Superlative Adjectives

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

A superlative adjective expresses the highest degree of quality. They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects. We also usually add ‘the’ before the superlative adjective.

Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).

There are two ways to form a superlative adjective.

Short Adjectives Superlative

• If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding -est.

tall → tallest

Mark is the tallest student in the class.
big → biggest

The monster truck is the biggest car I have ever seen.
fast → fastest

Your horse is the fastest in the race.

old → oldest

I am the oldest in this class.

• For adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i before adding the -est.

lucky → luckiest

I am the luckiest man alive.
tidy → tidiest

My bedroom is the tidiest room in the house.
happy → happiest

You make me the happiest person in the world.

• If the adjective ends in -e, just add -st.

late → the latest

She arrived the latest.
large → the largest

I caught the largest fish I have ever seen.
strange → the strangest

I had the strangest dream last night.

Long Adjectives Superlative

Adjectives with three or more syllables form the superlative by putting “most” in front.

• 2-syllable adjectives not ending in -y

modern → most modern

I bought the most modern house in the neighborhood.
pleasant → most pleasant

This perfume has the most pleasant smell

• All adjectives of 3 or more syllables, add “most” before the adjective.

expensive → most expensive

She got the most expensive mobile phone.
intelligent → most intelligent

She is the most intelligent in her class.

• The following adjectives are exception to the previously mentioned rules because they have irregular forms.

less → the least

I got the least number of mistakes in the exam.
good → the best

I have the best mother in the world.
bad → the worst

The worst food I’ve ever tried is fried insects.
far → the farthest/furthest

This is the furthest I can go. I am exhausted.
much/many → the most

She has the most number of friends.