Superlative adjectives are describing words that have the highest or least quality. They compare or more things.
Let’s watch this video to have a general idea about Superlatives.
In this lesson, you will learn what the superlative form is and how to use it.
Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify. Take a look at the following table to review this form.
Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify. Take a look at the following table to review this form.
When we have short or one syllable adjectives ending in a consonant we usually only ad ¨er¨ here are some examples.
Adjective |
Comparative |
|---|---|
Big |
Bigger |
Small |
Smaller |
Tall |
Taller |
When we have adjectives ending in ¨e¨ we only add ¨r¨
Adjective |
Comparative |
|---|---|
Nice |
Nicer |
Cute |
Cuter |
Large |
Larger |
When we have adjectives ending in ¨y¨ we omit the ¨y¨ and we add ¨iest ¨
Adjective |
Comparative |
|---|---|
Angry |
Angrier |
Healthy |
Healthier |
Friendly |
Friendlier |
When we have adjectives that are consider large or with 2 syllables or more we keep the adjective in simple form and only add ¨more¨ look at the following table.
All these adjectives when comparing are used along with the word ¨than¨
Look at the following examples.
I am older than my sister.
She is more beautiful than Angelica.
FFerrari is faster than Volkswagen.
Tania is shorter than Gabriela.
Adjective |
Comparative |
|---|---|
Intelligent |
More intelligent |
Handsome |
More handsome |
Beautiful |
More beautiful |
Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of quality. We used this structure to stand out a noun as the top of a particular group of other nouns.
Like the comparative structure we have to change the adjectives base form in the superlative form by following specific rules, take a look:
When we have short or one syllable adjectives ending in a consonant we usually only ad ¨est¨ here are some examples.
Adjective |
Superlative |
|---|---|
Big |
The biggest |
Small |
The smallest |
Tall |
The tallest |
When we have adjectives endind in ¨e¨ we only add ¨st¨
Adjective |
Comparative |
|---|---|
Nice |
The nicest |
Cute |
The cutest |
Large |
The largest |
When we have adjectives ending in ¨y¨ we omit the ¨y¨ and we add ¨iest¨
Adjective |
Comparative |
|---|---|
Angry |
The angriest |
Healthy |
The healthiest |
Friendly |
The friendliest |
When we have adjectives that are consider large or with 2 syllables or more we keep the adjective in simple form and only add ¨the most¨ look at the following table.
Adjective |
Comparative |
|---|---|
Intelligent |
The most intelligent |
Handsome |
The most handsome |
Beautiful |
The most beautiful |
When using this type of adjectives, we need to make sure that we always compare in a group and that we never forget to include the word ¨the¨ after the adjective.
Look at the following examples:
Jordan is the most talented player in history.
Checo Perez is the fastest driver.
Pumas is the best soccer team.
UNAM is the most amazing university in Latin America.
We can also use the superlatives to express the lowest quality of things. It is the opposite of ¨the most¨, to express this form we need to use ¨the least¨
Look at the following examples in both forms.
McDonalds is the most popular restaurant.
Nike is one of the most expensive brands.
Panam shoes are the least expensive ones.
Sansui is the least popular television.
I hope that all this information can help you with the tasks ahead. If you have any doubts, you can always come back to this section and double check the info.
Let’s start practising!
Activity 1
Do you have a favourite athlete? Do you consider anyone to be the fastest, the most talented or the strongest?
Now you are going to read an anecdote from a person that went to the Olympics. Read and pay close attention to the way he describes everything.
First, scan the text, write down all the words you do not understand and look them up in an English-English dictionary, here are some options:
a. Cambridge Dictionary.
b. Longman Dictionary.
c. Macmillan Dictionary.
Swipe left or right
I have always wanted to go to the top sports competitions in the world and the only way I could achieve it was by going to the Olympics. Last year, I finally had the chance, since the Olympics happened in my hometown, that is right, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil, we have the best soccer players, and we are also the most dominant soccer team without a doubt. It is always good to watch some of the most talented athletes leave everything on the battlefield.
I tried to go to the most popular and most promoted events. I went to all the soccer matches off course. I also attended the track and field races, the diving competition and the gymnastics events, too.
At the soccer matches, I was able to see the most famous soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo. He is one of the most well-paid athletes in the world.
Clker-Free-Vector-Images. (2012). Fútbol. Retrieved 27/04/17 from https://pixabay.com/es/f%C3%BAtbol-deportes-hombre-guy-34248/
OpenClipart-Vectors. (2013). Baloncesto. Retrieved 27/04/17 from https://pixabay.com/es/baloncesto-mate-nba-jugador-147657/
Angelo_Giordano. (2009). Deporte. Retrieved from 27/04/17 de https://pixabay.com/es/deporte-nataci%C3%B3n-sincronizado-630234/
AlessandroSquassoni. (2016). Gimnasta. Restrieved 27/04/17 from https://pixabay.com/es/gimnasta-gimnasia-gimnasia-r%C3%ADtmica-1958324/
OpenClipart-Vectors. (2013). Deportes. Retrieved 27/04/17 from https://pixabay.com/es/deportes-atletismo-collage-b%C3%A9isbol-150518/
I was also lucky enough to witness the human bullet: Usain Bolt. He is the fastest runner in the world. He was the most acclaimed runner after winning by a complete body in one of the races.
I went to the diving competitions too. In my opinion, it has to be one of the most difficult and most precise disciplines in the world. The best divers seem to be from the USA. They currently have won 135 medals in diving, 49 of them are gold medals.
Finally, I went to the gymnastics competitions. I decided to watch them because I admire how dedicated the gymnasts are. They have to be the most dedicated to their discipline, and the hardest training athletes ever. That is the main reason I like this category of competition.
I hope that you can one day have this same experience, too. By the way, The USA also won the medal count in gymnastics. The USA was the most dominant country I suppose.
Now you will have a chance to check your reading skills in the following tasks.
Activity 2
Do you ever argue with your friends on who is the best athlete? Who is the best for you?
Now listen to a couple of friends argue on who they think is the best soccer player. Choose the correct answer. You can play the audio three times only.
Now decide if the following statements are True (T) or False (F) by choosing the appropriate option. You can know your score at the end of the exercise.
Great job! Make sure to keep working like this. I am sure you will successfully finish all the tasks.
Activity 3
So far, we have been working on the sports theme. Imagine you are a sports journalist. What do you say if you have to compare two soccer players, and describe their best and worst characteristics?
In a short text of 60 to 80 words include the following features:
Once you have finished writing your comparison, evaluate it using the following checklist. After that, look for your score on the“Results chart” and discover how well you use comparative and superlatives adjectives.
Example:
Chicharito vs Rafa Marquez
Javier Hernández Balcazar is also known as Chicharito Hernández. He is one of the most famous football players nowadays. He is young, rich handsome and popular among children and the ladies. On the other hand, Rafael Marquez is experienced, mature, handsome too, but he has been linked to mafia recently, so he is not that popular anymore. Chicharito is shorter than Rafa, but he is not as fast as Rafa. He has been in a lot more matches than Chicharito. However, Rafa has been dismissed in certain matches due to his…
Activity 4
Now it is time for you to talk a bit.
Imagine you are a reporter working for Sports of the world TV show. You are covering the Olympic games and have to report on the best performances in the games so far. The elements that you have to mention in your commentary are:
After you finished, evaluate yourself according to the following checklist. Don’t forget to use the structures reviewed on this topic. After that, based on your score, look at the evaluation scale scale to know how well you did on this task.
When you can read it without stuttering, with right pauses and clear voice, record yourself. Compare the intonation and pronunciation to the original recording.
Superlatives. As checked out in the previous tasks, the superlative structure is used to describe in the highest degree. Now you will test your knowledge by answering some questions. If you have any problems, you can return to the grammar section.
The self-assessment will be evaluated you based on your answers.
Please read carefully and choose the best option. Once the exercise is graded, you will get feedback.
(n/d). Englisg Grammar Online. Retrieved 25/04/17 from https://www.ego4u.comm
(2017). English Grammar. Retrieved 25/04/17 from https://www.englishgrammar.org
British Council. (n/d). Learn English. Retrieved 25/04/17 from https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/es