The best/the most

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Can I use the best instead of the most?

''Which book do you like the most?''

''Which book do you like the best?''

 

[GoesStation]

Yes. Beginning with "which" means you're asking about a known set of books.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Yes. Beginning with "which" means you're asking about a known set of books.

Is the article optional in both sentences?

 

[GoesStation]

Is the article optional in both sentences?

Yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

Don't forget that if there are only two books in contention, you would say "Which book do you like more/better?" With three or more books, "most/best" are appropriate.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Don't forget that if there are only two books in contention, you would say "Which book do you like more/better?" With three or more books, "most/best" are appropriate.

Thanks. I didn't know that. But what if I want to compare two books only? If I like both of them but only one of them the most. It made me think about my favourite short stories. "The Unconquered" and "The Necklace." I like both of them but "The Unconquered" the best. So if someone asks me which do you like the best, that would be still wrong?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thanks. I didn't know that. But what if I want to compare two books only? If I like both of them but only one of them the most. It made me think about my favourite short stories. "The Unconquered" and "The Necklace." I like both of them but "The Unconquered" the best. So if someone asks me which do you like the best, that would be still wrong?

Yes, it would be wrong. That's exactly what I was getting at.

A: How many books did you read last month?
B: Two.
A: Which one did you like better?/Which one did you like more?
B: "The Stand", by Stephen King.

A: How many books did you read last month?
B: Five.
A: Which one did you like best?/Which one did you like most?
B: "The Hobbit", by J R R Tolkien.