How to form superlative adjectives

Superlative Adjectives

THE + SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVE + NOUN

One and two syllables

• General rule: add -est

Adjective	Superlative
tall	the tallest
long	the longest

Examples:

1. Sarah is the tallest girl in our classroom.
2. Titanic is the longest movie I have ever seen.

• If the adjective ends in e, add -st

Adjective	Superlative
nice	the nicest
large	the largest

Examples:

1. Martha is the nicest person I know.
2. Brazil is the largest country in South America.

• If the adjective ends in CVC (consonant + single vowel + consonant), we double the final consonant and add -est

Adjective	Superlative
big	the biggest
sad	the saddest

Examples:

1. What is the biggest animal in the world?
2. “Tears in heaven” is the saddest song I can remember.

• If the adjective ends in consonant + y, change the y to an i and add -est

Adjective	Superlative
happy	the happiest
busy	the busiest

Examples:

1. My wedding day was the happiest day of my life!
2. Johnny is the busiest person at the office.

Two and three or more syllables

• Put most in front of the adjective

Adjective	Superlative
beautiful	the most beautiful
perfect	the most perfect
expensive	the most expensive

Examples:

1. My daughter is the most beautiful baby ever.
2. That’s the most perfect artwork I have seen.
3. We can’t fly first class. Those are the most expensive tickets.

List of two-syllable adjectives you can either add -est or put most in front

• common
• narrow
• cruel
• pleasant
• gentle
• polite
• handsome
• simple
• likely
• stupid

Examples:

1. This is the most simple way to explain the exercise.
2. This is the simplest way to explain the exercise.
3. Let’s ask Martin to speak to the principal. He is the most polite person here.
4. Let’s ask Martin to speak to the principal. He is the politest person here.

Irregular superlatives

Adjective	Superlative
bad	the worst
far	the farthest / the furthest
good	the best
little	the least
much	the most

Examples:

1. My grandma bakes the best cookies.
2. Nothing works! This is the worst system I’ve ever worked with!