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Diamondrg Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

rather

0can "rather" submodify superlatives? 02br
02br
01b00He's ---- the most handsome man I've ever met.02b02br
02br
00A) rather02br
00B) far02br
00C) much02br
00D) a lot02br
00E) very0-
  

Top answer

0Hi again,02br 02br 01font 00can "rather" submodify superlatives? You can, however,use it with comparatives. 02font 02br 02br 01font 00D) a lot02br 00E) very02font 02br 02br 01font 02font 02br 02br 02br 01b 00Rather 02b 00best wishes, Clive02br 0-

— Clive

  • 0Hi again,02br 02br 01font 00can "rather" submodify superlatives?
  • You can, however,use it with comparatives.
  • 02font 02br 02br 01font 00D) a lot02br 00E) very02font 02br 02br 01font 02font 02br 02br 02br 01b 00Rather 02b 00best wishes, Clive02br 0-
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7 Answers
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0Hi again,02br
02br
01font00can "rather" submodify superlatives? 02font00You might hear someone say it, but my answer would be 'no'.You can, however,use it with comparatives. 01i00Today is rather warmer than yesterday.02i02br
02br
01font01b00He's ---- the most hand
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0
0Additionally, when "rather" modifies an adjective, it has a sense of "somewhat", or "to a certain extent":02br
02br
001. That's a rather stupid comment.02br
02br
002. She's rather pretty, isn't she?02br
02br
00The superlative on the other hand has a sense of "the most", or "to the greatest extent":02br
02br
003. Tha
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0
0 01i01b00by02b00 far02i00 is the only one that works for me.02br
00 CJ0-
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0What about much? Can't it be used to modify superlatives? (He's much the most hansome man I've ever met.) has been quoted from Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Can it be a matter of BrE and AmE difference?0-
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0I'm not sure it's an AmE/BrE difference; but perhaps it isn't as common as it was. Examples:02br
02br
001. Mark Twain: "Two or three of the most striking things foretold have happened since; 01a
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0 I understand "much" passively when it is used that way. It strikes me as obsolete, however. I didn't think it was still used in modern English. I suppose now you're going to tell me that there are umpteen million hits on it on Google!02br
02br
00 CJ0-
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0Only a handful for "he was/is much the most", CJ – and only a couple for the "she" versions.02br
02br
00In fact, this thread looks set to boost its googleability considerably.02br
02br
00MrP0-
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