1

Can we use superlative when we are talking about 2 or more items? I'm not quite sure about that since the rule says: "Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality".

I wanted to figure out this before talking to my student who wrote the following sentence:"Only a few games are the most popular in the world".

Improve this question
2
  • 2
    Yes: 'The best things in life are free'. Wherever you got your 'rule' from, send it back and get the correct version (though arguably it's incomplete, not totally erroneous). However, using a quantified expression directly with the superlative set ("Only a few games are the most popular in the world"; "Many/few paintings are the most expensive"; "A dozen breeds are the fiercest") doesn't sound right at all. Contrast "These games are the most popular in the world"; "Di Maggio's paintings are the most expensive"; "A dozen breeds of dog, listed in Doggypedia, are considered to be the fiercest".
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Oct 12, 2016 at 16:31
  • @Edwin is correct. It's a good example of how well-meaning rules can confuse people when they claim to cover all uses. There are always exceptions, usually due to overgeneralization on the part of the rule-writer.
    – John Lawler
    Oct 12, 2016 at 16:39

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

Your question is based unfortunately on a badly-worded law; I would opt for Merriam-Webster's definition:

The form of an adjective or adverb that is used to indicate the greatest degree of a particular quality

The following examples (from this thread) are all cases in which plural objects are used with superlatives:

Basketball players are among the tallest men in the world.
She is one of the richest women in the world

Improve this answer
2
  • I really appreciate your prompt answer! Thank you.
    – Tanya Solovianchyk
    Oct 12, 2016 at 18:38
  • @TanyaSolovianchyk You're welcome! If you want to accept or up-vote the answer, it will show that you have agreed with this answer and it stops the question from being bumped up as if it were unanswered.
    – BladorthinTheGrey
    Oct 12, 2016 at 19:05

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.