English Language & Usage Asked by Sssamy on August 2, 2020
Why is it ‘tallest person’ always only takes ‘the,’ and that ‘right person’ may sometimes take ‘a’ depending on what you mean?
I don’t know how I should put it, but the ‘comparative superlative + noun’ and ‘right + noun’ are said to require the definite article ‘the.’ However, while the former always calls for ‘the,’ the latter sometimes licenses the use of ‘a/an’ when there are a lot of ‘right’ people etc. although, granted, most of the time ‘the’ is attached. What do you think makes the difference?
He is a tallest person in the class. [NOT IDIOMATIC]
He is the right person to ask the question.
EDITED: superlative >>> comparative superlative + noun
"Tallest" is related to a comparison word and is unique to a particular person, and each comparison words should be put with "the" in front.
Additionally, you can change "he is a right person to ask the question" by putting the superlative words in front to become :
"He is the best right person to ask the question."
Still, we are putting the word "the".
Answered by Winter Bucky on August 2, 2020
Before you ask the 'why' question, I think you should set the facts straight first.
...the superlative always calls for 'the'...
That's not true, because both these superatives all sound fine without the definite article:
(1) He is tallest in the class.
(2) Last week, no less than 76 per cent of the public said that the spread of the virus was the story to which they had paid most attention. (The Times)
(3) The Korean thriller “Parasite” has become the first non-English language film to win the Oscar for best picture. (New York Times)
Therefore, it's not the superlative itself that requires 'the'.
What requires 'the' is the 'superlative + noun' combo where the presence of the superlative makes the noun phrase definite in context.
Answered by JK2 on August 2, 2020
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