What is the role of 'the' in superlative sentences?

Degrees Of Comparison Questions Long



30 Short 63 Medium 48 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What is the role of 'the' in superlative sentences?

In superlative sentences, 'the' is used to indicate that something or someone is the highest or lowest in a certain category or group. It is used before the superlative form of an adjective or adverb to show that it is the most extreme degree of comparison.

For example, consider the sentence "She is the tallest girl in the class." Here, 'the' is used before the superlative form 'tallest' to indicate that she is the highest in terms of height among all the girls in the class.

Similarly, in the sentence "This is the most expensive car in the showroom," 'the' is used before the superlative form 'most expensive' to convey that this car has the highest price compared to all the other cars in the showroom.

In both cases, 'the' helps to specify that the subject being described holds the highest or lowest position within a particular group or category. It adds a definite article to the superlative form, emphasizing its uniqueness and singularity.

It is important to note that 'the' is not always used in superlative sentences. It depends on the context and whether the comparison is being made within a specific group or category. If the superlative is used in a general sense, without any specific group or category, 'the' may not be necessary.

For example, in the sentence "Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world," 'the' is used because the comparison is being made within the category of mountains. However, in the sentence "She is the smartest person I know," 'the' is not used because the comparison is not limited to a specific group or category.

In summary, 'the' plays a crucial role in superlative sentences by indicating that something or someone holds the highest or lowest position within a particular group or category. It adds specificity and emphasis to the superlative form, highlighting its uniqueness.