Superlatives — Forming the -est and the Most
Practice forming superlative adjectives: the -est ending for short adjectives, the most for long ones, and the 'the' that both patterns require.
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She is the ___ member of the team.
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youngest
'The' plus 'of the team' signals a superlative: one-syllable adjectives take -est.
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This is ___ book in the whole library.
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the oldest
A superlative needs 'the': 'the oldest'. 'The older' would compare just two books.
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She's the ___ swimmer in the club.
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fastest
'Fast' is one syllable, so the superlative is 'the fastest'.
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She is ___ smartest person in the room.
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the
Superlatives always take 'the'.
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Today is the ___ day of the year.
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shortest
'Of the year' signals a superlative: 'the shortest'.
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What's the ___ way to learn a language?
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best
'Good' is irregular: 'better' → 'the best'. Here the superlative is needed.
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Of all the desserts, the chocolate cake was ___.
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the sweetest
'Of all the desserts' signals a superlative, and a superlative adjective takes 'the'.
Forming the Superlative
The superlative picks out one member of a group as the extreme: the tallest, the best, the most difficult. Two things have to be right at once — the ending or the word most, chosen by the length of the adjective, and the article the, which both patterns require. Learners who have just drilled the comparative often drop the article, because a comparative takes none.
Short Adjectives: the -est
Today is the hottest day of the year. (double the final consonant)
She is the friendliest member of the team. (-y → -iest)
Long Adjectives: the most
What's the most effective way to learn a language?
The Article Is Not Optional
Every superlative carries the, whichever pattern it uses.
Of all the desserts, the chocolate cake was the best.
Irregular Superlatives
Good and bad keep their own forms — the best and the worst — and never take -est or most.
Common Mistakes
✗ This is the interestingest book. → ✓ This is the most interesting book.
✗ Today is the hotest day of the year. → ✓ Today is the hottest day of the year.
✗ That was the most bad film. → ✓ That was the worst film.
The prepositions that follow a superlative — in the class but of all the students — are practised in Superlatives and Irregular Comparison.
Last updated: · Satori Editorial