the + superlative adverb

Question

We usually drop the definite articles before superlative adverbs.In the following sentence, can we drop the definite article?John draws the most beautifully of the five students.

Yunus · Accepted Answer

if i were you i would say " John draws the most beautiful in the five students or John draws the most beautiful among the five students"

Yunus · Answer

in addition we use the all superlative sentences. for e.g. john is the most careful driver in the city. you can't drop the from this sentence.

Ikia · Answer

Of the five students, John draws the most beautifully.

I think you still want the adverb beautifully to modify the verb draw. The superlative most shouldn't change the adverb to an adjective.

Ikia

Paco2004 · Answer

I believe a version "without THE" is also correct. Of the five students, John draws most beautifully.

paco

Yohooo8 · Answer

yea, i agree. Althought with the "the" is sound better.

Teo · Answer

After superlatives, we do not usually use of with a singular word referring to a place or group.

I'm the happiest man in the world.

But of can be used before plurals, and before singular quantifiers like lot and bunch.

She's the fastest player of them all.

He's the best of the lot.

Davkett · Answer

Paco2004I believe a version "without THE" is also correct. Of the five students, John draws most beautifully.

paco

I don't think I agree, Paco.

The sentence, as you write it, does not necessarily have the same comparables. To mean the same as Teo's, there needs to be this preceding clause: 'Of the five students who draw...'

For instance, it could be said of the other four students that they play music most beautifully.

Paco2004 · Answer

Hello Davkett

Thanks for the comment. I agree we can say like "Of the four students, John draws and Jim sings". So fronting the "of" clause might get the meaning a bit ambiguous. But can this ambiguity be relieved by putting THE before "most"? I mean "Of the four students, John draws THE most beautifully".

paco

Davkett · Answer

Paco2004Hello Davkett

Thanks for the comment. I agree we can say like "Of the four students, John draws and Jim sings". So fronting the "of" clause might get the meaning a bit ambiguous. But can this ambiguity be relieved by putting THE before "most"? I mean "Of the four students, John draws THE most beautifully".

I don't know how to give a grammatical defense, Paco, but even fronting with the 'of the four students' clause, THE is needed, if what is desired is to compare John's skill at drawing with the drawing skills of the other students. In 'John draws most beautifully', there is the possible suggestioin that 'most' is-- (what do you call it --an 'intensive'?). Inserting THE makes 'most' a comparative.

"Susan sings most beautifully"-- most is intensive
"Susan sings the most beautifully"-- the most is comparative

(I hoped I've used the right terms.)

Paco2004 · Answer

Davkett
Paco2004Hello Davkett

Thanks for the comment. I agree we can say like "Of the four students, John draws and Jim sings". So fronting the "of" clause might get the meaning a bit ambiguous. But can this ambiguity be relieved by putting THE before "most"? I mean "Of the four students, John draws THE most beautifully".

I don't know how to give a grammatical defense, Paco, but even fronting with the 'of the four students' clause, THE is needed, if what is desired is to compare John's skill at drawing with the drawing skills of the other students. In 'John draws most beautifully', there is the possible suggestioin that 'most' is-- (what do you call it --an 'intensive'?). Inserting THE makes 'most' a comparative.

"Susan sings most beautifully"-- most is intensive
"Susan sings the most beautifully"-- the most is comparativeHello Davkett

Very interesting. Frankly I do not know much about the grammar of adverbial superlatives. Even CGEL is a bit ambiguous in the explanation of adverbial superlatives. Furthermore another grammar book of mine (written in Japanese) is saying "THE+superlative adverb" is AmE and in BrE they usually do not put THE before a superlative adverb.

So tell me please for my confirmation, if there are some differences between the four below.
[A-1] John runs the fastest of the three kids.
[A-2] John runs fastest of the three kids.
[A-3] Of the three kids, John runs the fastest.
[A-4] Of the three kids, John runs fastest.

And how about the case below?
[B-1] Pieanne speaks English the most fluently of the three ladies.
[B-2] Pieanne speaks English most fluently of the three ladies.
[B-3] Of the three ladies, Pieanne speaks English the most fluently.
[B-4] Of the three ladies, Pieanne speaks English most fluently.

paco

the + superlative adverb

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