[Grammar] What are the comparative and superlative forms of the word top?
- Thread starter Evicka
- Start date
- Views : 19,645
- Status
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2009
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- UK
Welcome to the forum. :hi:
"Topmost" is the superlative. There is no comparative with the word "top" in. We would use "higher" or "higher-ranking" or something similar depending on the context and the thing which is being described.
"Topmost" is the superlative. There is no comparative with the word "top" in. We would use "higher" or "higher-ranking" or something similar depending on the context and the thing which is being described.
Roman55
Key Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2014
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- Italy
- Current Location
- France
I am not a teacher.
The word 'topmost' does contain 'top' but can we really call it the superlative of 'top'? Isn't it just another synonym of 'highest'?
By definition, 'top' as an adjective already means the highest. You can't get higher than the top step, and how do you find the button beyond the top one if you want to undo it?
The word 'topmost' does contain 'top' but can we really call it the superlative of 'top'? Isn't it just another synonym of 'highest'?
By definition, 'top' as an adjective already means the highest. You can't get higher than the top step, and how do you find the button beyond the top one if you want to undo it?
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2009
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- UK
You can have, for example, a team of top politicians. They are all at the same level within their own departments - at the top. However, within their team, one of them is probably in charge. He/she would be the topmost member of the team.
That's not a great example but at the moment I can't think of a better one!
That's not a great example but at the moment I can't think of a better one!
Roman55
Key Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2014
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- Italy
- Current Location
- France
I am not a teacher.
That's a nice try, but I'm unconvinced. ;-)
They can't be more at the top within their own departments than they already are, and then there is a new hierachy within the team (which is a separate issue).
I think it's just the ungradable nature of the word that precludes it from having a meaningful superlative or comparative.
That's a nice try, but I'm unconvinced. ;-)
They can't be more at the top within their own departments than they already are, and then there is a new hierachy within the team (which is a separate issue).
I think it's just the ungradable nature of the word that precludes it from having a meaningful superlative or comparative.
Last edited by a moderator:
MikeNewYork
VIP Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2002
- Member Type
- Academic
- Native Language
- American English
- Home Country
- United States
- Current Location
- United States
The meaning of top is not always completely clear. Sometimes it means "different from the bottom". Sometimes it means "superior". I don't use the word often, but it useful in some contexts.
Squirrels often compete for the top branches of a tree. Does this mean "highest" or "advantageous" in some other sense.
Squirrels often compete for the topmost branches of a tree. This is more clear.
Squirrels often compete for the top branches of a tree. Does this mean "highest" or "advantageous" in some other sense.
Squirrels often compete for the topmost branches of a tree. This is more clear.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2009
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- UK
Thanks Mike. Yes, for me, the top branches of a tree are any of the ones above the middle so some are more "top" than others! I would use "topmost" or "highest" to specify the ones right at the very top.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
