Grammatical structure in “best avoided”
I come across some phrases such as “best avoided,” or “better avoided.” I understand what it means, but don’t know how this phrase was made. What grammatical structure is in this? I thought this phrase is short for “is best (when it is) avoided,” but this underatanding is just based on my rudimentary grammar. Could anyone help me with this?
grammar
asked Apr 1 at 3:44
MayjioMayjio
673
add a comment |
I come across some phrases such as “best avoided,” or “better avoided.” I understand what it means, but don’t know how this phrase was made. What grammatical structure is in this? I thought this phrase is short for “is best (when it is) avoided,” but this underatanding is just based on my rudimentary grammar. Could anyone help me with this?
grammar
asked Apr 1 at 3:44
MayjioMayjio
673
I would say it relates to constructions like you'd better go now. To me at least, X is best avoided does not mean X is best when it is avoided. It means it is best to avoid X / the best thing you can do is avoid X / you'd be better-advised to avoid X etc. Sometimes there is hardly any difference between this meaning and the meaning X is best when, e.g. pizzas are best cooked in the oven can mean the best way to cook pizzas... or pizzas come out best when... Sometimes though it can only really have the it's best to meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
For example in Leicester is best avoided, Leicester is pretty much the same whether it is avoided or not, so this can only really mean the best thing to do is... In fact, on the X is best when it is avoided reading, this would mean something like please don't come to Leicester, we're better off without you, which can't be the intended meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
add a comment |
I come across some phrases such as “best avoided,” or “better avoided.” I understand what it means, but don’t know how this phrase was made. What grammatical structure is in this? I thought this phrase is short for “is best (when it is) avoided,” but this underatanding is just based on my rudimentary grammar. Could anyone help me with this?
grammar
asked Apr 1 at 3:44
MayjioMayjio
673
I come across some phrases such as “best avoided,” or “better avoided.” I understand what it means, but don’t know how this phrase was made. What grammatical structure is in this? I thought this phrase is short for “is best (when it is) avoided,” but this underatanding is just based on my rudimentary grammar. Could anyone help me with this?
grammar
grammar
asked Apr 1 at 3:44
MayjioMayjio
673
asked Apr 1 at 3:44
MayjioMayjio
673
asked Apr 1 at 3:44
MayjioMayjio
673
asked Apr 1 at 3:44
MayjioMayjio
673
asked Apr 1 at 3:44
MayjioMayjio
673
673
I would say it relates to constructions like you'd better go now. To me at least, X is best avoided does not mean X is best when it is avoided. It means it is best to avoid X / the best thing you can do is avoid X / you'd be better-advised to avoid X etc. Sometimes there is hardly any difference between this meaning and the meaning X is best when, e.g. pizzas are best cooked in the oven can mean the best way to cook pizzas... or pizzas come out best when... Sometimes though it can only really have the it's best to meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
For example in Leicester is best avoided, Leicester is pretty much the same whether it is avoided or not, so this can only really mean the best thing to do is... In fact, on the X is best when it is avoided reading, this would mean something like please don't come to Leicester, we're better off without you, which can't be the intended meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
add a comment |
I would say it relates to constructions like you'd better go now. To me at least, X is best avoided does not mean X is best when it is avoided. It means it is best to avoid X / the best thing you can do is avoid X / you'd be better-advised to avoid X etc. Sometimes there is hardly any difference between this meaning and the meaning X is best when, e.g. pizzas are best cooked in the oven can mean the best way to cook pizzas... or pizzas come out best when... Sometimes though it can only really have the it's best to meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
For example in Leicester is best avoided, Leicester is pretty much the same whether it is avoided or not, so this can only really mean the best thing to do is... In fact, on the X is best when it is avoided reading, this would mean something like please don't come to Leicester, we're better off without you, which can't be the intended meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
I would say it relates to constructions like you'd better go now. To me at least, X is best avoided does not mean X is best when it is avoided. It means it is best to avoid X / the best thing you can do is avoid X / you'd be better-advised to avoid X etc. Sometimes there is hardly any difference between this meaning and the meaning X is best when, e.g. pizzas are best cooked in the oven can mean the best way to cook pizzas... or pizzas come out best when... Sometimes though it can only really have the it's best to meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
I would say it relates to constructions like you'd better go now. To me at least, X is best avoided does not mean X is best when it is avoided. It means it is best to avoid X / the best thing you can do is avoid X / you'd be better-advised to avoid X etc. Sometimes there is hardly any difference between this meaning and the meaning X is best when, e.g. pizzas are best cooked in the oven can mean the best way to cook pizzas... or pizzas come out best when... Sometimes though it can only really have the it's best to meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
For example in Leicester is best avoided, Leicester is pretty much the same whether it is avoided or not, so this can only really mean the best thing to do is... In fact, on the X is best when it is avoided reading, this would mean something like please don't come to Leicester, we're better off without you, which can't be the intended meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
For example in Leicester is best avoided, Leicester is pretty much the same whether it is avoided or not, so this can only really mean the best thing to do is... In fact, on the X is best when it is avoided reading, this would mean something like please don't come to Leicester, we're better off without you, which can't be the intended meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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In your case 'best' is an adverb form which is used to modify a verb.
Here's an extract from the entry in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best):
best
superlative of WELL
1: in the best way
: to greatest advantage
// Some things are best left unsaid.
The same thing is with 'better':
better
comparative of WELL
1a: in a more excellent manner
// sings better than I do
b: to greater advantage
:PREFERABLY
// some things are better left unsaid
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/better)
answered 2 days ago
user307254user307254
4,3942516
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In your case 'best' is an adverb form which is used to modify a verb.
Here's an extract from the entry in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best):
best
superlative of WELL
1: in the best way
: to greatest advantage
// Some things are best left unsaid.
The same thing is with 'better':
better
comparative of WELL
1a: in a more excellent manner
// sings better than I do
b: to greater advantage
:PREFERABLY
// some things are better left unsaid
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/better)
answered 2 days ago
user307254user307254
4,3942516
add a comment |
In your case 'best' is an adverb form which is used to modify a verb.
Here's an extract from the entry in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best):
best
superlative of WELL
1: in the best way
: to greatest advantage
// Some things are best left unsaid.
The same thing is with 'better':
better
comparative of WELL
1a: in a more excellent manner
// sings better than I do
b: to greater advantage
:PREFERABLY
// some things are better left unsaid
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/better)
answered 2 days ago
user307254user307254
4,3942516
add a comment |
In your case 'best' is an adverb form which is used to modify a verb.
Here's an extract from the entry in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best):
best
superlative of WELL
1: in the best way
: to greatest advantage
// Some things are best left unsaid.
The same thing is with 'better':
better
comparative of WELL
1a: in a more excellent manner
// sings better than I do
b: to greater advantage
:PREFERABLY
// some things are better left unsaid
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/better)
answered 2 days ago
user307254user307254
4,3942516
In your case 'best' is an adverb form which is used to modify a verb.
Here's an extract from the entry in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best):
best
superlative of WELL
1: in the best way
: to greatest advantage
// Some things are best left unsaid.
The same thing is with 'better':
better
comparative of WELL
1a: in a more excellent manner
// sings better than I do
b: to greater advantage
:PREFERABLY
// some things are better left unsaid
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/better)
answered 2 days ago
user307254user307254
4,3942516
answered 2 days ago
user307254user307254
4,3942516
answered 2 days ago
user307254user307254
4,3942516
answered 2 days ago
user307254user307254
4,3942516
4,3942516
add a comment |
add a comment |
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I would say it relates to constructions like you'd better go now. To me at least, X is best avoided does not mean X is best when it is avoided. It means it is best to avoid X / the best thing you can do is avoid X / you'd be better-advised to avoid X etc. Sometimes there is hardly any difference between this meaning and the meaning X is best when, e.g. pizzas are best cooked in the oven can mean the best way to cook pizzas... or pizzas come out best when... Sometimes though it can only really have the it's best to meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago
For example in Leicester is best avoided, Leicester is pretty much the same whether it is avoided or not, so this can only really mean the best thing to do is... In fact, on the X is best when it is avoided reading, this would mean something like please don't come to Leicester, we're better off without you, which can't be the intended meaning.
– Minty
2 days ago