SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES By: María Dickson.
When do we use superlatives?
To describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality
They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.
Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + the rest Sarah is the tallest of this class
Formation
REGULAR ADJECTIVES
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES
There are two ways to form a REGULAR superlative adjective:
Short adjectives: add "-est“
Long adjectives: use "most"
SHORT ADJECTIVES 1-syllable adjectives
Fast, cold
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y
Tidy, happy
RULE: add "-est"
cold → the coldest
Variation: if the adjective ends in -e, just add -st
late → the latest
Variation: if the adjective ends in consonant, vowel, consonant double the last consonant
big → the biggest
Variation: if the adjective ends in –y change the y to i
happy → the happiest
LONG ADJECTIVES 2-syllable adjectives not ending in -y
Modern, famous
all adjectives of 3 or more syllables
Exciting, dificult
RULE: use "most“ + use “least” -
exciting → the most exiting difficult → the most difficult
With some 2-syllable adjectives, we can use "-est" OR "most": quiet → the quietest/most quiet clever → the cleverest/most clever narrow → the narrowest/most narrow simple → the simplest/most simple
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES
good → the best
bad → the worst
far → the farthest/furthest