The best or best

[Rachel Adams]

Should I use "the" before "best" when I use it as an adverb?

"The room which (best) reflects my personality (best) is my study."

I used "best" twice because I am not sure which is the correct position.

 

[GoesStation]

Either position is possible. You can use the article before best when it's in the second position, but you don't have to.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Either position is possible. You can use the article before best when it's in the second position, but you don't have to.

Sorry, what do you mean by the second position?

 

[5jj]

Come on, Rachel, have a guess. This may help:

"The room which [1] (best) reflects my personality [2] (best) is my study."

 

[GoesStation]

Sorry, what do you mean by the second position?

I'm not referring to some kind of rule here. What do you think I mean?

 

[Rachel Adams]

I'm not referring to some kind of rule here. What do you think I mean?

OK. I understand. Would it be wrong to use the article in the first position?
"The room which the best reflects my personality is my study."

And in similar sentences "She dances/sings/plays the chess/tennis the best" is "the" optional when "best" is used an an adverb but compulsory when it's used before an adjective?

 

[GoesStation]

OK. I understand. Would it be wrong to use the article in the first position?
"The room which the best reflects my personality is my study."

Yes, that's incorrect. I wouldn't have said it's right in the second position if it were also right in the first one.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Yes, that's incorrect. I wouldn't have said it's right in the second position if it were also right in the first one.

I can't find anything that deals with such sentences. Is there a certain rule, an explanation why it is wrong in the first position in similar sentences?

 

[Rachel Adams]

Either position is possible. You can use the article before best when it's in the second position, but you don't have to.

I found a similar sentence in the book "The Complete Book of Questions" by Garry Poole. It says "What room" not "which". Why do they use "what" in their question not "which"? It's the 11th question.

 

[GoesStation]

I found a similar sentence in the book "The Complete Book of Questions" by Garry Poole. It says "What room" not "which". Why do they use "what" in their question not "which"? It's the 11th question.

The speaker is looking for a choice from a set of rooms. We normally use "which" in such a context. I don't know why the author chose "what".

 

[5jj]

Many native speakers are less fastidious about the choice between what and which than some style guides would wish them to be.

 

[Tdol]

Before reading this thread, I had never heard of Garry Poole. I won't be adding him to the list of people I consult.

 

[Rover_KE]

His sister Jean wrote a book on DNA and his brother Cec is a big name in waste disposal.