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gaspar
Joined: 10 May 2011
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 Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:05 pm Post subject: Is "the" necessary? |
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This is a TEPS grammar question.
The dresser is _________
a) nicest
b) the nicest
Most ppl would say "B" is correct. But my korean teacher showed me her book which said "the" is not always used because english speakers dont say it since its easier when speaking.
EX. Eric is fastest of us all.
The lake is deepest at this point.
+++ In the abve question, how can you justify that "B" is better than "A"? |
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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure of the answer to your question, but I'm interested in what others will have to say.
Here's some information from Michael Swan on this issue:
We do not use the with superlatives when we compare the same person or thing in different situations.
- Of all my friends, he's (the) nicest. (comparing different people)
He's nicest when he's with children (no article)
She works (the) hardest in the family; her husband doesn't know what work is.
She works hardest when she's doing something for her family. (a woman's work is being compared in different situations)
The above seems to support the second example you gave at the bottom of your post (The lake is deepest at this point.) |
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The Sultan of Seoul
Joined: 17 Apr 2012
Location: right... behind.. YOU
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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It's not so black and white.
Eric is the fastest out of all of us - is correct when comparing several nouns, one includes 'the' before the adjective to signify it as being qualified as special amongst the others.
The lake is deepest - or at its deepest - at this point is correct as the lake is not being compared to any other. If it were being compared to other lakes then it would be something like 'This lake is the deepest of the three.' |
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Nismo
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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What's the genre? In naturally spoken English, the article can be (and often is) dropped. Probably also in informal genres of written English.
Assuming, though, that this is a prescriptive test, then B is correct because that's what the answer key says.
Last edited by Nismo on Mon May 07, 2012 11:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Chalmers
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| This weekend, I am going to The Seoul. |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 12:19 am Post subject: |
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| Seoul is best. |
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comm
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 1:08 am Post subject: |
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| raewon wrote: |
We do not use the with superlatives when we compare the same person or thing in different situations.
- Of all my friends, he's (the) nicest. (comparing different people)
He's nicest when he's with children (no article)
She works (the) hardest in the family; her husband doesn't know what work is.
She works hardest when she's doing something for her family. (a woman's work is being compared in different situations) |
This is really all you need to know on the topic.
"the" is used when comparing a noun to another noun. "the" is not used when comparing the condition of something under one circumstance to the condition of that same thing under a different circumstance. It's not especially difficult. |
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peregrinejones
Joined: 25 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| Chalmers wrote: |
| This weekend, I am going to The Seoul. |
The lol. |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Is "the" necessary? |
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| gaspar wrote: |
This is a TEPS grammar question.
The dresser is _________
a) nicest
b) the nicest
Most ppl would say "B" is correct. But my korean teacher showed me her book which said "the" is not always used because english speakers dont say it since its easier when speaking.
EX. Eric is fastest of us all.
The lake is deepest at this point.
+++ In the abve question, how can you justify that "B" is better than "A"? |
The two examples are obviously different, as others have stated, but you've got to chuckle at your Korean teacher's "book's" explanation--the easiest way. That's what happens when you project Korean culture onto Western. |
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zombiedog
Joined: 03 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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"...the nicest."
"...nicest."
Both are correct and perfectly acceptable. Any NET should be able to detect that just by speaking the sentences aloud. Does your bad grammar radar go off? No. Then they are correct. |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:18 pm Post subject: Re: Is "the" necessary? |
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| gaspar wrote: |
Most ppl would say "B" is correct. But my korean teacher showed me her book which said "the" is not always used because english speakers dont say it since its easier when speaking.
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Just hit your Korean teacher with her book since it's easier. |
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pegasus64128
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 12:10 am Post subject: Re: Is "the" necessary? |
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| gaspar wrote: |
This is a TEPS grammar question.
The dresser is _________
a) nicest
b) the nicest
Most ppl would say "B" is correct. But my korean teacher showed me her book which said "the" is not always used because english speakers dont say it since its easier when speaking.
EX. Eric is fastest of us all.
The lake is deepest at this point.
+++ In the abve question, how can you justify that "B" is better than "A"? |
by showing her other books/e-books. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 5:22 am Post subject: |
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The dresser is nicest.
The dresser is the nicest.
The dresser is nicest is more colloquil. In a formal essay or formal speaking, I would not use it unless it is a quote. The dresser is nicest might be correct but not the most correct and best answer. And lots of those tests ask for the best answers.
the word "thru" is my favorite, I like it better than through, but it's best not to use it in formal english |
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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| young_clinton wrote: |
The dresser is nicest.
The dresser is the nicest.
The dresser is nicest is more colloquil. In a formal essay or formal speaking, I would not use it unless it is a quote. The dresser is nicest might be correct but not the most correct and best answer. And lots of those tests ask for the best answers.
the word "thru" is my favorite, I like it better than through, but it's best not to use it in formal english |
This is correct. Omitting the "the" is acceptable in colloquial, spoken English. In written English, it must be included, meaning that "the nicest" is the correct answer for the TEPS or any other standardized English test. |
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