In usage of adjectives, the correct formation of the sentence is:

Appeared in: GMCH - 2016

Explanation

The sentence compares two individuals, Ram and Shyam, which requires the use of a comparative adjective.
The comparative degree of the adjective 'old' is 'older'.
The standard grammatical structure for such a comparison is: Subject 1 + Verb + Comparative Adjective + 'than' + Subject 2.
This option is the only one that follows the correct grammatical rules for forming a comparative sentence.

Option A: This option incorrectly uses the positive degree of the adjective ('old') in a comparative context. The presence of 'than' signals a comparison, which requires a comparative adjective.
Option C: This option incorrectly uses the superlative degree ('oldest'). The superlative degree is used to compare three or more nouns, not two.
Option D: This option has an incorrect and illogical sentence structure. The word order is jumbled, making the sentence grammatically nonsensical.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Degrees of Comparison for Adjectives as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general English question, strong grammar skills are crucial for nurses.
Accurate and clear communication is vital for patient charting, handoff reports, and explaining medical information to patients and their families.
Grammatical errors in documentation can lead to ambiguity or misinterpretation, which could potentially compromise patient safety.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the purpose of the sentence. Here, the sentence is intended to compare two people: Ram and Shyam.
Recall the grammatical rules for comparisons. A comparison between two nouns requires the comparative degree of an adjective.
Determine the correct form of the adjective 'old' for a two-person comparison. The degrees are old (positive), older (comparative), and oldest (superlative). The correct form is 'older'.
Look for the option that uses 'older' in the correct sentence structure, which is typically [Noun 1] is [comparative adjective] than [Noun 2].
Evaluate each option against this structure and eliminate those with incorrect adjective forms or jumbled word order.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q8cKWal97yCfFbekuU-FsK

Practise the full GMCH - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.