SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

Al is tall, Joe is taller than Al but Ed is the tallest

A tortoise is slow, a worm is slower

but a snail is the slowest

TV,cinema, theatre. TV is the most popular. The cinema is more popular than the theatre.

Major, captain , sergeant. A major is the most important. A captain is more important than a sergeant

Platinum, gold, silver.Platinum is the most precious. Gold is more precious than silver

HOW DO WE USE THE SUPERLATIVE IN ENGLISH?

The comparative is used between two things or people:Joe is TALLER THAN Al

However, the superlative is the extreme between 3 or more:Joe,Al,Ed Ed is THE TALLEST

There are two ways to form a superlative adjective in English: 1.- SHORT ADJECTIVES add “ the .........-est”:TALL-THE TALLEST; SHORT-THE SHORTEST 2.- LONG ADJECTIVES use “the most ..........”:

EXPENSIVE- THE MOST EXPENSIVEINTERESTING- THE MOST INTERESTING

SHORT ADJECTIVES

1 SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES SHORT, TALL, SLIM,… 2 SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES ending in –Y HAPPY, FRIENDLY, FUNNY,… These adjectives add THE......_EST : THE SHORTEST , THE HAPPIEST Note the pronunciation of the final –est: shortest /So;tist/ happiest /h&pi@st/

SPELLING CHANGES

If the adjective ends in “-e” , it only adds “-ST”:

LATE- THE LATEST If the adjective ends in consonant+vowel+consonant,

it doubles the last consonant:

HOT- THE HOTTEST If the adjective ends in –y , it changes to –I+EST

if preceded by a consonant:

HAPPY- THE HAPPIEST

LONG ADJECTIVES

2 SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES not ending in –y:

PLEASANT, MODERNALL OTHER ADJECTIVES OF MORE

THAN 2 SYLLABLES: COMFORTABLE, INTERESTINGThese adjectives use THE MOST .......:

PLEASANT- THE MOST PLEASANT COMFORTABLE –THE MOST COMFORTABLE

With some 2 syllable adjectives, we can use both “-est” or “ the most”:

QUIET CLEVER NARROW SIMPLE

There are also some irregular forms:

GOOD- THE BEST

BAD-THE WORST

FAR- THE FURTHEST/THE FARTHEST

Complete the sentences using IN or OF:

• Everest is the highest mountain …. the world. • I think spring is the best time …. the year. • The Nile is the longest river ….. Africa. • Anick is the youngest girl …. the class.

• My wedding day was the happiest day … my life.

• Sunday is the most boring day …. the week.

With superlatives we normally use “IN” with

places and groups of people: She’s the most beautiful girl in the

world/Spain…

In most other cases we use “OF”: That’s the most interesting match of the

season.