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- adverbs - About best , the best , and most - English Language . . .
I like you best I like chocolate best, better than anything else can be used when what one is choosing from is not specified I like you the best Between chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, I like vanilla the best can be used when choosing from some choices
- Which one is the best vs. which one the best is
"Which one is the best" is obviously a question format, so it makes sense that "which one the best is" should be the correct form This is very good instinct, and you could even argue that the grammar is good, but at best it's unnatural When we replace the superlative "the best" with the normal version, we get this:
- articles - it is best vs. it is the best - English Language . . .
This is the best car in the garage We use articles like the and a before nouns, like car The word "best" is an adjective, and adjectives do not take articles by themselves Because the noun car is modified by the superlative adjective best, and because this makes the noun car definite in this context, we use the It is best not to do something
- word choice - his best-seller book or his best-selling book . . .
@J R If something is a New York Times Best Seller, the whole five word string is the adjective in use to modify book, although why book is specified is beyond me; perhaps to distinguish it from a "best seller" audio If a book appears on a "Best Seller List*, I guess the generic "best seller book" is okay, but I don't like it much
- expressions - its best - how should it be used? - English Language . . .
3 "It's best (if) he (not) buy it tomorrow " is not a subjunctive form, and some options do not work well 3A It's best he buy it tomorrow the verb tense is wrong with 3A Better would be: 3A1 It's best that he buys it tomorrow This form assumes or suggests that the purchase will happen, and approves of it 3A2 It would be best if he buys it
- plural forms - Its Im acting in your best interest interests . . .
have someone's (best) interests at heart (=want to help them): He claims he has only my best interests at heart be in someone's something's (best) interest(s) (=bring an advantage or benefit): The president doesn't believe the plan is in the best interest of the company
- Word choice - Way of to for - Way of to for - English Language . . .
The best way to use "the best way" is to follow it with an infinitive However, this is not the only way to use the phrase; "the best way" can also be followed by of with a gerund: The best way of increasing morale in the workplace is to care about the workers The best way of preventing a heart attack is to both exercise regularly and eat well
- definite article - I think a the best friend is a the person - English . . .
The response is defining "a" (unknown, unspecified) best friend, not a specific one (contrast with "the best friend I had in high school", for example) If the second article was "the", this would also mean there could be only one such person, and the discussion is clearly about two people I think in the example, it's best to use "a" in both
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