Superlatives

• General principles
• Irregular forms
  • Adjectives
  • Adverbs
• Related topics

General principles

When comparing two things one uses the comparative; however, for comparisons in larger groups, it is the superlative which must be used. The superlative designates extremes: the best, the first, the worst, the last, etc.

The superlative operates like the comparative, with these exceptions:

A. While the word "more" or the ending "--er" signals the comparative, it is the word "most" or the ending "--est" that designates the superlative. (See irregular forms, below):

• He is the most efficient worker we have.
• That is the poorest family in the neighborhood.

B. The compared term (adjective or adverb) will be preceded by the definite article:

• He works the fastest of any student I know.
• She is the tallest woman in town.

B. Unlike the comparative, the superlative is not followed by "than": instead, one uses "of," followed by the context of the comparison (although this context is sometimes implicit):

• It's the best day of my life!
• She works the best of the whole class.
• She's the one who arrived first.

Irregular forms

Adjectives

Monosyllabic adjectives (and several common two-syllable adjectives) take the ending "--est" in superlatives of superiority, and thus will not use the adverb "most." However, these same adjectives will use "less," like other adjectives, in superlatives of inferiority:

• young --> youngest
• tall --> tallest
• old --> oldest

  If the adjective ends in "--y" the "y" becomes "i":

• heavy --> heaviest
• early --> earliest
• busy --> busiest
• healthy --> healthiest
• chilly --> chilliest

  If the adjective ends in "--e" one adds only "--st" :

• wise --> wisest
• large --> largest
• simple --> simplest
• late --> latest

  If the adjective ends in "single vowel + consonant," the consonant is doubled and one adds "--est":

• red --> reddest
• big --> biggest
• thin --> thinnest
• hot --> hottest

  Some very common superlatives have irregular forms:

• good --> best
• bad --> worst
• far --> farthest

  Some adjectives exist only in superlative form:

• first
• last

Adverbs

Adverbs not ending in "--ly" do not use the adverb "--most" in the formation of superlatives of superiority, but use instead the ending "--est." However, these same adverbs will use "less," like other adverbs, in superlatives of inferiority:

• fast --> fastest
• hard --> hardest

And some adverbs have irregular forms:

• well --> best
• badly --> worst
• far --> farthest

Related topics

• Comparatives

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