[Grammar] SUPERLATIVE "in" + "of"

[NAPO LION]

Hello everybody,

I have a question regarding the superlative. I know that "in" applies when using singular nouns, and "of" when using plural ones. However, which of the following sentences is correct ?

"Helping people was the best part of the job."
"Helping people was the best part in the job."

If the first sentence is correct, then what is the rule applying to the superlative ?


Thank you in advance

Napo Lion

 

[Khosro]

I have a question regarding the superlative. I know that "in" applies when using singular nouns, and "of" when using plural ones. However, which of the following sentences is correct ?

"Helping people was the best part of the job."
"Helping people was the best part in the job."

If the first sentence is correct, then what is the rule applying to the superlative ?

Welcome board NAPO LION
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I learn English and at the same time I teach English.
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The first sentence is sure correct. the second one is not wrong but I prefer the first sentence.
You ask why the first sentence is correct if "job" is not a plural noun. Here:

Job ===>> All things you do in the job

Yes, job is not a plural noun but the idea of job here is "all of the activities you do in the job" and it is conceptually plural.
I appreciate others explaining the problem in a simple, clear way.

 

[engee30]

Hello everybody,

I have a question regarding the superlative. I know that "in" applies when using singular nouns, and "of" when using plural ones. However, which of the following sentences is correct ?

"Helping people was the best part of the job." The job itself gave me a lot of opportunities to help other people; the character of the job enabled me to help other people.
"Helping people was the best part in the job." I did a lot of helping for other people in the job; it was myself who made me feel happy about helping other people in the job, and not the job itself.
If the first sentence is correct, then what is the rule applying to the superlative ?


Thank you in advance

Napo Lion

♥♦♣♠ NOT A TEACHER ♥♦♣♠

That's my way of thinking about the two prepositions.

 

[Khosro]

What engee30 wrote clearly shows the difference. in the first sentence the emphasize is on the "job" and in the second one on the "I". But why? I think the reason is that we can rewrite these 2 sentences in this manner:

1-Helping people---was---the best part of the job.
2-Helping people---was---the best part---in the job.
(or:In the job---helping people---was-the best part.)

So, I recommend you NAPO LION not to focus on "singular nouns" and "plural nouns" and to focus on the meaning: of the job/in the job.

Furthermore, I quote part of the book "English grammar in use":

"After superlatives we use in with places (towns, buildings, etc):
- What is the longest river in the world? (not "of the world")
- We had a lovely room. It was one of the nicest in the hotel.(not "of the hotel")

We also use "in" for organisations and groups of people (a class/team/company etc.):
- Who is the best student in the class? (not "of the class")"
(End of quotation)

So here if you see "job" as an organisation, as a company then you'd better say "in the job". But if you see it as "a series of activities" you'd better say "of the job".
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I learn English and at the same time I teach English.
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[5jj]

Furthermore, I quote part of the book "English grammar in use":

"After superlatives we use in with places (towns, buildings, etc):
- What is the longest river in the world? (not "of the world")
- We had a lovely room. It was one of the nicest in the hotel.(not "of the hotel")

We also use "in" for organisations and groups of people (a class/team/company etc.):
- Who is the best student in the class? (not "of the class")"
(End of quotation)

So here if you see "job" as an organisation, as a company then you'd better say "in the job". But if you see it as "a series of activities" you'd better say "of the job".

I think that sums it up quite well.