)" is much better.

[Lorikeet]

Well I googled it for fun, an unscientific approach, and got the following results:

for "like better" 1,160,000
for "like more" 1,730,000 (Including sentences of the type, "Would you like more ketchup with that?"
for "like best" 1,360,000

So at least we know people use them all a lot

[2006]

So I guess the battle against 'bad English' is a long uphill one.

The last word is yours if you wish.