A ‘superlative’ can be an adjective phrase or adverb phrase.
Superlatives express the highest or a very high degree of a quality.
English grammar tells us that: I haven’t got a clue. I don’t have a clue. are the correct ways to express negative possession. However, there is the rarer, older British sounding: I haven’t a clue. Notice that a superlative phrase is common to give emphasis: I haven’t the slightest idea how he works. listen Here are the search results from […]
HAVE NOT + noun phrase Read More »
“yet” is an adverb that means “up to now” or “so far”. It is used to emphasize that something is the most extreme or the latest in a series of events or states. It usually comes at the end of the sentence after a superlative adjective like “best”, “biggest”, “largest”, or “worst”. For example, “This
In general, the phrase “at its best” is used to convey the idea that something is performing or being experienced at the highest possible level. It is a way of saying that something is as good as it can possibly be.
The irregular superlative adverb or adjective of ‘far‘ is ‘farthest‘ or ‘furthest.’ For example: If I take one more step, it’ll be the farthest away from home I’ve ever been. From the furthest corners of the world where the dark arts still hold sway, he returns to us to demonstrate how nature‘s laws may be bent. listen In the English Vocabulary Profile, at A2, ‘far‘ as an adverb means: at, to or from a great distance in space or time It is also listed at B2 as an adjective
Here are expert examples of negation + ‘the least‘: I’m not in the least bit religious. Listen to this sentence Well, aren’t you the least bit curious as to how I can be talking to you on the phone right now when I ‘m supposed to be taped to a chair? listen C2 Point 28 in the category of NEGATION is defined: ‘IN THE LEAST’ after a negative form for emphasis. A search in iWeb: 1 NOT SURPRISED
In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 13 in the category of ADJECTIVES/superlatives: one syllable with a short vowel, by doubling the final consonant and adding ‘est’ PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: Consequently, Darwin’s theory on survival of the fittest no longer applies to humans. Survival of the fittest mainly relies on nature or predators to eliminate the young, old, weak or unfit, yet humans today no longer fear animal attacks or blizzards. Chinese level 5 writing class. Here are the superlatives we found in a search in iWeb corpus for: _JJT 4
doubling final consonant + -EST biggest hottest Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, there are many points related to prepositional phrases after superlative phrases.
A2 point 11 in the category of ADJECTIVES is defined as:
prepositional phrases with ‘in’ + singular name of a place after a superlative adjective.
A2: THE BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA | THE LARGEST CITY IN CANADA | THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE
superlative + noun+ IN (a place) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 7 in the category of ADJECTIVES is defined as:
limited range of prepositional phrases with ‘of’ after a superlative adjective, to refer to one thing within a set or part of a set.
superlative + noun + OF Read More »
Here are more advanced examples of premodified superlative phrases: It‘s the next best thing to having you beside me. listen It was the second-largest gold rush in American history. Rat Race Note, the phrase “the second largest” is a compound modifier, where “second” modifies “largest”. It usually takes a hyphen before its noun. US customs officials report that tomato smuggling is at its highest level since the Great Tomato War. listen its = B2 possessive determiner In the English Grammar Profile,
pre-modified superlative phrase Read More »
B1 Point 41 in the category of PAST is defined as: present perfect simple WITH SUPERLATIVE to talk about a unique experience. This point will clash with superlatives followed by clauses at B2. And it overlaps Point 33 B1 clauses with a present perfect or past perfect as a superlative noun phrase complement, to talk
superlative + present pefect simple Read More »
A2 superlative adjective phrases using ‘the most’, with longer adjectives of two or more syllables.
(ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRO – ADJECTIVES)
THE MOST | LEAST + superlative adjective phrase Read More »
Here are 2 examples of post-modifying a superlative adverb phrase with a clause containing an ellipted modal verb: I do the best I can with what I have. I go about my business, make money, help society the best I can and try to promote free trade in this world. listen You know, I did the best I could with what I had. listen C1 English Grammar Profile point 118 in the category of CLAUSES is defined as: ‘the best’ as a superlative adverb + pronoun + ellipted ‘can’ or ‘could’.
the best + PRONOUN + can | could Read More »
C1 point 70 in ADJECTIVES is defined as: a postmodifier to make the superlative stronger in the structure superlative + postmodifier + noun All 3 examples in the EGP have ‘possible’ after a superlative. So here we do an iWeb search for: _JJT _JJ _NN 1 THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY 5783 2 THE BEST POSSIBLE
superlative + postmodifier + noun ‘the best possible way’ Read More »
Here are examples of superlative phrases post-modified. Daily Telegraph You‘re taught how to run in the most efficient way possible to make it feel easy. You’re the best choice by far. Listen A year ago, Amy being pregnant would have been the best thing ever! listen C1 point 68 in the category of adjectives is defined as: postmodifier to make the superlative stronger, in the structure superlative + noun + postmodifier ‘possible’, ‘ever’, ‘by far’ For example: It’s one of the most influential artworks ever made. A
superlative + noun + postmodifier Read More »
The grammar “one | some + of the + SUPERLATIVE + PLURAL NOUN” is used to describe something that is among the best or most extreme of its kind. The word “one” or “some” can be used to indicate that the thing being described is only one of a few, while the word “of” indicates that the thing is part of a larger group. The superlative adjective is used to compare the thing being described to all other things of its kind, and the plural noun indicates that the thing is more than one.
(one of | some of | among ) the + SUPERLATIVE + PLURAL NOUN Read More »
Regardless of what your government decides, the best way to prevent food waste is to eat what you buy! TED In this sentence, “the best way to prevent food waste” means the most effective or desirable method that can avoid throwing away food that could be eaten. This highlighted pattern can replace a defining relative clause that identifies the noun. For example: She is the best teacher to
the best + NOUN + to INFINITVE Read More »
Point in 77 ADJECTIVES/superlatives is defined as: ‘the slightest’, ‘the faintest’ with a specific range of nouns to express the least amount possible, most frequently following a negative verb form. Who knows what EGP think ‘a specific range of nouns’ is since a search on the site shows no other results, so here we look
slightest | faintest + NOUN Read More »
‘Most’ is used to mark the superlative degree a little more often that it’s a superlative after determiner. As a degree adverb ‘most’ usually modifies an adjective or an adverb. 1 MOST (RGT) 7895059 1 MOST (RGT) IMPORTANT (JJ) 619744 2 MOST (RGT) COMMON (JJ) 385906 3 MOST (RGT) POPULAR (JJ) 368581 4 MOST (RGT)
Is the word ‘MOST’ used more as an ADVERB or a DETERMINER? Read More »
Let’s explain what a ‘superlative clause’ is with this example: It’s the best car that you can buy. the best is the superlative adjective. that you can buy is the relative clause We can rewrite this as two sentences: It is the best car. You can buy it. Here the object it is replaced with the
superlative + THAT clause ‘the best you can’ Read More »
Superlatives and infinitives for upper-intermediate students.
superlative adjective + noun + to infinitive Read More »
