Superlative Adjectives

Compare three or more people, places, or things

Level 2 — Grammar

What is a superlative adjective?

Last class: a comparative compares two things. Today: a superlative adjective picks the number one in a group of three or more.

Pattern: A + is + the + adjective-est + in / of + group
Pattern: A + is + the most + adjective + in / of + group

Bus 33 is the slowest bus in the city.

Today is the wettest day of the year.

Rome is the most beautiful city in Italy.

Watch out: A superlative always has the in front. NOT Rome is most beautiful city. After the superlative, say the group: in the city, of the year, in my family.

Step 1 — Count the syllables (again!)

Same first step as comparatives. Clap the beats. The number of syllables tells you the rule.

Syllables	Rule	Example
1 syllable	the + adjective + -est	old → the oldest
1 syllable, ends in -e	the + adjective + -st	large → the largest
1 syllable, consonant-vowel-consonant	the + double the last letter + -est	wet → the wettest
2 syllables, ends in -y	the + change y → i + -est	easy → the easiest
2 syllables, no -y	the most + adjective	cheerful → the most cheerful
3 or more syllables	the most + adjective	beautiful → the most beautiful
irregular	new word	good → the best, bad → the worst

Comparative -er → superlative -est. Comparative more → superlative the most. Same syllable rules, new ending.

Rule 1 — One syllable: the + -est

1 syllable: the + adjective + -est
fast → the fastest · cool → the coolest

The cheetah is the fastest animal in the world.

Two spelling changes — the same as comparatives

Ends in -e: add only -st → safe → the safest, close → the closest
Consonant-vowel-consonant: double the last letter + -est → wet → the wettest, fit → the fittest

Quick check: w-e-t = consonant, vowel, consonant → double the t: the wettest. But cool → the coolest (two vowels, no double). And never double w, x, or y: slow → the slowest.

Rule 2 — Two syllables ending in -y: the + y → i + -est

2 syllables, ends in -y: the + change y to i, then add -est
lucky → the luckiest · easy → the easiest · hungry → the hungriest

Maria is the luckiest person in the office.

This is the easiest exercise in the book.

Say it: luck-y → luck-i-est. Three beats now. Only the spelling of the y changes.

Rule 3 — Long adjectives: the most + adjective

2 syllables with no -y, or 3 or more syllables: the most + adjective
careful → the most careful · famous → the most famous · beautiful → the most beautiful

A nurse is the most careful person in the hospital.

Hollywood is the most famous neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Irregular adjectives — learn them

good → better → the best · bad → worse → the worst

Watch out: Use -est OR the most. Never both. NOT the most fastest. NOT the most luckiest.

Exercise 1 — Choose the form

Count the syllables. Click the correct superlative.

1. Who is the ____ person in your family? (young)

2. My cat Max eats all day. He is the ____ cat on our street. (fat)

3. Which beans are the ____? (cheap)

4. Monday is my ____ day. (busy)

5. That was the ____ game I ever saw! (exciting)

6. Which dog is the ____? (ugly)

7. Of all the rivers in South America, the Amazon is the ____. (wide)

8. Drive slowly! This road is the ____ of all. (dangerous)

Exercise 2 — Make the superlative

Say the superlative form with the. Then click to check.

1. deep → ?

the deepest — 1 syllable: the + -est.

2. crazy → ?

the craziest — cra-zy: 2 syllables, ends in -y: y → i + -est.

3. serious → ?

the most serious — se-ri-ous: 3 syllables: the most + adjective.

4. slim → ?

the slimmest — s-l-i-m ends in consonant-vowel-consonant: double the m + -est.

5. nice → ?

the nicest — ends in -e: add only -st.

6. sleepy → ?

the sleepiest — sleep-y: 2 syllables, ends in -y: y → i + -est.

7. peaceful → ?

the most peaceful — peace-ful: 2 syllables, no -y: the most + adjective.

8. sweet → ?

the sweetest — 1 syllable: the + -est. Two vowels (e-e), no double letter.

Exercise 3 — Find the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Say the correct sentence. Then click to check.

1. The most quickest way to school is the bus.

The quickest way to school is the bus. — -est OR the most, never both.

2. Who has the noisyest baby?

Who has the noisiest baby? — ends in -y: y → i + -est.

3. I read the interestingest book last week.

I read the most interesting book last week. — in-ter-est-ing: 4 syllables: the most + adjective.

4. Saturday night was most romantic night of my life.

Saturday night was the most romantic night of my life. — a superlative always has the.

5. Mia is the prettiest than all her sisters.

Mia is the prettiest of all her sisters. — a superlative takes of / in, never than.

6. Ben looks the sadest in the photo.

Ben looks the saddest in the photo. — s-a-d: consonant-vowel-consonant: double the d + -est.

Exercise 4 — Talk about you

Make a true sentence about YOU with the + superlative. Then click for an example.

1. (heavy) the thing in your bag

The heaviest thing in my bag is my laptop.

2. (early) the time you wake up

The earliest I wake up is 5:00 a.m.

3. (delicious) the food your mother makes

The most delicious food my mother makes is tamales.

4. (kind) a teacher you had

The kindest teacher I had was Mrs. Gómez.

5. (crowded) a place in your city

The most crowded place in my city is the mall.

6. (scary) a movie you saw

The scariest movie I saw was Jaws.

Summary — Superlative Adjectives

Remember	Example
Three or more things. Always the. Then the group: in / of.	Bus 33 is the slowest bus in the city.
1 syllable → the + -est (double the letter after consonant-vowel-consonant)	old → the oldest, wet → the wettest
2 syllables, ends in -y → the + -iest	easy → the easiest
2 syllables no -y, 3+ syllables → the most	cheerful → the most cheerful
Irregular	good → the best, bad → the worst
Never -est AND most together	NOT the most oldest

Next class: comparatives and superlatives together — which one do you need?