Superlative Adjectives

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Basics on the topic Superlative Adjectives

What are superlative adjectives? We can use superlative adjectives to compare characteristics between more than two nouns. Learn about the rules and patterns for superlative adjectives.

Transcript Superlative Adjectives

"And then you turned into a dinosaur and I woke up!" "That dream sounds very peculiar. Speaking of the toy store, I need to get some toys to match these superlative adjectives. Want to come!?" "Sure, but what's a superlative adjective?" Let's find out by learning about superlative adjectives. Adjectives are used to describe or modify a noun to help communicate a clearer picture. Superlative adjectives are used to compare characteristics between more than two nouns, highlighting their differences based on a shared characteristic. When using these, we follow rules and patterns. There are separate rules for adjectives with one, two and three syllables and we usually add 'the' to the beginning of regular superlative adjectives. For one-syllable adjectives, follow this rule. If the adjective has one syllable or one single unbroken sound, add the article ‘the’ and the suffix to the end. For example, Koko needs to compare the sizes of the stuffed animals using the adjective 'short'. Since 'short' has one syllable, it changes to the superlative form by adding 'the' and the suffix , making it 'the shortest'. If an adjective has one syllable and ends with an , add 'the' and the suffix So if Koko wants to compare the colour of the doll's dresses using 'blue', she can change it to the superlative form 'the bluest'. If an adjective has one syllable and ends with a single consonant with a single vowel before it, double the consonant and add 'the' and the suffix . For example, 'Koko found the fattest squishy.' For a two-syllable adjective, you can make it superlative by adding the words 'the most'. Koko found the most peaceful dinosaur.' If a two-syllable adjective ends with : add 'the', drop the , and add to the end. In the sentence, 'Koko is looking for the happiest toy.', happiest is the superlative form of happy. If a two-syllable adjective ends with , add 'the', and then drop the , and add to the end. For example, the superlative form of 'higher' is 'the highest'. If a two-syllable adjective ends with , add 'the' and then add to the end. The superlative form of 'gentle' is 'the gentlest'. If a two-syllable adjective ends with , add 'the' and then to the end. The superlative form of 'narrow' is 'the narrowest'. For adjectives with three syllables, we make them superlative by adding 'the most' before it. For example, 'Koko wants to find the most unfriendly robot.' However, there are some adjectives that don't follow any of these rules, we call these irregular superlative adjectives. That means we need to memorise how to make each of these superlative! Here are some examples: changing old to the oldest, bad to the worst, far to the furthest, little to the least, many to the most and good to the best. For example, 'Koko thinks this castle tent has the best design out of all the tents.' Before we see Koko's final choices, let's summarise! Superlative adjectives are used to compare characteristics between more than two nouns. Regular superlative adjectives follow rules and patterns based on the number of syllables while irregular superlative adjectives don't follow any rules, so we need to memorise how to make each of these superlative! "Finally, I'm ready to check out." "Hello, Koko." "Phew, that was peculiar!"

Superlative Adjectives exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learnt? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Superlative Adjectives.

Find the superlative adjectives.

Hints

We usually add "the" to the beginning of superlative adjectives.

Tom is the slowest snail in the race.
In this example, slowest is the superlative adjective.

Solution

The first sentence uses the superlative adjective "tastiest", it is the superlative form of the word "tasty". As tasty is a two-syllable adjective, we must add "the", drop the "y" add an "i" and the suffix "est". It therefore becomes "tastiest".
The second sentence uses the superlative adjective "most generous", it is the superlative form of the word generous. As this adjective has more than three syllables, we make them superlative by adding "the most" before it.
The third sentence uses the superlative adjective "fastest". It is the superlative form of the word "fast". Since "fast" has one syllable, it changes to the superlative form by adding "the" and the suffix "est", making it "the fastest".
Irregular adjectives and their superlative form.
Hints

An irregular adjective is an adjective whose superlative forms is not created by simply adding "-est" to the base form. Often you have to memorise them.

On this list we can see some irregular superlative adjectives.

Solution
1. Bobby had just woken up from the worst (bad) nightmare he had ever had!
1. Amal really wanted the most (much) expensive set of building blocks in the shop.
1. Carla was fascinated by the fireworks, it was the best (good) display she had ever seen!
The superlative adjectives "worst" and "best" are irregular and do not follow the rule where we must add the suffix "est". Don't forget, "worstest" and "bestest" are not actually real words!
Rules for using superlative adjectives.
Hints

One-syllable words have an 'unbroken' sound, for example: small, short, long and high.

Two-syllable words have two definite sounds, for example: tasty, happy and fluffy. Three-syllable words have three definite sounds, for example the word "important".

For adjectives that have one syllable and end with a single consonant with a single vowel before it, such as the word "fat", we must remember to double the consonant. Consonants are the letters of the alphabet that aren't a vowel (a, e, i, o or u). Therefore, add "the" then double the "t" and add "est" to make "fattest".

Solution
- If the adjective has one syllable, such as "short"... it changes to the superlative form by adding "the" and the suffix "est".
- If the adjective has one syllable, and ends with a single consonant with a single vowel before it...double the consonant, add "the" before it, and add "est" to the end. For example, '"fat" becomes "fattest".
- If the adjective has one syllable and ends with an "e" add... "the" and "st". For example, "blue" becomes "bluest".
- If the adjective has two syllables, and ends in a "y" such as "tasty" we must... add "the", drop the "y" add an "i" and the suffix "est".
- If the adjective has more than three syllables, such as "beautiful", we make them superlative by adding... the most before it.
- Irregular adjectives don't always follow these rules so... we must memorise them.
Some examples of irregular superlative adjectives are: best, worst, least, and most. In these cases, we have to memorise their irregular forms.
Complete the sentences using the superlative form.

Hints

Study the word bank carefully and use the adjectives in the brackets to help you choose the most suitable superlative form.

If an adjective has two syllables and ends with a "y", such as "pretty", we add "the" before it, remove the "y" add an "i" and the suffix "est".

The superlative form of good is an irregular superlative adjective.

Solution

The little girl's eyes shone with joy: it was the biggest (big) toy shop she had ever seen! She scanned the shelves, looking for the best (good) toy. The young girl spotted a doll, its dress was glittery and pink - the prettiest (pretty) in the shop! But she kept looking.
A giraffe caught her eye, it was hard not to miss: the largest (large) toy in the shop! It must have been the same size as her, or perhaps even taller. However, it was also the most expensive (expensive) toy and the little girl only had a small amount of money. She kept looking.
Finally she found it - the cutest (cute), softest (soft) and fluffiest (fluffy) toy of them all! A small grey rabbit with a pink button nose and the longest (long) bunny ears she had ever seen! She was sold.
Regular adjectives and their superlative form.
Hints

Remember, when a one syllable adjective ends in "y", we remove the "y" add an "i" and "est". The word "busy" is an example of an adjective that follows this rule!

A superlative adjective doesn't end in "er" because that would be a comparative adjective!

Solution
- busy - the busiest
- long - the longest
- happy - the happiest
- short - the shortest
The adjective busy matches to the busiest which is its superlative form. Similarly, the adjective happy matches to the happiest. In both of these cases, we add "the", then remove the "y", add an "i" and then the suffix "est".
The longest is the superlative form of the adjective long. Since "long" has only one syllable, we add "the" and then the suffix "est" to the end. Similarly, the shortest is the superlative form of short.
Can you spot the regular and irregular adjectives?

Hints

An irregular adjective is an adjective whose superlative forms is not created by simply adding "-est" to the base form. Often you have to memorise them. For example, "bad" becomes "the worst".

A regular adjective is an adjective that becomes its superlative form by adding "-est" to the base form of the adjective.

Solution

An irregular adjective is an adjective whose superlative forms is not created by simply adding "-er" or "-est" to the base form. Often you have to memorise them. These adjectives follow this rule: good (the best), far (the farthest), bad (the worst), little (the least) and many (the most).
A regular adjective is an adjective that becomes its superlative form by adding "-er" and "-est" to the base form of the adjective. These adjectives follow this rule: pretty (prettiest), cute (cutest), happy (happiest), tall (tallest), long (longest), big (biggest).