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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

The definite article with superlative adverbs comparing with most

Could you, please, tell me if the following sentence is correct and whether the omission of article THE is possible when we use superlatives with word MOST in front of an adverb?

e.g. She sang the most beautifully when she was 18.

Thank You in advance.
  

Top answer

"She sang the most beautifully when she was 18" -- she sang more beautifully then than at any other time. "She sang most beautifully when she was 18" -- she sang very beautifully at that time..

— Anonymous

  • "She sang the most beautifully when she was 18" -- she sang more beautifully then than at any other time.
  • "She sang most beautifully when she was 18" -- she sang very beautifully at that time..
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10 Answers
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"She sang the most beautifully when she was 18" -- she sang more beautifully then than at any other time.

"She sang most beautifully when she was 18" -- she sang very beautifully at that time..
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Thank you for the explanation, but maybe I haven't chosen a goodZ example for what I want to know. My question is: "Do we need the definite article in front of the adverbs forming superlative with most? And, could you give me one good example of it. Thanks again for Your time!
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Generally, yes.

This flower is beautiful.
This one is even more beautiful.
This one is the most beautiful.
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AnonymousMy question is: "Do we need the definite article in front of the adverbs forming superlative with most?
If you want to express a superlative then usually yes. As my first reply illustrates, "the most + adverb" usually implies a comparison, whereas without the article the word "most" usually means "very". (This rule is not completely foolproof.)
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BarbaraPAGenerally, yes.This flower is beautiful.This one is even more beautiful.This one is the most beautiful.
Well, although the answer is essentially the same, "beautiful" is actually an adjective. The OP is asking about adverbs.
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And you find "most" to be what, then?
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Thank You for the examples, Just one more question: In what cases of superlative adverbs with MOST can we omit the definite article?
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BarbaraPAAnd you find "most" to be what, then?
You have misunderstood the question. The OP asked about the "word MOST in front of an adverb". Your examples are of "most" in front of an adjective.
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Anonymous Thank You for the examples, Just one more question: In what cases of superlative adverbs with MOST can we omit the definite article?
For example, if other words in the sentence make it clear that a superlative is meant, as in "She sang most beautifully of all". (However, even in those cases people would often include the article.)
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You're right. I did.
I can't improve on the very first answer the question received.
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