Superlatives

Superlatives

1. A superlative is the form of an adjective or an adverb used to compare three or more things.

   • Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.
     • Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).
       • -My house is the largest one in our neighborhood. -This is the smallest box I've ever seen. -Your dog was the fastest of any dog in the race.
         • Remember, we don't use 'the' when there is a possessive:
           • -He's my best student. -That's our most important goal.
         • It's possible to drop 'the' when the adjective is used later in the sentence, rather than directly before the noun. We can choose either 'the' or 'no article', with no change in meaning:
           • -She is (the) most beautiful. -This café is (the) best.
         • One syllable adjectives
           • Add -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.
             • happiest simplest busiest most tilted most tangled
         • Two syllables
           • These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceeding the adjective with most.
             • Happiest Simplest Busiest most tilted most tangled
         • Three or more syllables
           • Adjectives with three or more syllables form the superlative by putting most in front.
             • most important most expensive