How do I use superlative adjectives in sentences? #EnglishHelp

Have you ever found yourself making a comparison but you're not sure if it sounds right?

Big? Bigger? The most big?

Luckily, most adjectives follow a few simple rules to turn them into superlative adjectives. Reviewing some superlative examples will help you understand these rules!

It will be useful to review comparative adjectives before you learn the rules to form superlative adjectives.

Comparative adjectives compare the traits of a person or thing with another person or thing.

Use "than"when you want to compare one thing with another.

Comparative Examples:

Laura is taller than Jules.

Jules is shorter than Laura.

She looks happier than before.

It's hotter today than yesterday.

Superlative adjectives also make comparisons. However, they show how something or someone is different from all others. Use them when comparing the traits of three or more people or things.

When forming superlatives, don’t use the word "than".

However, you do use the article "the" before the superlative adjective.

Superlative Examples:

Laura is the tallest girl. 

Sasha is the shortest girl.

Elephants are the largest land animals.

Chocolate cake is the best dessert.

Knowing syllable types will help when forming superlative adjectives. So, let’s quickly review what syllables are.

• Words are broken into sound parts. All words are made of syllables.

• Syllables are the smaller sounds that make up words, and all syllables must have a vowel.

• Words can have 1, 2, 3, or more syllables.

Check out this quick clip to review syllables:

Video from Miacademy Learning Channel

Luckily, there are a few general rules to help you form superlative adjectives in English.

One-Syllable Adjectives

• Add the suffix “-est”.

• Superlative examples: “fast” becomes “the fastest” and "big" becomes "the biggest"

Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in "y"

• Chop the "y" and add the suffix “-iest”.

• Superlative examples: “angry” becomes “the angriest” and "yummy" becomes "the yummiest"

Two-Syllable Adjectives NOT Ending in "y"

• Add "the most" before the adjective

• Superlative examples: “charming” becomes “the most charming” and "purple" becomes "the most purple"

Three or More Syllable Adjectives

• Add "the most" before the adjective

• Superlative examples: “dangerous” becomes “the most dangerous” and "colorful" becomes "the most colorful"

For the most part, you can follow the four rules mentioned above. However, there are some adjectives that are irregular and don't follow the rules.

Here are a few of the most common irregular superlatives:

Good

• The superlative form of "good" is "the best".

• Superlative example: Today is the best day I've had in a long time.

Bad

• The superlative form of "bad" is "the worst".

• Superlative example: Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.

Little

• The superlative form of "little" is "the least".

• Superlative example: This is the least exercise I've done in a long time.

Much

• The superlative form of "much" is "the most".

• Superlative example: These are the most books I've read in my life.

People often worry about making mistakes when learning a language, but mistakes are an important part of learning!

However, here are two common mistakes people make when forming superlative adjectives:

Mistake #1: Comparing Two Things

One common mistake people make when forming superlative adjectives is to use them to compare two things: "This is the funniest movie than that one!" ❌

This sentence is incorrect because it uses the superlative form to compare only two things.

The correct sentence should be: "This movie is funnier than that one!" ✅

Mistake #2: Doubling Superlatives

Another common mistake people make when forming superlative adjectives is to use two superlatives together: "That was the most funniest movie I have ever seen!" ❌

This sentence is incorrect because it is repetitive to use two superlatives together.

The correct sentence should be: "That was the funniest movie I have ever seen!" ✅

Superlative adjectives are useful in everyday conversations. It's time to practice superlative examples in your life!