Hi!
A studied some bits of grammar and came across
a thing that puzzeled me.
Is there any difference between the following
sentences:
1) John chose the exam because he knew this subject best.
2) John chose the exam because he knew this subject THE best.
I suppose (1) means John knows the subj. better than
any other subj. But (2) - with "THE" - emphasizes
that he knows subj. better than anybody (in a certain group, etc)
Is it right? Thanx in advance!
A studied some bits of grammar and came across
a thing that puzzeled me.
Is there any difference between the following
sentences:
1) John chose the exam because he knew this subject best.
2) John chose the exam because he knew this subject THE best.
I suppose (1) means John knows the subj. better than
any other subj. But (2) - with "THE" - emphasizes
that he knows subj. better than anybody (in a certain group, etc)
Is it right? Thanx in advance!
Best and the best are adverbs in your sentences and therefore both are correct and there is no difference in meaning. They normally refer to this subject. English grammar is easy to learn since there is so little of it, but that very fact can lead to ambiguity. Superlatives of adverbs need no article, but, if you want to include an article, it is possible:
He sings most beautifully.
= 1. more beautifully than anyone else
2. very/extremely beautifully (In other words, the structure can be interpreted as an absolute superlative.)
He sings the most beautifully.
= 1. more beautifully than anyone else
Cheers
CB
He sings most beautifully.
= 1. more beautifully than anyone else
2. very/extremely beautifully (In other words, the structure can be interpreted as an absolute superlative.)
He sings the most beautifully.
= 1. more beautifully than anyone else
Cheers
CB
1 2
Comments
but what is the right meaning - better than any other subject or better than anybody in a group?
If you want to give two clear meanings, you can say:
A. John chose the exam because he was the one who knew this subject best (in the class).
B. John chose the exam because this was the subject he knew best.
Thank you all very much!