Simple explanation
What is a superlative adjective? A superlative adjective shows that one person, place, or thing has the highest or lowest degree of a quality in a group. For example, in “Leo is the tallest student in the class,” Leo is compared with all the students in the class. He is taller than everyone else in that group. Comparative or superlative? A comparative adjective normally compares two people or things: “Mia is taller than Eva.” A superlative compares one person or thing with a whole group: “Mia is the tallest person in her family.” Look at the meaning of the sentence first. If one member is being compared with all the others in a group, you usually need a superlative. Short adjectives with -est Most short adjectives form the superlative by adding -est. We normally use the before the superlative in the structures taught at this level: tall → the tallest, fast → the fastest, small → the smallest. If the adjective already ends in -e, add only -st: nice → the nicest and large → the largest. Important spelling changes Some short adjectives change their spelling before -est is added. With adjectives such as big and hot, the final consonant is doubled: big → biggest and hot → hottest. When an adjective ends in consonant + y, change y to i before adding -est: happy → happiest and easy → easiest. Longer adjectives with the most Many longer adjectives form the superlative with the most instead of -est. For example, we say the most expensive, the most interesting, and the most comfortable. We do not normally say forms such as “the expensivest” or “the interestingest.” Irregular superlatives Some common adjectives do not follow the regular rules. Two important A2 forms are good → better → the best and bad → worse → the worst. These forms need to be learned separately because “the goodest” and “the baddest” are not the standard comparative forms for these meanings. Showing the group We often add information after a superlative to show the group or area being compared. In is common with places and groups: “the tallest student in the class” and “the oldest building in the city.” Of can be used with a specific set: “the cheapest of the three.” Negative sentences and questions Superlatives can also appear in negative sentences and questions. For example: “This isn't the cheapest hotel.” In questions, you can ask “Which is the fastest train?” or “Who is the oldest person in your family?” The form of the superlative does not change because the sentence is negative or interrogative.
Grammar formula
Short adjective
subject + be + the + adjective-est + group/placeBen is the tallest student in the class.
Longer adjective
subject + be + the most + adjective + group/placeThis is the most expensive restaurant in town.
Negative form
subject + be + not + the + superlative adjectiveThis isn't the cheapest option.
Question with Which
Which + be + the + superlative adjective + noun?Which is the fastest train?
Question with Who
Who + be + the + superlative adjective + noun/group?Who is the oldest person in your family?
Core rules
- 1
Most short adjectives
Add -est to most short adjectives and normally use the before them: tall → the tallest, fast → the fastest, old → the oldest.
- 2
Adjectives ending in -e
If a short adjective already ends in -e, add only -st: nice → the nicest, large → the largest.
- 3
Doubling the final consonant
With some short adjectives ending in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, double the final consonant before adding -est: big → the biggest, hot → the hottest.
- 4
Adjectives ending in consonant + y
When an adjective ends in consonant + y, change y to i and add -est: happy → the happiest, easy → the easiest.
- 5
Many longer adjectives
Use the most + adjective with many longer adjectives: the most expensive, the most interesting, the most comfortable.
- 6
Irregular forms
Some common adjectives have irregular superlatives: good → the best and bad → the worst.
- 7
Using the
In the basic superlative structures taught at A2, the normally comes before the superlative: the fastest car, the oldest building, the most beautiful place.
Useful examples
Mia is the tallest student in her class.
Mia is taller than all the other students in her class.
Tall is a short adjective, so it takes -est.
This is the cheapest hotel near the station.
No other hotel near the station is cheaper than this one.
Cheap forms its superlative with -est.
August is usually the hottest month here.
August is usually hotter than all the other months here.
The final t in hot is doubled before -est.
Today is the busiest day of the week.
No other day this week is as busy as today.
Busy changes to busiest because y becomes i before -est.
That was the easiest question in the test.
That question was easier than all the other questions in the test.
Easy becomes easiest: y changes to i before -est.
This is the most comfortable chair in the room.
This chair is more comfortable than all the other chairs in the room.
Comfortable is a longer adjective, so it uses the most.
It was the most interesting part of the film.
No other part of the film was as interesting as that part.
Interesting normally forms the superlative with the most.
Friday was the best day of my trip.
Friday was better than all the other days of my trip.
Best is the irregular superlative form of good.
That was the worst meal I've had this week.
I haven't had a worse meal at any other time this week.
Worst is the irregular superlative form of bad.
Which is the fastest way to get there?
Which way gets us there more quickly than all the other ways?
The superlative can be used in a question with Which.
This isn't the largest room in the house.
There is another room in the house that is larger than this one.
The sentence is negative, but the superlative form does not change.
Who is the youngest person in your family?
Which person in your family is younger than everyone else?
Young is a short adjective and becomes youngest.
Common mistakes
- ❌ Sam is tallest student in the class. ✅ Sam is the tallest student in the class. In this basic superlative structure, the is needed before tallest.
- ❌ This is the most cheap restaurant here. ✅ This is the cheapest restaurant here. Cheap is a short adjective and normally forms its superlative with -est.
- ❌ It is the beautifulest beach here. ✅ It is the most beautiful beach here. Beautiful is a longer adjective and forms its superlative with the most.
- ❌ Today is the hotest day of the week. ✅ Today is the hottest day of the week. The final consonant in hot is doubled before -est is added.
- ❌ Anna is the happyest person here. ✅ Anna is the happiest person here. When happy forms the superlative, y changes to i before -est.
- ❌ This is the goodest café in town. ✅ This is the best café in town. Good has an irregular superlative form: best.
- ❌ This is the most easiest exercise. ✅ This is the easiest exercise. Do not use most and -est together here. Easy forms the superlative as easiest.
Learning tips
- First decide whether you are comparing two things or one thing with a whole group. A comparison with the whole group often needs a superlative.
- For short adjectives, think of -est first; for many longer adjectives, think of the most.
- Learn good → best and bad → worst as separate irregular forms.
- Watch the spelling in forms such as big → biggest, hot → hottest, and happy → happiest.
- Use phrases such as in the class, in the city, and of the three to make the comparison group clear.
- Avoid double forms such as “the most fastest” and “the most easiest.”
Practise this topic
Interactive exercises for this topic are coming soon.
PlannedRelated grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
When should I use a superlative instead of a comparative?
Use a comparative when you normally compare two people or things, such as “Tom is taller than Ben.” Use a superlative when one person or thing is compared with a whole group, such as “Tom is the tallest person in his family.”
How do I know whether to use -est or most?
Most short adjectives take -est, such as small → smallest. Many longer adjectives use most, such as expensive → most expensive. You also need to learn a few spelling rules and irregular forms.
Why is it biggest and not bigest?
Big is a short adjective with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern. The final consonant is doubled before -est, so the correct form is biggest.
Why do we say best instead of goodest?
Good is irregular. Its forms are good → better → best, so goodest is not the standard superlative form.
Do I always need the before a superlative?
In the basic A2 structures in this lesson, the normally comes before the superlative, as in “the tallest student” and “the most expensive hotel.” Other patterns exist at more advanced levels.
Can I use most and -est together?
No, not when forming a normal superlative. Say “the easiest” or “the most interesting,” not “the most easiest” or “the most interestingest.”