Articles with Superlatives
Discover when to use “the” with superlatives
Let’s look at these sentences.
- Which student in the class is the happiest?
- Of all the people in our office, Adrian is the calmest.
Why do we use “the” with the superlative in these sentences?
Exactly! When we compare to a specific group, we use “the”.
Not quite. Is there a specific group being compared here? Try again!
Now, look at these sentences.
- Amanda’s happiest when she’s on holiday. (She is *very* happy).
- This juice is most delicious if you chill it. (It is *very* delicious).
Why do we use no article (Ø) here?
You’ve got it! When we describe a general state, we don’t use an article.
Close, but are we comparing to a specific group here? Give it another try!
You’ve Discovered The Rule!
Use the with a superlative when you are comparing one thing against a specific, defined group.
Use no article (Ø) with a superlative when you are describing a general state or feeling (often meaning “very”).
Test Your Knowledge
Choose the correct option for each sentence.