SUPERLATIVES

A superlative adjective expresses the extreme or highest degree of a quality.

We use a superlative adjective to describe the extreme quality of one thing in a group of things.

We can use superlative adjectives when talking about three or morethings (not two things).

In the example below, "biggest" is the superlative form of the adjective "big":

Formation of Superlative Adjectives

As with comparative adjectives, there are two ways to form a superlative adjective:

• short adjectives: add "-est"
• long adjectives: use "most"

Grammatical form the superlative

Form	Rule	For example
Words of one syllable ending in 'e'.	Add -st to the end of the word.	wide - widest
The Amazon River is the widest river in the world.
Words of one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at the end.	Double the consonant and add -est to the end of the word.	big - biggest
In 2010 a dog called Giant George was given the title of the biggest dog in the world.
Words of one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant at the end.	Add - est to the end of the word.	high - highest
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the word. (But it isn't the tallest mountain in the world.)
Words of two syllables, ending in 'y'.	Change 'y' to 'i', and add -est to the end of the word.	happy - happiest
In 2013 Australia was named the happiest country in the world.
Words of two syllables or more, not ending in 'y'.	Place 'the most' before the adjective.	beautiful - the most beautiful
Some people say that the Maldives have the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Don't forget that some adjectives are irregular:-

• 'good' becomes 'the best'
• 'bad' becomes 'the worst'
• 'far' becomes 'the furthest'

Examples

Marcus is the tallest boy in the class.

This book is the longest one that I have ever read!

Joseph seems to be the most excited child at the party.

This is the best cake I have ever had!

The person with the shortest stick has to go first.

Do you think Lauren will be the fastest runner in the race?

Science is the most boring class that I take at school.

This is the worst day of my life!

Of all of the flavors of ice cream, I think I like pistachio the least.

I am going to buy my mom the prettiest flowers I can find.

Exercise

1. Who is the(tall) person in your family?
2. My mum is the(good) cook in the world.
3. December is the(cold) month of the year in my country.
4. What's the(dangerous) animal in the world?
5. Ethan is the (happy) boy that I know.
6. Where are the(nice) beaches in your country?
7. She bought the(big) cake in the shop.
8. Who is the(famous) singer in your country?