Superlatives in English

Introduction

When we use adjectives, we are describing people, places, or things. Adjectives help us talk about size, color, shape, and many other qualities. For example, we might say that a dog is big or a cake is delicious. But sometimes, we need to compare things.

For example, what if we want to say that one dog is bigger than another? Or that one cake is the most delicious of all? To do this, we use special forms of adjectives called comparatives and superlatives. In this post, we’ll focus on superlatives, which help us talk about the “most” or “least” of something.

What Are Superlatives?

Superlatives are words we use to show that something has the highest or lowest degree of a quality when comparing three or more things. In other words, a superlative shows that something is the “most” or “least” in a group.

For example:

• “She is the tallest person in the class.” (tall → tallest)
• “This is the most expensive dress in the store.” (expensive → most expensive)

Superlatives can also be used with adverbs to indicate the highest or lowest degree of an action. For instance:

• “He runs the fastest in the team.” (fast → fastest)
• “She sings the most beautifully of all the contestants.” (beautifully → most beautifully)

So, in simple terms, the definition of a superlative definition is:

How to Form Superlatives

There are a few easy rules to follow when forming superlatives, depending on the length of the adjective:

1. One-Syllable Adjectives

For short adjectives (with one syllable), we usually add -est to the end of the word to make the superlative.

• Examples:
  • tall → tallest
  • fast → fastest
  • small → smallest

2. Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in -y

For adjectives with two syllables that end in -y, we change the -y to -iest to form the superlative.

• Examples:
  • happy → happiest
  • easy → easiest
  • funny → funniest

3. Longer Adjectives (Two or More Syllables)

For longer adjectives (with two or more syllables), we don’t add -est. Instead, we use most or least before the adjective.

• Examples:
  • beautiful → most beautiful
  • expensive → most expensive
  • interesting → most interesting

4. Irregular Superlatives

Some adjectives don’t follow the regular rules and have irregular superlative forms.

• Examples:
  • good → best
  • bad → worst
  • far → farthest

Examples of Superlatives

Here are a few examples of superlatives in action. These sentences show how superlatives can be used to compare three or more things:

1. This is the tallest building in the city.
   • (tall → tallest)
2. She is the smartest student in the class.
   • (smart → smartest)
3. Out of all the cars, this one is the most expensive.
   • (expensive → most expensive)
4. That was the best meal I’ve ever had!
   • (good → best)
5. This is the funniest movie I’ve seen.
   • (funny → funniest)
6. This is the fastest runner in the race.
   • (fast → fastest)
7. He is the strongest player on the team.
   • (strong → strongest)
8. That was the easiest test I’ve ever taken.
   • (easy → easiest)
9. She is the kindest person I know.
   • (kind → kindest)
10. This puzzle is the hardest one in the book.
    • (hard → hardest)
11. They have the most beautiful garden in the neighborhood.
    • (beautiful → most beautiful)
12. This is the longest book I’ve read this year.
    • (long → longest)
13. She is the most talented artist in our group.
    • (talented → most talented)
14. This is the brightest star in the sky tonight.
    • (bright → brightest)
15. He is the wealthiest individual in the community.
    • (wealthy → wealthiest)

As you can see, these structures help us express the “most” or “least” of a quality when comparing several things.

List of Superlative Adjectives

Here is a table of 40 adjectives and their superlative forms:

Common Mistakes

When learning superlatives, beginners sometimes make a few common mistakes. Here are some things to watch out for:

1. Using “Most” with Short Adjectives

For one-syllable adjectives, you should add -est instead of using “most.”

• Incorrect: He is the most tall boy in the class.
• Correct: He is the tallest boy in the class.

2. Forgetting to Change “Y” to “I”

For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, don’t forget to change -y to -iest.

• Incorrect: She is the happyest person in the group.
• Correct: She is the happiest person in the group.

3. Not Using “Most” or “Least” with Longer Adjectives

For longer adjectives (two syllables or more), remember to use “most” or “least” instead of adding -est.

• Incorrect: This painting is the beautifulest.
• Correct: This painting is the most beautiful.

4. Mixing Up Irregular Forms

Some superlatives don’t follow the regular rules, so it’s important to memorize them.

• Incorrect: That was the goodest cake I’ve ever tasted.
• Correct: That was the best cake I’ve ever tasted.

Practice Activity

Now that you understand how to use superlatives, let’s practice! Fill in the blanks with the correct superlative form of the adjective in parentheses:

Summary

Here is the condensed table focusing only on the definition, form, examples, and common mistakes related to superlatives:

Conclusion

Superlatives are used to compare three or more things. They help us express the highest or lowest degree of a quality.

Remember, when forming superlatives, pay attention to the length of the adjective and whether it follows regular rules or is an irregular form.

More about Comparisons in Grammar.

Related Pages

• Grammar Exercise: Comparatives And Superlatives (1)
• Grammar Exercises: Comparatives or Superlatives (2)?
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• What Are Adjectives? (Definition, Usage, And Examples)
• Vocabulary Exercise: Base and Strong Adjectives (Very and Absolutely)
• Grammar Exercise: Use of Adjectives and Adverbs in English