GV

The with Superlatives and Ordinals

Use the with superlatives (the best) and ordinals (the first) in most cases.

intermediate

When to Use The with Superlatives and Ordinals

  • •With superlatives: the best, the biggest, the most interesting.
  • •With ordinal numbers: the first, the second, the last.
  • •When ranking or selecting one item from a set.
  • •When the context makes the reference unique.

How to Form The with Superlatives and Ordinals

Affirmative (+)

the + superlative/ordinal + noun

Negative (-)

Avoid using a/an with superlatives (normally) because the reference is unique.

Question (?)

Is it the best/the first...?

💡 Common patterns: the best day, the most expensive option, the first time. You can sometimes omit the noun: This is the best (one).

Examples of The with Superlatives and Ordinals

✓This is the best restaurant in town.

✗This is a best restaurant in town.

Superlatives usually take 'the' because they refer to a unique extreme.

✓She was the first person to arrive.

✗She was a first person to arrive.

Ordinals normally take 'the'.

✓That was the most difficult part.

Most + adjective superlatives typically use 'the'.

Common Mistakes with The with Superlatives and Ordinals

💡 Practice Tips for The with Superlatives and Ordinals

  • • Look for -est or 'most' and check if you need 'the'.
  • • Remember common phrases: the first time, the best way, the last thing.
  • • When you mean 'one of the best', use: one of the best + plural noun.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.This is   best pizza I've ever eaten.
  2. 2.She was   first person to arrive at the meeting.
  3. Question 3: That was blank most difficult exam of the year.
    3.That was most difficult exam of the year.
  4. Question 4: It is blank first time I've been to Tokyo.
    4.It is first time I've been to Tokyo.
  5. Question 5: He is blank fastest runner on the team.
    5.He is fastest runner on the team.
  6. Question 6: What was blank last thing she said before leaving?
    6.What was last thing she said before leaving?
  7. Question 7: Don't worry — this isn't blank worst mistake you could make.
    7.Don't worry — this isn't worst mistake you could make.
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