Degrees Of Comparison Questions Long
In double superlative sentences, 'the' plays a crucial role in indicating the highest degree or extreme level of comparison. It is used before the superlative form of an adjective or adverb to emphasize that something or someone is the most or least in a particular quality or characteristic.
For example, consider the sentence "He is the smartest of all the students in the class." Here, 'the' is used before the superlative form 'smartest' to highlight that the person referred to is the most intelligent among all the students in the class.
Similarly, in the sentence "This is the most beautiful place I have ever visited," 'the' is used before the superlative form 'most beautiful' to emphasize that the place being described is the most aesthetically pleasing among all the places the speaker has visited.
In double superlative sentences, 'the' is essential to distinguish the highest degree of comparison from other comparative forms. It helps to specify that something or someone is the ultimate or extreme in a particular quality, making the comparison more precise and definitive.
However, it is important to note that 'the' is not always used in double superlative sentences. In some cases, it can be omitted when the context makes it clear that the comparison is already at the highest degree. For instance, saying "He is tallest in the family" is sufficient to convey that the person is the tallest among all the family members, without the need for 'the' before the superlative form 'tallest'.
In conclusion, 'the' in double superlative sentences serves the purpose of emphasizing the highest degree of comparison and making the comparison more specific and definitive. It helps to distinguish the extreme level of a quality or characteristic, highlighting that something or someone is the most or least in that particular aspect.