The frog blew himself up too much because he wanted to look bigger than the ox. Am I bigger than him? No, you are still smaller than him.
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In the last sentence, what is the meaning of 'still'? Is still the same as 'much, or 'far' emphasizing the comparative sentence? Or does 'still' mean the definition 'used when saying that something continues to be the same as before, or has not happened yet' as in the Longman dictionary?
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English - Writeacher Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 7:47am
... than he. (Remember that "him" is for objects and "he" is for subjects.)
In the second sentence, "still" carries the meaning of "you continue to be" ...
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The frog blew himself up too much because he wanted to look bigger than the ox. Am I bigger than him? No, you are still smaller than he.
1. You are still smaller than he.
2. You are smaller still than he.
3. You are much/even smaller than he.
[You mean #1 doesn't mean #3? What about #2? Does #2 mean #3? In some sentences, 'still' mean 'much' or 'even.' In what sentences, does 'still' have that meaning?]
Much indicates the relative size, relative to the ox. Much smaller, a lot smaller. If you were comparing the size of the frog to another small animal, a rabbit, or example, we might say the frog is even smaller than the small rabbit. Again, it's to indicate comparison. Still means a continuation of what was. The frog was smaller than the ox, and, even after trying to look bigger, he is still smaller. It does not compare anything, it indicates a continuing situation. It's winter, so it is still cold outside, it has not become warmer. It was raining a few minutes ago, it has not stopped raining, so it is still raining. I lost five pounds, but I'm still too fat.
But, he is the wrong pronoun. It should be "than him", the object of the preposition "than".
In the sentence "You are still smaller than he," the word "still" is used to emphasize that the comparison between you and him has not changed. It means that even after considering the fact that the frog blew himself up in an attempt to look bigger than the ox, you are still smaller than him.
In this context, "still" does not have the same meaning as "much" or "far" emphasizing the comparative sentence. Instead, it means that you continue to be smaller than him, just as you were before.
As for Sentence #2, "You are smaller still than he," it conveys a similar meaning. The word "still" is used to emphasize that you are even smaller than him, reinforcing the idea that the frog's failed attempt to look bigger did not change the comparison between you and him.
Regarding Sentence #3, "You are much/even smaller than he," it is a different construction that implies a more significant difference in size. This sentence suggests that not only are you smaller than him, but you are much or even significantly smaller.
In terms of using "still" to mean "much" or "even," it is not a straightforward substitution. The meaning of "still" can depend on the context in which it is used. While it can sometimes carry an additional sense of emphasis, it does not necessarily convey the same degree of significance as "much" or "even." The choice of word depends on the intended meaning and the specific context in which it is being used.