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Maelstrom Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Quick question about spped

Is it "at fastest" or "at the fastest"?

"I can only be there on Monday at the fastest"?
Seems to me the definite article is unskippable.
  

Top answer

maelstrom "I can only be there on Monday at the fastest"? I can be there on Monday at the earliest. ("on" is optional) Yes, "the" earliest.

— Wilpeter

  • maelstrom "I can only be there on Monday at the fastest"?
  • I can be there on Monday at the earliest.
  • ("on" is optional) Yes, "the" earliest.
  • Also note that "only" is unnecessary when "at the earliest" is used.
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10 Answers
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maelstrom"I can only be there on Monday at the fastest"?
I can be there on Monday at the earliest. ("on" is optional)
Yes, "the" earliest.
Also note that "only" is unnecessary when "at the earliest" is used.
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Hi, wilpeter. Wouldn't you say I can only be there on Monday at best ?
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No, I wouldn't use that. It isn't the best for the receiver/patient. Earliest is accurate from my point of view, but might not be convenient to receiver.
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Thanks for the reply. Is there any reason as to why we use the before earliest but omit it before best and most?
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At the earliest is an expression. I means no sooner than then.
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NugsoQuote
Just think about it this way,"Monday" is a specific point of time, yet "I can only do so AT BEST" means a condition where the situation is DEPENDENT on how the speaker handles it.
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wilpeter maelstrom"I can only be there on Monday at the fastest"?I can be there on Monday at the earliest. ("on" is optional)Yes, "the" earliest.Also note that "only" is unnecessary when "at the earliest" is used.
Thanks Wilpeter!!
Can you maybe explain why "only" has to be omitted once "at the earliest" is used?

I don't really understand the logi
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maelstromCan you maybe explain why "only" has to be omitted once "at the earliest" is used?
There are two negatives, "only" means "no other time" (Monday or never!) "at the earliest" means that is not the only day the appointment can be made.
maelstrom will it make sense if I say "I can ONLY do ..at best"?
It then means you
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wilpeter maelstromCan you maybe explain why "only" has to be omitted once "at the earliest" is used?There are two negatives, "only" means "no other time" (Monday or never!) "at the earliest" means that is not the only day the appointment can be made.
Thanks! But again, I've actually heard people say "You cannot NOT be proud..", which involves two negatives in
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maelstrom I've actually heard people say "You cannot NOT be proud.
Yes, two negatives are required in this case. Otherwise, the opposite "You cannot be proud" would be the unintended result.
maelstrom"I can only contribute this much at best" is possibly correct?
Yes, it is correct. It just isn't equal in meaning to, "I can
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