Fill in the blank with the correct option: She is ......... than stupid.

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The sentence requires a comparative structure to compare two characteristics of the same subject ("She"): being lazy and being stupid. When we compare two qualities belonging to the same person or thing, we must use the "more [adjective] than [adjective]" construction, even if the adjective is a short one that would typically take the "-er" ending in a standard comparison between two different entities. This grammatical rule is known as the comparison of two qualities in one subject, and it ensures clarity and emphasizes that the comparison is internal to the subject. The adjective "lazy" is an exception that usually forms its comparative as "lazier," but in this specific structure (comparing two traits of 'She'), the use of "more lazy" is mandatory for correct grammar. The complete, grammatically sound sentence becomes: "She is more lazy than stupid." This means that her laziness is a more prominent characteristic than her stupidity.

The incorrect option is 1:

Option 1, "lazier," is the standard comparative form of the adjective "lazy," which is used when comparing two different people or things (e.g., "She is lazier than her brother"). However, when comparing two qualities of the *same* subject ("lazy" versus "stupid"), English grammar requires the use of the "more $$adjective$$ than $$adjective$$" structure to distinguish between two attributes of one person. Therefore, using "lazier than stupid" is grammatically incorrect in this context of parallel comparison of two internal traits.

The incorrect option is 2:

Option 2, "more lazier," is incorrect because it involves a redundancy known as a double comparative. The comparative form of "lazy" is already created either by adding the suffix "-er" (lazier) or by placing the word "more" before it (more lazy). Using both "more" and the "-er" suffix simultaneously (more lazier) creates a grammatical error, making it unacceptable in standard English.

The incorrect option is 3:

Option 3, "lazy," is the base form (positive degree) of the adjective. While the sentence compares two qualities ("lazy" and "stupid"), the inclusion of the word "than" clearly signals that a comparison is being made, thus requiring the comparative degree of the adjective, not the positive degree. If we used "lazy," the sentence would read "She is lazy than stupid," which is grammatically nonsensical because the positive degree cannot be followed directly by "than" in a comparative construction.