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Park sang joon Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

A long second best


Real life is, to most men, a long second best, a perpetual compromise between the ideal and the possible. ? Bertrand Russell
When we use an ordinal or a superlative, we must use the definite article 'the'.
Then how and why is 'a' be used in my example?

Thank you in advance for your help.
  

Top answer

park sang joon When we use an ordinal or a superlative, we must use the definite article 'the'. This is just the basic rule that is taught to elementary students. There are many exceptions.

— Cool Breeze

  • park sang joon When we use an ordinal or a superlative, we must use the definite article 'the'.
  • This is just the basic rule that is taught to elementary students.
  • There are many exceptions.
  • In your example best is used as a noun modified by long second .
  • It is normal in English for adjectival attributes to bring on the indefinite article .
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24 Answers
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park sang joonWhen we use an ordinal or a superlative, we must use the definite article 'the'.
This is just the basic rule that is taught to elementary students. There are many exceptions. In your example best is used as a noun modified by long second. It is normal in English for adjectival attributes to bring
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Thank you, Cool Breeze, for your answer.

In your example best is used as a noun modified by long second.
I see

We had an early lunch.
Birds were flying in a blue sky.
I know we add the indefinite article 'a' to an uncountable noun so as to give or intensify a special meaning.

He came second in the competition.
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park sang joonHere was 'second' used as an adverb, not a determiner.
Right you are. How about this: I want a second opinion.

CB
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Thank you for your continuing support. Emotion: smile
We can use "I want a second opinion."; Why do you use "I want a second opinion"?
If
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park sang joon Why do you use "I want a second opinion"?
Because second is used adjectivally before a noun. You would say: I want a reliable opinion. Reliable is an adjective.

Another example:
I met her yesterday for the first time. She said we might meet again, but I don't think ther
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Thank you for your continuing support.

We can use "I want a the second opinion."; Why do you use "I want a second opinion"?
I have made another mistake.
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park sang joonPS I won't be able to answer more questions today should you have any.I dare to think this is more proper: I won't be able to answer more question today even if you have any.
Cool Breeze's English is correct - as usual; 'questions ...' needs to be plural, and 'should you have any' is fine.
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Thank you, fivejedjon, for your opinion and correcting my post.

'questions ...' needs to be plural,
I have made another mistake.

"I won't be able to answer more questions today" is adversative relation to the latter part.
If she had said "I will be able to answer your questions today, should you have any", I would have thought it wa
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park sang joonIf she had said "I will be able to answer your questions today, should you have any", I would have thought it was proper.
That's correct English, but it is not what CB wanted to say. CB expressed inability to answer any more questions.

'Even if you have any' might be what we would be more likely to expect in that context, but it'
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CB expressed inability to answer any more questions.
Then "even if" is more proper, I think.
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