Superlative Adverbs

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Content Superlative Adverbs

Superlative Adverbs – Definition

Revision – Adverbs

Forming Superlatives – Regular Adverbs
Forming Superlatives – Irregular Adverbs
Superlative Adverbs – Summary

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Basics on the topic Superlative Adverbs

Superlative Adverbs – Definition

What is a superlative adverb? Superlatives are used for comparing. There are three forms we use for comparing. The positive, comparative and the superlative. Look at the chart below to see examples of these three forms of adverbs.

Form	Example
positive	long
comparative	longer
superlative	longest

Superlative adverbs always compare at least three actions or performances to one another.

Revision – Adverbs

Remember: Adverbs are words used to describe verbs. With adverbs, you can describe how something is done or in what manner something is done. You can find the adverb in a sentence by examining if the verb is described in more detail.

Subject	Verb	Adverb	Object
My brother	runs	slower	than my sister.

The adverb (slower) compares how fast the brother in the example can run compared to his sister.

Forming Superlatives – Regular Adverbs

How do we make the superlative form of an adverb? Now that we can define superlative adverbs, we will learn that there are many different ways to make the superlative form of an adverb. Let’s first look at how regular superlative adverbs are formed. A regular superlative adverb follows rules and patterns.

If an adverb ends with the suffix -ly, add least or most in front of the word. For example, the adverbs likely and evenly change to the superlative form by adding least or most in front, making them least likely and most evenly.

If an adverb does not have the suffix -ly, add -est to the end. For example, the adverbs long and high change to the superlative form by adding the suffix -est to the end, making them longest and highest.

Forming Superlatives – Irregular Adverbs

Irregular superlative adverbs don't follow any of these rules, so we need to memorize how to make each of these adverbs superlative!

For example, the superlative adverb of badly is worse.

Superlative Adverbs – Summary

What is superlative adverb?

Superlative adverbs are adverb forms which compare at least three actions or performances to one another. A regular superlative adverb follows rules and patterns. Irregular superlative adverbs don't follow any of these rules, so we need to memorize how to make each of these adverbs superlative.

So what is the superlative for the adverb fast? It is fastest, because the positive fast does not end on the syllable -ly.

Keep all this in mind the next time you want to describe verbs in a more detailed manner. Want some more practice with superlative adverbs? On this website you will find more interactive exercises with examples as well as worksheets, and other activities.

Transcript Superlative Adverbs

Superlative Adverbs. Bertha, Pip and Koko have decided to go head to head in the sequel to their favourite game: Biggest, Best, Hero Adventure! The score screen is using superlative adverbs to describe how they did! Let's take a closer look. An adverb describes an action by answering questions such as: how, when, where, how often and in what way. A superlative adverb compares three or more actions or performances to one another. Regular superlative adverbs follow rules and patterns. If an adverb ends with the suffix , add 'least' or 'most' in front. For example, the adverbs 'likely' and 'evenly' change to the superlative form by adding 'least' or 'most' in front, making them 'least likely' and 'most evenly'. The score screen says: Out of all the players, Koko is the least likely to complete the level first. By adding 'least' to make 'least likely', we are comparing when Koko will complete the level compared to the other players. It is common for superlative adverbs to have ‘the’ before them, but it is not always necessary. The score screen says: The power-ups were divided most evenly among the players. Here, we do not use 'the', and we are still able to compare how the power-ups were divided. Not all adverbs end in the suffix . If an adverb does not have the suffix , add to the end. For example, the adverbs 'long' and 'high' change to the superlative form by adding the suffix to the end, making them 'longest' and 'highest'. The score screen says: Pip collected the highest amount of coins in that level. By adding the suffix to make 'highest', we are able to compare the amount of coins Pip collected to the other players. Irregular superlative adverbs don't follow any of these rules, so we need to memorise how to make each of these adverbs superlative! In some cases, the superlative form makes the entire word different such as changing the adverb badly to worst and well to best. In other cases, some word parts remain similar, such as far to furthest or farthest, little to least and early to earliest. The score screen says: The player to get the golden key earliest was Bertha. By changing 'early' to 'earliest', we compare when Bertha got the golden key to the other players. Before they start the next level, let's summarise. Remember, a superlative adverb compares three or more actions or performances to one another. Regular superlative adverbs follow rules and patterns while irregular superlative adverbs don't follow any rules, so we need to memorise how to make each of these adverbs superlative! Looks like game time is over! Koko's Dad wants them to enjoy the sunshine! "Koko, your Dad was right, it is a beautiful day!"

Superlative Adverbs exercise

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

Determine if the adverbs are regular or irregular.
Hints

There is one regular and one irregular adverb in each sentence.

Solution
These examples are all irregular and need to be memorised:
- Worst is the superlative for badly.
- Furthest is the superlative of far.
- Best is the superlative of well.
- Earliest is the superlative of early.
Identify which sentences contain superlative adverbs.
Hints

Superlative adverbs compare 3 or more actions or performances.

Superlative adverbs say what something is like to a degree. For example, if you did very badly at a game you might feel like the worst player.

Sometimes, superlative adverbs follow the words most or least to compare one action to another.

Solution
- Sentence 1 uses superlative adverbs as it is comparing all three friends.
- Sentence 2 does not use superlative adverbs because it is only comparing two flavours.
- Sentence 3 does not use superlative adverbs because as it is just describing the dog, it uses an adjective.
- Sentence 4 uses superlative adverbs as it compares four members of a family.
Identify the adverbs in their superlative form.
Hints

Irregular adverbs don't follow the usual rules. For these exceptions, you need to memorise the superlative form.

Complete the sequence: good, better, ______.

Complete the sequence: bad, worse, _____.

Solution
- Irregular superlative adverbs need to be memorised.
- Regular adverbs: early, far.
- Irregular adverbs: well, badly, little, much.
Identify the correct and incorrect superlative adverbs.
Hints

Example:
Out of all the players, Koko is least likely to complete the level first.

Example:
Pip collected the highest amount of coins in the level.

In each sentence there is one mistake and one correct superlative adverb.

Solution
Incorrect answers:
- Least and most cannot be combined with the ending est to make a superlative form.
- Best, worst and most are already superlative, and cannot be combined with the ending est.
- When an adverb ends with the letter Y, such as with early, the y is changed to an i to create iest for the superlative form.
Determine which superlative adverbs are used with "most" and "least".

Hints

Adverbs that end with the suffix -est, such as easiest, do not use the words the most or the least to complete the superlative form.

Adverbs that end in ly, must have the words most or least before them to make superlative adverbs.

Solution

The adverbs likely and carefully both end in ly, and must have the words most or least before them. Fastest ends in 'est' and does not need most or least before it.
Write the adverbs below in their superlative form.