4.7.1. Nouns qualified by an ‘of-phrase’

There are two cases where an ‘of'-phrase after a noun suggests a unique interpretation and so normally requires the definite article.

First, where the noun involved refers to an action, event, or state and the 'of'-phrase indicates the performer of the action or the thing affected:

..Jollowing the closure of a Courtaulds factory.

Orders should not be cashed after the death of the person.

...the elimination of low pay.

Here the first nouns refer to (possible) actions or events, and can be related to verbs: a factory was closed, the person died, low pay was or will be eliminated.

Second, certain nouns which refer to a part or characteristic of something are followed by an 'of'-phrase very frequently, and have unique reference.

...after the beginning of the tax year.

The price of copper fell spectacularly.

...Picture 5 at the top of page 43.

...at the end of 1980.

Here are some nouns like this.

back	end	middle	top
beginning	front	price	weight
bottom	height	size
edge	length	title

Note that you can also use the definite article before these nouns even when they are not qualified because they are often found in association with other nouns which have been mentioned before.

7. Superlative adjectives

Superlative adjectives tend to occur with the definite article, for example, 'the tallest', 'the cleverest', 'the fastest'. This is because they refer to the item (or set of items) in a group which is extreme with regard to a quality like height, intelligence, or speed, and is therefore readily identifiable.

This isn't the best camping country.

...the easiest way of finding water.

Birmingham is one af the largest cities in Europe.

That's the nicest thing anybody has ever said to me.

Here are some examples where the superlative is formed with 'most' instead of '-est'.

The most difficult moments came at night.

But the most powerful censor remains the audience.

Superlatives are often used on their own, without a noun following.

The old jokes are the best.

There are some forty different species in the kangaroo family. The largest is the red kangaroo.

The is sometimes left out after a link verb such as 'be'.

Which work pattern is easiest?

It's the butter fat that is hardest to digest.

However, it is not possible to leave out the when the superlative is followed by a phrase or clause specifying the group or place involved.

The number of teachers per child is the highest in the world.

Into the envelope - which had to be the largest I could find – I also tucked used guide books and useful addresses.

Here the definite article must be kept; you cannot say 'The number of teachers per child is highest in the world'.

There are other cases where the meaning would be different if the definite article was left out.

Beef is nicest slightly underdone.

Here we are comparing the different ways of doing beef; if you say 'Beef is the nicest', you are comparing different meats.

NOTE 1 It is possible to use the indefinite article before 'best', but only when 'best' and the noun after it together form a fixed expression, such as 'best friend' or 'best seller'.

Is that what a best friend is for?

You ought to write a novel about it, could be a best seller.

NOTE 2 'Most' has other meanings: as a determiner, meaning 'the majority of', and as an adverb, where it is very similar to 'very'.

...the sweat glands that the platypus, like most mammals, has in its skin.

We have a most important matter to discuss.