Lesson 40 · Stage 3: Plans, requests & comparing
Superlatives
BeginnerForm & use
the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group
1.Form
The superlative picks out the top (or bottom) of a group of three or more. Short adjectives: the + -est; long adjectives: the most + adjective. The spelling rules are the same as for comparatives (see “Comparatives”).
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| cheap | cheaper | the cheapest |
| nice | nicer | the nicest |
| big | bigger | the biggest |
| busy | busier | the busiest |
| expensive | more expensive | the most expensive |
| good / well | better | the best |
| bad / badly | worse | the worst |
| far | farther / further | the farthest / the furthest |
Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam.
This is the most expensive restaurant on this street.
Remember the: the tallest, the best — learners often leave it out. And, as with comparatives, choose one: -est or most, not both (not the most tallest).
2.When to use it
1. The top of a group (three or more)
Sunday is the busiest day of the week at our café.
Who's the youngest in your family?
2. The bottom: the least + adjective
Walking is the least expensive way to get around.
3. One of the best: one of the + superlative + plural noun
Hoi An is one of the most beautiful towns in Vietnam.
She's one of the best students in the class.
4. Second, third…: the second / the third + superlative
Who got the second highest score in the class?
5. With a possessive, drop the: my, your, Minh's… + superlative
Nga is my oldest friend.
This is Minh's best score so far.
3.Comparative or superlative?
| Comparative | Superlative | |
|---|---|---|
| Use it for | two things | three or more, or a whole group |
| Pattern | -er / more … than | the -est / the most … (in / of) |
| Example | Lan is taller than her mother. | Lan is the tallest of the three sisters. |
When there are only two, careful writing uses the + comparative + of the two (the taller of the two); in speech many people still use the superlative. Oldest works for anything; eldest is only for people in a family (my eldest son), and oldest is fine there too.
This hotel is cheaper than that one, but the hostel is the cheapest.
My eldest brother lives in Da Nang.
4.After a superlative: in, of, ever
A superlative is often followed by words that say “the top of what”: in + a place or group, of + a number or a period of time, or a clause with ever (present perfect). For the details, see “Superlative + ever / in / of”.
Minh is the tallest boy in the class.
This is the cheapest of the three phones.
That's the funniest joke I've ever heard.
5.Common mistakes
He is the most tallest boy in the class.He is the tallest boy in the class.
It already has -est, so no most.
Minh is best player on our team.Minh is the best player on our team.
The superlative needs the.
This is the more beautiful beach I've ever seen.This is the most beautiful beach I've ever seen.
Superlative → most, not more.
Da Nang is one of the cleanest city in Vietnam.Da Nang is one of the cleanest cities in Vietnam.
After one of the, use a plural noun.
This is the most cheap hotel in the area.This is the cheapest hotel in the area.
Short adjectives take -est.
Nam is the taller boy in our class.Nam is the tallest boy in our class.
A class has more than two people → superlative.
Examples
- Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam.
- This is the hottest day of the year so far.
- This is the easiest way to get to the airport.
- Ben is the fastest runner in our school.
