Superlatives are similar to comparatives. Comparatives are used when one thing is 'more' or 'less' than something else. Superlatives are used when something is the 'most'. That means that it is more than all the others.
There are two main ways of making superlatives:
- add -est to the end of a word
- use the word 'most'
Depending on which word you are using, you have to choose between these two ways.
Superlative Adjectives
When we are making superlative adjectives, we have to first think about how many syllables the adjective has. The rules are exactly the same as with comparative adjectives.
| One Syllable | Two Syllables | Three or More Syllables | |
| add -est | ending in e or y | all other endings | use 'most' |
| add -est | use 'most' | ||
Here are some examples of words that are changed to become superlatives.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative | |
| One Syllable | small | smaller | smallest |
| rude | ruder | rudest | |
| big | bigger | biggest | |
| fat | fatter | fattest | |
| Two Syllables | simple | simpler | simplest |
| lazy | lazier | laziest | |
| careful | more careful | most careful | |
| famous | more famous | most famous | |
| Three or More Syllables | colourful | more colourful | most colourful |
| intelligent | more intelligent | most intelligent | |
| important | more important | most important | |
| delightful | more delightful | most delightful |
Just as with comparatives, when an adjective ends in y, to add -est you must first change the y to an i and add -est to the end.
Again, if an adjective already ends in e, you only have to add st to the end.
Again, when a one-syllable adjective ends in a vowel and then a consonant, like 'big' or 'fat', you must double the consonant first, before adding -est.
Superlative Adverbs
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