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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Organic absolute superlatives in English
Hello everybody. I performed an internal search but I couldn't find anything close to this subject, that is the use of organic absolute superlatives in English.
I'll explain myself: in Italian we have one-word superlatives (made up by adding the -issimo suffix at the end of the adjective) that, if not preceded by the definite article, are used in an absolute manner: e.g. "Questo è semplicissimo" = "This is very simple".I was taught that, as a rule of thumb, "very simple" and the like translate the Italian organic absolute superlative.
Now, I've just come across an example of something very similar to the Italian one-word superlative: "[The subject is the definition of meals during the day] First of all, breakfast. This is simplest; it's the first meal of the day in the morning". As you can see, there is no definite article, which would have made it a relative superlative (="This is the simplest [out of a certain set]").
Now, my question: is that common to use this kind of absolute superlative—which is possible only for the most part of one- and two-syllable adjectives—or not? Is its usage limited to speech and informal writing or can be extended to formal writing too? Here comes another comparison with Italian: it is unadvisable to use the one-word absolute superlative in formal writing, because it sounds kind of "flashy" and has a commercial-like flavour. Two-word superlative is then preferred: e.g. "È molto semplice" = "It is very simple".
I'll explain myself: in Italian we have one-word superlatives (made up by adding the -issimo suffix at the end of the adjective) that, if not preceded by the definite article, are used in an absolute manner: e.g. "Questo è semplicissimo" = "This is very simple".I was taught that, as a rule of thumb, "very simple" and the like translate the Italian organic absolute superlative.
Now, I've just come across an example of something very similar to the Italian one-word superlative: "[The subject is the definition of meals during the day] First of all, breakfast. This is simplest; it's the first meal of the day in the morning". As you can see, there is no definite article, which would have made it a relative superlative (="This is the simplest [out of a certain set]").
Now, my question: is that common to use this kind of absolute superlative—which is possible only for the most part of one- and two-syllable adjectives—or not? Is its usage limited to speech and informal writing or can be extended to formal writing too? Here comes another comparison with Italian: it is unadvisable to use the one-word absolute superlative in formal writing, because it sounds kind of "flashy" and has a commercial-like flavour. Two-word superlative is then preferred: e.g. "È molto semplice" = "It is very simple".
Top answer
This superlative you've found in English is perfectly ordinary and not informal, and it carries no stigma. " I guess you normally see it that way, with the dummy pronoun "it": It is coldest in January. Your example, "This is simplest", is quite remarkable in that "this" is being used as a dummy pronoun.
- This superlative you've found in English is perfectly ordinary and not informal, and it carries no stigma.
- " I guess you normally see it that way, with the dummy pronoun "it": It is coldest in January.
- Your example, "This is simplest", is quite remarkable in that "this" is being used as a dummy pronoun.
- I never noticed that before.
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8 Answers
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This superlative you've found in English is perfectly ordinary and not informal, and it carries no stigma. Another, more common, example is "It is always best to shave before a date." I guess you normally see it that way, with the dummy pronoun "it": It is coldest in January. Your example, "This is simplest", is quite remarkable in that "this" is being used as a dummy pronoun. I never noticed that
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Thank you. So, what's the difference, in terms of register, between "this is very simple" and "this is simplest"? Can you use either without any meaningful change in connotation?
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"the" can only be dropped in superlatives in an informal style, as in
He's (the) best.
and when you're comparing a person or thing to themselves in different situations/times.
Paris is most beautiful in summer. (=summer is the most beautiful season in Paris)
"very simple" is not a superlative.
He's (the) best.
and when you're comparing a person or thing to themselves in different situations/times.
Paris is most beautiful in summer. (=summer is the most beautiful season in Paris)
"very simple" is not a superlative.
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Ivanhr"the" can only be dropped in superlatives in an informal style, as inHe's (the) best."He's best" for "he's the best" is not possible in my dialect (Middle Atlantic), or in any I know of.
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@Ivanhr
To my knowledge, "very simple" is a superlative indeed. Superlatives can be formed either organically (with -est placed after the stem of the adjective) or analitically (with very, much and the like put before the adjective). If you don't agree, elaborate please, don't just say I'm wrong. That would be of no help. Thank you.
To my knowledge, "very simple" is a superlative indeed. Superlatives can be formed either organically (with -est placed after the stem of the adjective) or analitically (with very, much and the like put before the adjective). If you don't agree, elaborate please, don't just say I'm wrong. That would be of no help. Thank you.
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bugliolo@IvanhrTo my knowledge, "very simple" is a superlative indeed. Thank you.I've just consulted my grammar book. It says
Note the special use of very to emphasize superlatives and first, next and last.
Bring out your very best wine - Michael's coming to dinner.
You're the very first person I've spoken to today.
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AnonymousNow, my question: isNo. It's not common at all as an absolute superlative - only as a comparative superlative.thatit common to use this kind of absolute superlative—which is possible only for the most part of one- and two-syllable adjectives—or not?
Absolute superlatives in English are expressed in various ways. Constructed wi
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There are more than one way to express absolute superlatives, as I said above. The same goes for Italian: "è semplicissimo" and "è molto semplice" are both absolute superlatives. We are talking about universal categories: what applies to Italian can be applied to English as well.
Thank you CalifJim for your correction and your answer.
Thank you CalifJim for your correction and your answer.
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