Using English Articles: Using English Articles (#7)

Because the English articles (a, an, the) are often very
challenging for learners of the language, the next several
Hints will provide guidelines on their usage.

Another use for the definite article the happens when
the superlative form of adjectives (adjective + -est or
most + adjective) is used with a noun. In this situation,
the is used as part of the superlative form.

Examples:

Joe is the tallest person in our class.

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Basem and Johara are two of the nicest people I know.

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Bill wants to buy the fastest car that he can afford.

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The most intelligent people are not necessarily the
ones with the highest grades.

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What's the most expensive city in the world?

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When's the earliest time that you can be there?

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That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!

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That test gets gradually more and more difficult.
The most difficult questions are at the end.

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Your cake is wonderful, Lety! It's the best cake
I've ever eaten!

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I'm about to run out of gas. Where's the closest
filling station?

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Special Note:

The definite article the is also used with the superlative
form of adverbs:

Everyone did well, but Eduardo did the best.

All the runners in the race ran fast, but Jean-Luc ran
the fastest.

All the speakers argued convincingly, but Ya-wen
argued the most convincingly.