Superlative Adjectives

Have you ever wanted to describe something in a way that would be truly impressive and unique? Superlative adjectives allow us to do just that.

Adjectives are descriptive words used to modify nouns and pronouns. Comparisons using adjectives can help make descriptions more vivid and engaging. When we need to compare things even further, superlative adjectives come into play.

Superlative adjectives add emphasis to an already comparative description. Knowing when and how to use them correctly can make your writing stand out. In this article, we’ll look at the meaning of superlative adjectives, their conjugation, and how to use them for maximum impact.

What are superlative adjectives?

There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives. Superlative adjectives compare three or more groups, things, places, or people. It shows which among the subjects compared is the most or least of a certain quality.

For example, if you compare three skyscrapers in the world: Burj Khalifa, Shanghai Tower, and Lotte World Tower. You could express the superlative comparison as: “Burj Khalifa is the highest skyscraper in the world.”

Here are five sentences using superlative adjectives:

1. The Hells Canyon is the deepest in the United States.

2. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.

3. The Amazon Rainforest is the largest rainforest on Earth.

4. The Great Barrier Reef is the most extensive coral reef system.

5. Antarctica is the coldest continent on our planet.

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Positive Adjective vs. Comparative Adjective vs Superlative Adjective

The three degrees of comparison usually get confused by learners. Some use the superlative degree to compare two things. To avoid this mistake, refer to the table below defining the differences among the three degrees of comparison.

Point of ComparisonPositiveComparativeSuperlative
DefinitionUses the suffix “-er,” the determiner “more” and the preposition “than.”Compares two things or people in terms of a certain quality.Compares three or more nouns. It shows which among the subjects being compared is the most or least of a certain quality.
FormationDoesn’t have any suffixes. It stands on its own.– A truckload of steel is the heaviest among the rest.
– Among Jessy, Kat, and Pola, Pola is the most intelligent. She scored 93/100.
– I feel the worst this Wednesday. I had to go to the clinic.
Uses the suffix “-est,” and the determiner “most.”
Examples– The small box of nails is heavy.
– Jessy is intelligent. She scored 89/100 on the exam.
– I felt sick on Monday because of a cold.
– A cart full of stones is heavier than a small box of nails.
– Kat is more intelligent than Jessy. She scored 91/100.
– I felt worse on Tuesday than on Monday because of my body pain.
– A truckload of steel is the heaviest among the rest.
– Among Jessy, Kat and Pola, Pola is the most intelligent. She scored 93/100.
– I feel the worst this Wednesday. I had to go to the clinic.
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Comparison Table
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Superlative Adjective Rules

As observed in the examples above, superlative adjectives use the suffix “-est” or the word “most” to compare three or more things.

Here are some rules to remember when using superlative adjectives:

1. For one-syllable adjectives, add -est at the end of the word.

2. For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, replace -y with -iest.

Regular Adjectives

Regular adjectives follow the convention of converting positive adjectives into their superlative form. Study the table below for the rules for forming regular superlative adjectives.

RuleExamples
The suffix “-est” is added to most monosyllabic or one-syllable adjectives.mean – meanest; high – highest; quick – quickest; clean – cleanest; rich – richest; light – lightest; young – youngest; smart – smartest; loud – loudest; soft – softest
If the adjective ends in “y,” convert the final letter into “i” before adding “-est.”dry – driest; sly – sliest; early – earliest; heavy – heaviest; guilty – guiltiest; angry – angriest; crazy – craziest; dirty – dirtiest; bulky – bulkiest; wealthy – wealthiest
If a one-syllable adjective follows the spelling consonant-vowel-consonant, double the last letter before adding “-est.”big – biggest; hot – hottest; sad saddest; mad – maddest; red – reddest; fit – fittest; thin -thinnest; dim -dimmest; flat – flattest
Add “-est” at the end of two-syllable adjectives ending in “er,” “le,” and “ow.”clever – cleverest; tender – tenderest; bitter – bitterest; gentle – gentlest; idle – idlest; low – lowest; slow – slowest; narrow – narrowest
If the adjective ends with “e,” just add “-st.”cute – cutest; vile – vilest; safe – safest; pale – palest; pure – purest; strange – strangest; rude – rudest; lame – lamest
Other adjectives with two or more syllables uses the determiner “most” or “least” before it.least natural; most annoying; least expensive; least heartbreaking; most careless; most recent; most comprehensive; least beneficial; most accessible; most aloof
Regular Adjectives Rules Table

Regular Superlative Adjectives Used in Sentences

1. The Great Wall of China is the longest human-made structure in the world.

2. Leaving Time is the most moving novel I’ve ever read.

3. Benny is the least annoying among all my classmates.

4. The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world.

5. Peter is fifteen-year-old, Mike is ten, and Ken is six. Mike is the oldest of them all.

6. In 2022, Louis Vuitton was the most valuable luxury brand.

7. This year’s winter was the coldest in a decade.

8. If you’re looking for a great place to eat, try the most famous restaurant in town.

9. Quokka is the cutest animal in the world.

10. I was the angriest I had ever been when I heard the news about my friend.

11. This shop sells the flattest shoes I have ever seen.

12. November and December are the driest months of the year in Indonesia.

13. If you compare the internet speed of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Taiwan, Iceland has the fastest connection.

14. This insurance is the least beneficial for you.

15. Sherlock is the most intelligent detective I have ever seen in a movie.

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Irregular Adjectives

In contrast with regular adjectives, irregular adjectives do not follow the convention of converting positive adjectives into their superlative form. Instead, they have their own unique comparative forms.

Here are common adjectives with irregular form superlative degree conversion:

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
littlelessleast
bad / sick / evilworseworst
goodbetterbest
manymoremost
farfarther (physical distance)farthest (physical distance)
farfurther (figurative distance)furthest (figurative distance)
ininnerinnermost
outouteroutermost
Table of Irregular Adjectives in Superlative Degree

Irregular Superlative Adjectives Used in Sentences

1. Persimmon is my least favorite fruit.

2. I think this restaurant has the worst service in town.

3. The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it.

4. The Northern Lights are the most spectacular natural phenomenon I have ever seen.

5. She realized that 5 km was the farthest she could run.

6. Addressing the agricultural crisis is the furthest thing from the president’s mind.

7. As an introvert, it’s rare for him to share his innermost thoughts.

8. The core is the innermost layer of the earth. Meanwhile, the crust is its outermost layer.

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Superlative Adjectives Exercises with Answers

Convert the adjectives inside the parentheses in their superlative form to complete the sentences below.

1. Talc is the (soft) mineral in the world.

2. My (bad) nightmare is to forget an important meeting.

3. This dress is the (fashionable) piece I own.

4. Layla felt the (happy) when she got accepted to her dream school.

5. Today, sorting my books is the (less) of my priority.

6. The Atacama is the (dry) desert on Earth.

7. Mr. Wales requested his financial advisor to give him the (comprehensive) insurance.

8. Gian is my (loud) friend. He speaks gleefully every time we’re talking.

9. The teacher (far) explained the most complex concept in the lesson.

10. Her heart felt the (heavy) when she heard the news about her grandmother.

Answers:

1. Talc is the softest mineral in the world.

2. My worst nightmare is to forget an important meeting.

3. This dress is the most fashionable piece I own.

4. Layla felt the happiest when she got accepted to her dream school.

5. Today, sorting my books is the least of my priority.

6. The Atacama is the driest desert on Earth.

7. Mr. Wales requested his financial advisor to give him the most comprehensive insurance.

8. Gian is my loudest friend. He speaks gleefully every time we’re talking.

9. The teacher further explained the most complex concept in the lesson.

10. Her heart felt the heaviest when she heard the news about her grandmother.

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Superlative Adjectives List

Superlative Adjectives
proudestneediestmost sensationaloddeststrictest
deadliestkindestloveliestcrunchiestmost hilarious
soonestmost insensitivefriendliestbloodiestweirdest
most profitableworthiestlongestmost believablespiciest
humblesttoughestmost energeticbusiestgreatest
bluestmost adorablecruelestboldestmost impatient
Superlative Adjectives Table

Advice for ESL Students & English Language Learners

Adjectives are just one chunk under the English parts of speech. Exploring adjectives, especially superlative adjectives, can help you understand how to use them in sentences and conversations.

Since it doesn’t follow the same rules as regular adjectives, irregular adjectives pose a challenge for English language learners. Hence, memorizing irregular adjectives and their superlative forms helps you avoid using them incorrectly.

Learners acquire knowledge best when their learning process involves application and evaluation. Therefore, it is essential to include exercises and activities in your learning process. This will help you to understand the concept better and also remember it for a longer time. Additionally, it is important for learners to properly understand Irregular Comparison of Adjectives and Comparative Adjectives.

Common Mistakes Made by English Learners

Common MistakeWhy it HappensCorrection and Best PracticesExamples
Using the superlative degree to compare two thingsLearners sometimes compares two things using the superlative degree instead of the comparative.

This stems from not knowing how many nouns are being considered in making a comparison.
Remember this analogy to easily remember the difference of the degrees of adjectives:

Positive: one noun

Comparative: two nouns

Superlative: three or more nouns
Incorrect: Your shirt is dirtiest than mine.

Correct: Your shirt is dirtier than mine.

Use the comparative degree since there are two things being compared.

Incorrect: Your shirt is dirtier among the rest.

Correct: Your shirt is the dirtiest among everyone’s shirts in this room.

Since the subject’s shirt is being compared to a population, it is proper to use a superlative adjective.
Non-standard formation of comparative adjectivesFollowing the English grammar rules, combining “most” or “least” and an already conjugated superlative adjective is wrong.

Some learners use do this when speaking informal English.
Only use the determiner “most” when the adjective is not irregular and follows the other convention of converting regular adjectives.Incorrect: He is the most humblest person I know.

Correct: He is the humblest person I know.

Incorrect: She is the most prettiest girl in the world.

Correct: She is the prettiest girl in the world.
Table of Advice for Superlative Adjectives
Learn English Grammar Infographic

Comparative Adjective Frequently Asked Questions

Superlatives are adjectives that compare three or more nouns. They describe the highest (most) or lowest (least) degree of quality among a group of people, places, or things. Superlative adjectives are formed by adding the suffix “-est” to the end of an adjective.

The formula for forming a superlative adjective is “positive adjective” + “-est.” For example, the superlative form of the adjective “tall” is “tallest”. When an adjective ends in the letter “y,” change it to an “i” before adding -est. For example, the superlative form of the adjective “happy” is “happiest”.

Moreover, if the pattern of an adjective follows the consonant – vowel – consonant spelling, the final consonant is doubled before adding -est. For example, the superlative form of the adjective “big” is “biggest”. Lastly, adjectives with more than two syllables usually take the word “most” before them. For example, the superlative form of the adjective “beautiful” is “most beautiful.”

1. She is the most beautiful girl in the class.
2. He is the tallest boy in the school.
3. This is the hottest day of summer.
4. That was the funniest joke I’ve ever heard!
5. His painting was the most creative one in the competition.

“Little” is an adjective with an irregular superlative degree. The superlative form of “little” is “least.” Examples are the least expensive, least important, and least admirable.

Teaching superlative adjectives can be done in a few different ways. One way is to provide students with examples of sentences using superlative adjectives and have them identify the adjective and explain why it is used.

Another way is to have students create their own sentences using superlative adjectives.

Additionally, you can also use visuals such as pictures or graphs to help illustrate the concept of superlative adjectives. Finally, you can also have students play games such as charades or word puzzles to practice using superlative adjectives in sentences.

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