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#2 (permalink) Sat May 31, 2008 20:14 pm special case? |
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| 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. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#3 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:05 am special case? (a most vs the most) |
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Thanks, Jamie :)
Now I just have one more query: in this sentence, why can't we choose "the" as a superlative comparison?
Many thanks Nessie _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
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#4 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:45 am special case? (a most vs the most) |
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| 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. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#5 (permalink) Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:41 am special case? (a most vs the most) |
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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) _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
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#6 (permalink) Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:46 am special case? (a most vs the most) |
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| You can say it, but you're confusing two different usages, and two different meanings. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#7 (permalink) Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:16 am special case? (a most vs the most) |
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| 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) _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
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| Usage of articles (As ... captain of ... ship, I have ... complete authority) | native and non-native language using style |