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Lagataw Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

'the most' as an adverb

In the sentence I love you the most, does the most function as an adverb?
If it does, what is the article 'the' doing there? Is there an ellipsed noun there?

Thanks
  

Top answer

If it does, what is the article 'the' doing there? Is there an ellipsed noun there? Yes, most is an adverb of degree there.

— CalifJim

  • If it does, what is the article 'the' doing there?
  • Is there an ellipsed noun there?
  • Yes, most is an adverb of degree there.
  • I have no idea how that the got there.
  • It's just part of the adverbial expression.
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3 Answers
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lagatawIn the sentence I love you the most, does the most function as an adverb?If it does, what is the article 'the' doing there? Is there an ellipsed noun there?
Yes, most is an adverb of degree there. I have no idea how that the got there. It's just part of the adverbial expression. I don't know what noun would go there. None that I can th
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Thanks CJ

Right now I'm thinking of these possibilities
1. that the + superlative adverb (e.g. the least, the best etc) is just a special form of adverbial. No noun needs to be ellipsed
2. that it could be a shorter version of the idiom "at the most"
3. that it is an erroneous version of I love you most ...that people got used to affixing the defi
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Indeed! superlative adverbs are formed with the definite article "the".
Mary drives the most carefully.
Steve works the hardest.
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