ANSWERS: English Challenge #7

Choose the best American English expression that goes with the picture!

1.     Live life to the full.

2.     Live life to the fullest.

3.     Live life to the farthest.

4.     Live life to the furthest.

1.     Live life to the full.

2.     Live life to the fullest.

3.     Live life to the farthest.

4.     Live life to the furthest.

Numbers 1 and 2 are correct! BUT, in America, most people will say “fullest”.

But what about those other two choices?

Live life to the farthest…to where? To Australia? To Saturn?!! To Sirius?

Live life to the furthest…what? Extent? Depths? Reaches of the mind?

What is the difference between “farther/farthest” and “further/furthest”?

The MAIN DIFFERENCES:

FARTHER (farthest) talks about PHYSICAL distance ONLY.

My house is farther than yours.

The farther I walk, the more tired I become.

I ran the farthest ever on Sunday! 10 miles!!

Of all my family members, my parents live the farthest away.

FURTHER (furthest) talks about FIGURATIVE distance as well as PHYSICAL distance.  Further is VERY similar to “in addition to”. Let’s look at some “figurative” usages.

You need to further your English skills.

You’re further along in the project than I had expected.

I don’t want to go to any further meetings.

Eating is the furthest thing on my mind.

HOWEVER… in the UK, I am told, BOTH further and father are used the same. One friend told me British people RARELY use the word “farther”. And to be brutally honest, many Americans use them the same, too! The reason? Because they can’t remember the difference!!

In America, if you are confused, it is usually safer using “further” and “furthest”!!