Which part of speech is this "earliest" in this sentence, an adjective or an adverb?

1

I joined a team at 8 years old, which is later than most kids start now, but was the earliest you could start on the girl’s team (10 and under).

I just can't decide whether this "earliest" in this sentence is an adjective or an adverb. Is there any defaulting word obstructs my judgement?

It will be greatly appreciated if your explanation or analysis would be given in detail.

dennylv

Posted 2014-11-20T01:40:32.717

Reputation: 4 361

Answers

3

I'm not sure at all, but I'm guessing is equivalent:

I joined a team at 8 years old, which is later than most kids start now, but was the earliest age that you could start on the girls’ team (10 and under).

So earliest would be in this case a superlative adjective.

Gerardo Charles Rojas Vega

Posted 2014-11-20T01:40:32.717

Reputation: 146

-3

I would vote for an adverb in its superlative form. Late/later are definitely adverbs in "...which is late" or the original "...which is later than...", so is the earliest.

Pavel Evdokimov

Posted 2014-11-20T01:40:32.717

Reputation: 1

Asked: 2014-11-20T01:40:32.717

Viewed: 414 times

Active: 2017-03-01T23:25:28.710