Correlative comparison — parenthetical "if not": Improve the comparative structure. Original sentence: "Ramesh is as tall if not, taller than Mahesh." Choose the best correction.

Given data

• Comparison of height between Ramesh and Mahesh with a parenthetical hedge ("if not …").

Concept/Approach
The natural pattern is as + adj + as, optionally followed by a parenthetical: ", if not + comparative". So we first complete "as tall as (Mahesh)", then add ", if not taller".

Option analysis
C. "as tall as, if not" → supplies the missing second "as" and positions the parenthetical correctly. ✔ (Full reading: "as tall as, if not taller than, Mahesh.")A/B/D/E → incorrect or incomplete structures; punctuation and correlative markers are wrong.

Corrected sentence (expanded)
"Ramesh is as tall as, if not taller than, Mahesh."

Common pitfalls
Forgetting the second "as" in the as … as construction.

Final Answer
as tall as, if not