Explanation: In English grammar, comparative adjectives are used to compare two things. The comparative form of "far" is "farther" when referring to physical distances, and "further" when referring to abstract concepts or to indicate a greater degree. The sentence "Kolkata is _____ from Delhi than Patna is" requires a comparative adjective to compare the physical distance between Kolkata and Delhi with the distance between Patna and Delhi.
"Farther" is the correct comparative adjective to use in this context because it specifically refers to physical distances. "Further" is typically used for abstract concepts or to indicate a greater degree, which is not applicable in this sentence. "Far" is the base form of the adjective and does not indicate a comparison, while "farthest" is the superlative form, used to compare three or more things, which is not the case here.
To understand the concept better, let's break down the sentence:
- "Kolkata is farther from Delhi than Patna is" means that the distance between Kolkata and Delhi is greater than the distance between Patna and Delhi.
- "Kolkata is further from Delhi than Patna is" would be incorrect because "further" is not used for physical distances in this context.
- "Kolkata is far from Delhi than Patna is" is incorrect because "far" is not a comparative form.
- "Kolkata is farthest from Delhi than Patna is" is incorrect because "farthest" is the superlative form and is used for comparisons involving three or more items.
In summary, the correct comparative adjective to use in this sentence is "farther" because it is used to compare physical distances between two locations. Understanding the correct usage of comparative and superlative adjectives is crucial for accurate communication in English.