I found a sentence in the dictionary: 'He walked off in a most bizarre fashion.' I found in the grammar books, it is a rule to use 'the' before superlative degree.
Now, I'm confused when I should use article 'a' before 'most'.
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@FumbleFinger, I can't understand how this example mentioned above is different from that example : 'He is the most brilliant student in the class.'?– arponCommented Nov 15, 2015 at 15:54
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3If you can't see the difference between the most brilliant student and a brilliant student you should definitely be asking on English Language Learners, not here.– FumbleFingersCommented Nov 15, 2015 at 15:58
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2When most takes an indefinite rather than a definite article it is a mere intensifier and not part of a superlative.– Brian DonovanCommented Nov 15, 2015 at 16:10
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Remove "most" from the sentence and re-evaluate. If "a" (or "an") is appropriate ahead of the term modified by "most" (and the sentence otherwise reads OK) then the "a" is appropriate there when "most" is in place. In some cases "the" may be used instead, as an additional emphasis, but it's not required.– Hot LicksCommented Nov 15, 2015 at 20:00
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Why is this a duplicate question? It is way more specific than the linked one, where a distinction between superlatives and elatives isn’t even mentioned. Brian’s point is crucial here.– k.stmCommented Oct 13, 2016 at 14:31
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