SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVE

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.

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"


We also usually add 'the' at the beginning.

Short Adjective

1-syllable adjectives

2-syllable adjectives ending in -y


Normal rule add "-est"

Ex:
big > the biggest, old > the oldest, tall > the tallest
happy > the happiest

note:

if the adjective ends in -e, just add -st
if the adjective ends in consonant, vowel, consonant, double the last consonant
if the adjective ends in -y, change the y to i

Long adjectives

2-syllable adjectives not ending in -y

all adjectives of 3 or more syllables


Normal rule: use "most"


Ex :

beautyfull > the most beautyfull

expensive > the most expensive

We use a superlative adjective to describe one thing in a group of three or more things. Look at these examples:

• John is 1m75. David is 1m80. Chris is 1m85.
Chris is the tallest.
• Canada, China and Russia are big countries.
But Russia is the biggest.
• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.