The form of an adjective or adverb ending with "-est" or "most".
1
vote
3answers
141 views
Is “emptiest” a logically correct term?
There are some adjectives that are logical binaries, e.g. empty — either the noun is empty or it isn't.
Can we apply a superlative degree to such adjectives? E.g.
This is the emptiest these ...
-3
votes
3answers
60 views
Is it Sparsest or Most Sparse?
Is the superlative of the adjective sparse, sparsest or most sparse? Can both be used? If not, then which one is correct?
4
votes
7answers
334 views
Superlative and definite article “the”
I have seen similar questions like this here on ELU. However, I am still confused with my particular question.
(a) She gets up latest in her family.
(b) She gets up the latest in her family.
...
-4
votes
1answer
85 views
Can We Use “Best” with “Girls” [closed]
I like to ask that can we use the superlative degree of an adjective with a plural noun like These are the best girls, I got the best kids in the world, India is the country of best writers.
Now, I ...
1
vote
2answers
89 views
Appropriate use of “littlest”
I recently had a debate with a friend about whether "littlest" was a word. I took the stance that it was not. I find now that basically every time I make such a claim these days someone can hold up ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
“Is there a best X?” — why “a” if it's the superlative degree?
Which of the following is grammatical?
Is there a best school?
Is there the best school?
I'm sure that the first one is right. But why?
-2
votes
1answer
329 views
Most is adjective or adverb, comparative or superlative in the following phrase?
In the following phrase, from the 1971 film "The Devils" by Ken Russell, what is "most"? An adjective or an adverb? And in what form, comparative or superlative?
I conjure thee, most frightful ...
-1
votes
2answers
199 views
“Least expected” or “least unexpected”
When I was talking to my girlfriend, she mentioned an incident where one of her friends surprised her with a gift. She said something like that least unexpected ... after which we got into a debate ...
10
votes
4answers
346 views
Can a preposition have the form of superlative?
They had almost reached the door when a voice spoke from the chair
nearest them, "I can't believe you're going to do this.”
I guess nearest is at the place of preposition. Can a preposition ...
0
votes
2answers
69 views
Is ‘that’ the short form of ‘of all that’?
Given the sentence:
It was lucky that Harry had tea with Hagrid to look forward to, because the Potions lesson turned out to be the worst thing that had happened to him so far.
The relative ...
3
votes
4answers
531 views
Is “most superior” correct?
I am reviewing an article, and the author uses the phrase
... this algorithm achieves the most superior fairness ...
Initially I thought the phrase is not correct, just like saying that ...
1
vote
1answer
952 views
much and more comparative superlative
I know that much is used with uncountable nouns and more with countable nouns.
There is no connection between much and more with the comparative and superlative, right?
For example, if we take the ...
2
votes
2answers
221 views
The usage of “the” with “least”
The main issue here is how to sort out the usage of "the" with "least". Sometimes it's clear but there are cases when I am not sure whether to use the article "the" or not.
Least with verb
The ...
4
votes
2answers
145 views
How/when does one use “a most”?
I've recently come across a novel called A most wanted man, after which being curious I found a TV episode called A most unusual camera.
Could someone shed some light on how to use "a most" and ...
4
votes
2answers
190 views
“At most as many” — what does it mean? [closed]
I've been given the following question as a homework:
If h is consistent, then A* - CSCS will expand at most as many nodes as A* graph search.
English not being my native language, I'm kind of ...
3
votes
1answer
191 views
Comparative, superlative using “one of”
Which is correct:
Today is one of the warmer days this month.
Today is one of the warmest days this month.
I hear the first used almost exclusively on television news.
2
votes
3answers
123 views
Are there cases when the word “best” as an adjective could be used without “the”?
That is an advertisement of one company, a banner. They write the name of the company and the second line goes like this "best ad designs".
Is this line correct? or should there be a "the"? Is there ...
1
vote
3answers
486 views
“The” and superlative of uncountable noun — “the clearest water”?
Uncountable nouns are usually used without an article. Superlatives require definite article. What comes out of these 2 rules when superlative meets uncountable article?
We need an example, I hope it ...
-4
votes
2answers
692 views
Meaning of “one of the most XXX” [closed]
One frequently hears something being described as one of the most important XXX or one of the best XXX. Isn't most important or best (any superlative really) unique by definition? How can something ...
6
votes
7answers
2k views
Is “baddest” a proper word?
I just came across this documentary:
The World's Biggest & Baddest Bugs by Animal Planet
Is "baddest" a proper word? Shouldn't it be "worst"? What is going on here?
2
votes
3answers
203 views
“Mostest” vs. “most” [closed]
What is the difference between mostest and most?
Can they be used interchangeably?
8
votes
5answers
462 views
Use of “The better”?
Disclamer: English isn't my first language.
I learned during my English courses (a few years ago), that there is, as in French (which is my first language), a comparative and superlative version for ...
3
votes
2answers
412 views
“The likeliest problem” vs. “the most likely problem”
The likeliest problem vs. the most likely problem:
are they both correct?
do they mean the same thing?
is one preferable over another?
3
votes
1answer
579 views
“The” before superlative [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Do I need to put “the” before “most” in this sentence?
I've always thought you need the definite article 'the' before the superlative of an adjective, except when the ...
1
vote
4answers
324 views
How to phrase a sentence with reference to “Least Superlative”?
For instance if I have two younger sisters, named Alice, and Becky, for example. How do I describe the sister who is not youngest, but the other younger sister?
Becky is my youngest sister. Alice is ...
4
votes
1answer
159 views
Is “workingest” used as often and casually as “hardest working” and “the most hard working (or industrious)”?
I found the phrase America is “the workingest nation” on earth in the following sentence of Time magazine’s (November 14) article titled “Whatever happened to upward mobility.”
For the first time ...
4
votes
2answers
187 views
What are general rules to form this superlatives: “adjective + most”?
I happen to find superlatives with the structure below:
Adjective + most,
which are:
the rearmost, the frontmost, the uppermost, the headmost, the outermost, the topmost, etc.
What are the ...
6
votes
3answers
441 views
superlative + -ing participle + noun ok?
Is it always ok to have a superlative hyphenated with a present participle ending in -ing acting as an adjective (so long as the superlative describes the base verb of the participle)? For example:
...
1
vote
3answers
552 views
What is the superlative of “fun”? [closed]
I've seen funniest a few times in that context, but isn't that a derivation of funny? Is there a superlative of fun or do we really use funniest for the lack of one?
4
votes
3answers
579 views
Superlatives with “the”
What is the rule regarding using the with superlatives? For example:
John is the fastest among his friends.
John is fastest among his friends.
Both appear to be correct. I have seen ...
3
votes
3answers
836 views
Do I need to put “the” before “most” in this sentence?
Is putting “the” before “most” in this sentence compulsory, optional, or a mistake?
Fascination with language and
attention to particular regions and
communities in America are the most common
...
1
vote
0answers
128 views
Using superlatives for comparing two things [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Use of the superlative when only two items are present
Is it strictly incorrect to use the superlative when comparing only two things?
i.e. I have two sisters. Mary ...
1
vote
3answers
555 views
Which word you would choose as a superlative of “wrong”?
Which word you would choose as a superlative of "wrong"?
5
votes
5answers
284 views
How can I express “bottom” superlative?
Suppose you have some elements (let's say coins) laid out over a table in vertical order. How can I make reference to the coin at the bottom? The lowest coin? The one that is below any other? I just ...
24
votes
3answers
30k views
What's the difference between “eldest” and “oldest”?
When should I use "eldest" and when should I use "oldest"?
Are the differences semantic or regional? (Or both?)
(What got me wondering is the removeEldestEntry() method in Java's LinkedHashMap ...
1
vote
6answers
2k views
“least” vs. “lowest”
What is the difference between least and lowest?
Websites announce as "Lowest prices", but not "least". Least is the superlative degree.
low > lower > least ?
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Use of the superlative when only two items are present
When speaking with my mother a couple of days ago, I read to her a message I was sending to my cousin on her behalf ending with: "... the birthday of your youngest." [implying her child]
She ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Comparative and superlative adverbs?
I'm a native speaker of English, and I don't know how many times I've wanted to say "happilier" instead of "more happily", or "happiliest" instead of "most happily". Is there any record of such ...
3
votes
1answer
487 views
Rules for single-word comparatives and superlatives [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“More clear” vs “Clearer”, when to use “more” instead of “-er”
Are there any rules for which words are allowed to have ...
11
votes
6answers
8k views
Is “funnest” a word?
We seem to be stuck at an impasse on this issue.
Is funnest a word or not?
If so, does it mean "most fun"?
