elder,older这两个词均是old的比较级,在用法上有所区别.elder本身也是形容词.elder表示“前辈的”、“年纪较长的”,仅用于同一家庭成员的比较;older则不限于此.
例如:My younger son is five and my elder son is nine.我的小儿子5岁,大儿子9岁。
Tom is two years older than I.汤姆比我年长两岁。
elder在句中只用作定语,不作表语;older两者皆可。
例如:My elder sister does her homework all by herself. 我的姐姐独自做作业。
His elder son got married last week. 他的长子是上星期结婚的。
Ithink his mother is older. 我认为他的母亲年龄大引起。
elder只能用来指人;older既可修饰人,也可修饰物。
例如:My elder brother joined the army when he was only fifteen.我哥哥年仅15就参了军。
This dog is older than any other dogs here.这条狗在这里是最老的一条。
Ihave a sister older than myself.我有位比我大的姐姐。
It is said Mr Chen is over ten years older than Mrs Li.据说陈先生比李女士大10多岁。
elderly是形容词,“较老的”。