"Most strange" or "The most strange"

[Tom]

Hi

I read this sentence in Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown.

1- What do you find about this plan most strange?

Could/ Should the be used before most?

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

The can be left out. It's not the "standard" format, but it can be done. You'll also see most without the when most means very.

But, that's not the only thing about the sentence that's a bit unusual. Did you notice anything else?

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

It was the word order that struck me as a little unusual.

More typical would be:
What do you find most strange about this plan?

Amy
_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

What you may find most interesting of all is that I forgot to mention everything.

"Most strange" works in the sentence you posted. "The most strange" doesn't work since strange is a one-syllable word. So, if you used the standard "the format", you'd have to say "the strangest."

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

Dear Amy

If you feel up to it, I would like some more material on this topic; especially when and how the could be left out before the superlative adjective.

Tom