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special case? (a most vs the most)



 
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special case? (a most vs the most) #1 (permalink) Sat May 31, 2008 19:28 pm   special case? (a most vs the most)
 

Hi, please have a look at this:

Last year I had ... most enjoyable experience when I met a new friend
a. a b. the

==>> The answer in the book is "a", but I wonder why it's not "the" (superlative comparison) I once asked my teacher and he said it was a special case, but I forgot to ask him how special it was, and in which other cases we have to choose respectively.
So please shed light on this and give me some more examples.

Many thanks in advance.
Nessie.
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Posts: 1102

special case? #2 (permalink) Sat May 31, 2008 20:14 pm   special case?
 

It's not a special case. If you look down, down, down in the dictionary definitions of "most", you will find that the word can also mean "extremely" or "very". That's when we can use the indefinite article with it.
Jamie (K)
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Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

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special case? (a most vs the most) #3 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:05 am   special case? (a most vs the most)
 

Thanks, Jamie Smile

Now I just have one more query: in this sentence, why can't we choose "the" as a superlative comparison?

Many thanks
Nessie
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

special case? (a most vs the most) #4 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:45 am   special case? (a most vs the most)
 

nessie wrote:
Now I just have one more query: in this sentence, why can't we choose "the" as a superlative comparison?

It's because there's no comparison being made in that sentence. "Most" just means "very" there, so it would be inappropriate to use "the" as if it were superlative.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

special case? (a most vs the most) #5 (permalink) Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:41 am   special case? (a most vs the most)
 

Er... what about this:

- This is my most wonderful trip
(compared with other trips)

so why can't we say:
- Last year I had the most enjoyable experience when I met a new friend
(compared with other experience)
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

special case? (a most vs the most) #6 (permalink) Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:46 am   special case? (a most vs the most)
 

You can say it, but you're confusing two different usages, and two different meanings.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

special case? (a most vs the most) #7 (permalink) Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:16 am   special case? (a most vs the most)
 

Jamie (K) wrote:
You can say it, but you're confusing two different usages, and two different meanings.


Yes, Jamie, they are too different usages with two different meanings, but if the use of "the" (superlative comparison) here is alright, then how which can we choose in the original sentence? (There is no further context of which meaning should be applied here)
_________________
Sad... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. Sad

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...
Nessie
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 1102

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