Past exam of the analytic topology and axiomatic set theory course of the University of Oxford / 2009 / B / 6 / iii / c / Solution

A bounded expression for the successor relation isThe first two clauses put $y$ and all its elements into $x$, while the last forbids any additional member of $x$. Extensionality identifies this exactly with $x=y\cup \{y\}$. Since the formula is ${\Delta }_0$, it is absolute in both directions between the transitive classes and therefore upward absolute. This bounded description also justifies the successor computations used earlier in the rank-stage Replacement counterexample.