Word
the best thing
Definition
compound. the part of a situation or object that you like the most or that is most helpful.
compound. a superlative noun phrase used to identify the most advantageous, enjoyable, or effective element within a specific set or context.
Examples
“The best thing about summer is the warm weather.”
“The best thing about this new apartment is that it is only five minutes from my office.”
“While the plot was predictable, the best thing about the performance was the lead actor's nuanced portrayal of the protagonist.”
Examples
simple
“The best thing about summer is the warm weather.”
contextual
“The best thing about this new apartment is that it is only five minutes from my office.”
complex
“While the plot was predictable, the best thing about the performance was the lead actor's nuanced portrayal of the protagonist.”
Usage
often followed by the preposition 'about' to specify the subject being discussed.
Teaching tip
encourage students to use this as a sentence starter to express preferences; it functions as a more natural alternative to 'the most positive aspect is'.
Pitfall
The better thing about it is...
The best thing about it is...
the superlative 'best' is required because you are selecting the single top item from a group of many.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/the-best-thing