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hereinbeijing
Joined: 24 Dec 2007
Posts: 101
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 Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:39 pm Post subject: Grammar question: "most" or "the most" |
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In the following sentence, is it better to use "most" or "the most" ?
I like many sports, but I like basketball (the) most. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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Dear hereinbeijing,
Six of one, half-a-dozen of the other, I'd say (If you put a gun to my head, I suppose I'd go with "the most.")
Regards,
John |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar question: "most" or "the most& |
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| hereinbeijing wrote: |
In the following sentence, is it better to use "most" or "the most" ?
I like many sports, but I like basketball (the) most. |
Well, I wonder why an IELTS examiner with a number of years experience teaching English asks the above question.
It seems China is the most stressful country in the world!  |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| the most |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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| .... and trapezius is the most stressful teacher in the magic kingdom! |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar question: "most" or "the most&quo |
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| hereinbeijing wrote: |
In the following sentence, is it better to use "most" or "the most" ?
I like many sports, but I like basketball (the) most. |
Both are acceptable. BTW, why have you posted this question on the Saudi board? Dave's has an ''applied linguistics'' board where this kind of query is dealt with by experts.
Regards
SR |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:28 am Post subject: |
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Dear 007,
" . . . the most stressful . . ." or " . . . the most stressed . . ." or both?
Regards,
John |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear 007,
" . . . the most stressful . . ." or " . . . the most stressed . . ." or both?
Regards,
John |
Well, a stressful teacher tries to commit a suicide by smashing his face on the keyboard.
His stressed keyboard needs a replacement! |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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It is the other way around.
The keyboad (i.e. work) is stressful, and the teacher is stressed.
Hence the suicide attempt. |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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Here's another quandry:
Why do Americans live on streets and our British brethern live in them???
NCTBA |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Dear NCTBA,
Well, from a "Yankee" point of view, it would seem that our British brethren and sisiteren must be homeless, poor dears.
"I live in Victoria Street."
"How terrible - here's five pounds."
Regards,
John |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Never Ceased To Be Amazed wrote: |
Here's another quandry:
Why do Americans live on streets and our British brethern live in them???
NCTBA |
quandry or quandary |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:00 am Post subject: |
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Oppps! A mis-stroke...I've given my left pinkie 1000 strokes with a wet noodle. Because of the mis-stroke, I feel compelled to remove myself from this forum where such august Spelling/Grammar Gods abode.
NCTBA |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:04 am Post subject: |
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Dear NCTBA,
Come back, NCTBA, We LOVE you (despite the lousy spelling and grammar.)
After all, remember that scot47 abodes here, too.
Regards,
John |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Never Ceased To Be Amazed wrote: |
Oppps! A mis-stroke...I've given my left pinkie 1000 strokes with a wet noodle. Because of the mis-stroke, I feel compelled to remove myself from this forum where such august Spelling/Grammar Gods abode.
NCTBA |
Come on, NCTBA! Your spelling and punctuation might shame a 10-year-old but your sense of humour is fine. (Should that have been humor?  ) |
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