2. SUPERLATIVES
In general, there are three ways to compare
nouns: the comparison of equality (as...as), the
comparison of inequality (more/less than), and the
superlative (the most/least). This reference
describes the last form of the comparisons,
superlatives, how to form it, and when to use it.
The superlative is used to say what thing, person,
or idea has the most of a particular quality within a
group or of its kind.
3. FORMING THE SUPERLATIVE
Form
Rule
Words of one syllable ending in
'e'.
Add -st to the end of the word.
For example
wide - widest
The Amazon River is the widest river in the world.
Words of one syllable, with one
vowel and one consonant at the
end.
Double the consonant and add est to the end of the word.
big - biggest
In 2010 a dog called Giant George was given the title of the biggest dog in the world.
Words of one syllable, with
more than one vowel or more
than one consonant at the end.
Add - est to the end of the word.
high - highest
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the word. (But it isn't the tallest mountain in the world.)
Words of two syllables, ending
in 'y'.
Change 'y' to 'i', and add -est to
the end of the word.
happy - happiest
In 2013 Australia was named the happiest country in the world.
Words of two syllables or more,
not ending in 'y'.
Place 'the most' before the
adjective.
beautiful - the most beautiful
Some people say that the Maldives have the most beautiful beaches in the world.
4. Don't forget that some
adjectives are irregular:
'good' becomes 'the best'
'bad' becomes 'the worst'
'far' becomes 'the furthest'
EXAMPLES
"Jill is the best student in
the class ."
"Jack is the worst student
in the class."
"In our solar system the
planet Pluto is the furthest
planet from the Sun."
5. ADJETIVES
Adjectives are words
that describe or modify
another person or thing
in the sentence. The
Articles — a, an, and
the — are adjectives.
the tall professor
the lugubrious
lieutenant
a solid commitment
a month's pay
a six-year-old child
the unhappiest, richest
man
6. Position of Adjectives
Degrees of Adjectives
Anyone capable of
doing something
horrible to someone
nice should be
punished.
Something wicked this
way comes.
Adjectives can express
degrees of
modification:
Gladys is a rich
woman, but Josie is
richer than Gladys, and
Sadie is the richest
woman in town.
