Expression "Worst of all" with article?

Ben · Sun Jul 17, 2005 3:18 am *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Test No. errors/inter-15 "Sleep well", question 2

It was worse of all in the winter as it was usually dark then.

(a) worse
(b) as
(c) then

Test No. errors/inter-15 "Sleep well", answer 2

It was worst of all in the winter as it was usually dark then.

Correct entry: worst
The error was: (a) worse
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Could you tell me why there is no "the" before worst?

Ben

Torsten · Mon Jul 18, 2005 17:54 pm *Worst of all*

The expression worst of all comes with an article.
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

Lost_Soul · Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:14 am *Worst of all*

Pamela · Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:37 am *Worst of all*

Lost_Soul · Thu Apr 05, 2007 13:13 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Hi, Pamela !

I asked because in the test there is no article before "worst".
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Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)

Yankee · Thu Apr 05, 2007 13:46 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Hi LS

Sometimes superlatives are used without the definite article. Though I don't have any "official" references or research about this particular topic at hand, it seems to me that this most often happens with words such as most, best, least and worst. Cool

But I'm sure it happens with other superlatives too.

I consider the use of 'the' in the test sentence to be optional.

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

Conchita · Thu Apr 05, 2007 14:35 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Yankee · Thu Apr 05, 2007 14:55 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Hi Conchita

I also much prefer the test sentence without 'the', but wouldn't complain if 'the' were there.
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

Yankee · Thu Apr 05, 2007 15:08 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Hi Conchita

It's me again. Cool

Let me get your take on something else:

Conchita · Thu Apr 05, 2007 15:22 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

I agree with you, Amy, except for the second example: the use of 'the' here would definitely grate on my ears.

Conchita · Thu Apr 05, 2007 15:33 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

This 'grating phenomenon' could be explained by the fact that 'most' here means 'very' (as I see it).

Yankee · Thu Apr 05, 2007 15:37 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

That is interesting. I really can't say that the second one grates on my ears at all.

What about this sentence:
Of the brands on the market, we use Brand X the most often.
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

Yankee · Thu Apr 05, 2007 15:42 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Conchita · Thu Apr 05, 2007 15:45 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Yankee · Thu Apr 05, 2007 15:49 pm *Expression "Worst of all" with article?*

Did you see my added comment in my last post, Conchita? (Sorry, I added the last part after I posted.)
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

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