BEST के पहले article ‘the’ का use कब नहीं किया जाता (Explained in Hindi)

The word ‘best’ can act as adjective, noun, adverb or verb.

1. शब्द ‘best’ जब एक adjective होता है 

(Superlative of ‘good’)

जिसमें कोई गुण अधिकतम मात्रा में हो; e.g.

a) This is the best meal I’ve ever
b) He’s one of our best students.
c) Are you sure this is the best way of doing it?
d) What’s the best (= shortest or quickest) way to get to their house?
e) Your parents only want what is best for you.
f) She was my best friend (= the friend I liked most).
g) It’s best (= it is wise) to get to the supermarket early.

NOTE-I: अगर adjective ‘best’ के तुरंत बाद कोई noun हो तो article ‘the’ अथवा किसी possessive adjective (my, our, your, his, her, their) का  use आवश्यक होता है; जैसे

a) Rohan is the best student in the class. (‘Student’ is a noun.)
b) Here are the five choices. This is the best choice. (‘Choice’ is a noun.)

NOTE-II: अगर adjective ‘best’ के तुरंत बाद कोई noun न हो तो article ‘the’ का use स्वैच्छिक (optional) होता है. वास्तव में तो ‘best’ ऐसे में एक noun होती है; जैसे

Here are the five choices. This is the best.
= Here are the five choices. This is best.

NOTE-III: अगर ‘best’ एक adjective होता है तो इसके पहले आमतौर पर article ‘the’ का use आवश्यक होता है; परन्तु ‘best’ के पहले अगर कोई possessive adjective (my, our, his, her, its, your, their) का use पहले से ही हो तो article ‘the’ का use अशुद्ध होता है; जैसे

a) He wrote his best songs before he was 25.
b) He’s one of our best students.
c) Is that your best suit?

2. शब्द ‘best’ जब एक adverb होता है 

(Superlative of ‘well’)

अधिकतम उपयुक्त, आनंददायक, अथवा संतोषजनक तरीके से

a) Which evening would suit you best for the party?
b) He works best in the mornings.
c) Painting is best done in daylight.
d) It is a difficult passage, but just translate it as best you can.

NOTE: ‘Best’ जब एक adverb होती है तो आमतौर पर इसके पहले article ‘the’ का use नहीं होता; परन्तु इसके अपवाद (exceptions) भी होते हैं. जब ‘best’ को लेकर कोई और शब्द सयुंक रूप से बनाया गया हो और उस सयुंक बनाये गये शब्द के बाद कोई noun भी दी गयी हो तो फिर article ‘the’ का use आवश्यक है; जैसे

a) They were the best-dressed couple at the party.
b) He was voted the best-looking actor in Bollywood.
c) He is the best-known writer on mystical subjects

3. शब्द ‘best’ जब एक noun होता है 

सबसे अधिक श्रेष्ठ व्यक्ति या वस्तु 

a) They’re all good players, but she’s the best of all.
b) He wanted the best for his children- good schools, a nice house, and trips abroad.
c) Sarita and I are the best of friends (= we are very close friends).
d) She always brings out the best in people.
e) Fifty pounds is the best I can offer you.
f) I don’t really feel at my best today.
j) The town looks its best (= is most attractive) in the spring.

4. शब्द ‘best’ जब एक verb होता है 

(transitive)​

किसी fight अथवा प्रतियोगिता में किसी को हराना 

a) He bested his opponent in just two rounds.
b) In chess, I was bested by my 13-year-old niece.

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When can we drop ‘THE’ before BEST (EXPLAINED IN ENGLISH)

The word ‘best’ can act as adjective, noun, adverb or verb.

1. BEST as Adjective

(Superlative of ‘good’)

of the highest quality, or being the most suitable, pleasing, or effective type of thing or person; e.g.

a) This is the best meal I’ve ever
b) He’s one of our best students.
c) Are you sure this is the best way of doing it?
d) What’s the best (= shortest or quickest) way to get to their house?
e) Your parents only want what is best for you.
f) She was my best friend (= the friend I liked most).
g) It’s best (= it is wise) to get to the supermarket early.

NOTE-I: If the adjective ‘best’ has a noun just after, use of the article ‘the’ or a possessive adjective (my, our, your, his, her, their) is normally mandatory; e.g.

a) Rohan is the best student in the class. (‘Student’ is a noun.)
b) Here are the five choices. This is the best choice. (‘Choice’ is a noun.)

NOTE-II: If ‘best’ doesn’t have a noun just after, use of the article ‘the’ is optional. ‘Best’ in this use is a noun itself in fact; e.g.

Here are the five choices. This is the best.
= Here are the five choices. This is best.

NOTE-III: When ‘best’ is an adjective we normally place the article ‘the’ with it, but if there is a possessive noun or pronoun before ‘best’ we don’t use the article; e.g.

a) He wrote his best songs before he was 25.
b) He’s one of our best students.
c) Is that your best suit?

2. BEST as Adverb

(Superlative of ‘well’)

In the most suitable, pleasing, or satisfactory way, or to the greatest degree

a) Which evening would suit you best for the party?
b) He works best in the mornings.
c) Painting is best done in daylight.
d) It is a difficult passage, but just translate it as best you can.

NOTE: When ‘best’ is an adverb we don’t normally place the article ‘the’ with it, but sometimes there is an exception. We do so when ‘best’ is compounded with another word and there is a noun just after; e.g.

a) They were the best-dressed couple at the party.
b) He was voted the best-looking actor in Bollywood.
c) He is the best known writer on mystical subjects

3. BEST as Noun

The most excellent thing or person

a) They’re all good players, but she’s the best of all.
b) He wanted the best for his children- good schools, a nice house, and trips abroad.
c) Sarita and I are the best of friends (= we are very close friends).
d) She always brings out the best in people.
e) Fifty pounds is the best I can offer you.
f) I don’t really feel at my best today.
j) The town looks its best (= is most attractive) in the spring.

4. BEST as Verb

(transitive)​

To defeat someone in a fight or competition

a) He bested his opponent in just two rounds.
b) In chess, I was bested by my 13-year-old niece.

For more chapters/topics on English Grammar read the following book authored by me.

Link for buying the above book

CLICK HERE TO BUY

For English Practice Sets on various topics read the following book authored by me.

Link for buying the above book

CLICK HERE TO BUY