Unit 104

Superlatives the longest, the most enjoyable etc.

 

(a) Рассмотрим примеры:

 

What is the longest river the world? What was the most enjoyable holiday you've ever had? Longest и most enjoyable - это формы превосходной степени.

 

(b) Для образования превосходной степени

прилагательных и наречий применяют -est или

most .... Обычно употребляют -est для коротких

слов и most ... для более длинных.

(Правила такие же, как и для сравнительной

степени - см. Unit 101.)

Например:

 

long/longest hot/hottest easy/easiest hard/hardest

но: most famous most boring most difficult most expensive

 

Орфографические правила см. Appendix 3.

 

- Yesterday was the hottest day of the year.

- That was the most boring film I've ever seen.

- `Why did you stay at that hotel?' `It was the cheapest we could find.'

- She is a really nice person - one of the nicest people I know.

 

Запомните неправильные формы превосходной

степени best и worst:

 

- That was a delicious meal. It's one of the best I've ever had.

- Why does he always come to see me at the worst possible moment?

 

Не забудьте, обычно мы ставим артикль the

с превосходной степенью:

`the best', `the most boring' и т.д.

 

(c) Oldest и eldest

 

Превосходная степень от old - это oldest:

 

- That house over there is the oldest building in the town.

 

Мы употребляем слово eldest, когда говорим

о членах одной семьи:

 

- My eldest son is 13 years old.

- Are you the eldest in your family?

 

(d) После прилагательных в превосходной степени,

говоря о местоположении (города, здания и т.д.),

употребляют предлог in:

 

- What's the longest river in the world? (но не `of the world')

- We were lucky to have one of the nicest rooms in the hotel.

 

Аналогично:(the best..) in the class/in the team/in the company и т.д.

Однако: the happiest day of my life, the hottest day of the year.

 

Отметьте, мы часто употребляем present perfect

(I have done) после прилагатель ных в превосходной

степени. (см. Unit 14a):

 

- What's the best film you've ever seen?

- That was the most delicious meal I've had for a long time.

 

(e) Иногда мы говорим most + прилагательное

(без `the'), что имеет значение very:

 

- The book you lent me was most interesting. (= very interesting)

- Thank you for the money. It was most generous of you. (= very

generous)