Level Three
Lesson 40
superlative adjectives
Superlative adjectives identify one person or thing that that is the best, the worst, the highest, the lowest, the most comfortable among a group.
- Pamela is the fastest runner in our class. (There are 25 kids in her class. She’s number one when it comes to running.)
- That is the tallest building in North America. (There is not one that is taller.)
- He is the most interesting person that I know. (In my opinion, he’s number one when it comes to being interesting.)
40a. using "est" 
Use “est” with adjectives that are one syllable. You can also use “est” for adjectives that are two syllables but end in “y.” An article, the, usually goes before the superlative:
(be) the _________est
- The sunflower is the tallest plant in the garden. (tall → tallest: The word “tall” has one syllable.)
- Pamela is the fastest runner in our class. (fast → fastest)
- The tomato plants are the most productive plants in the garden. (productive → most productive)
- This is the hottest summer on record. (*hot →hottest)
- He’s the luckiest guy I know. (lucky → luckiest)
- They have the spiciest Mexican food in town. (happy → happier)
Spelling rules: 1. When a one-syllable word ends with a single consonant letter, double the letter in the comparative form: hottest, biggest, wettest.
2. When a word ends in “y,” change the “y” to an “i.”: happiest, busiest, luckiest, craziest, spiciest, etc.
40a. Examples
- The sunflower is the tallest flower plant in the garden.
- Mushrooms are the strangest things that grow in a forest.
- The bee is the busiest creature in the garden.
40b. using "most"
Use “more” with adjectives that have two or more syllables. In this case, don’t add “er” to the adjective. The word “than” follows the adjective.
(be) more ___________ than
- Paris is the most beautiful city in the world.
- Deserts have the most arid climate.
- The most difficult language to learn is Chinese.
- He made the most ridiculous argument in favor of gas-powered cars.
- That’s the most uncomfortable position to be in.
- Olivia is the most talented player on the team.
- That restaurant has the most expensive food in town.
- She experienced the most embarrassing moment in her life.
40b. Examples
- The most challenging problem we face is climate change.
- One of the most recognizable statues in the world is the Statue of Liberty.
recognizable /
most recognizable
If you are not sure of the status of a thing or a person, you can say, “one of the” in front of the superlative adjective. That way, you may not be completely wrong when making the statement. It’s also a good way of sounding less biased in stating your opinion.
40c. irregular superlative adjectives
The adjectives “good” and “bad” are probably the most often used adjectives in the form of superlatives. They are often used when someone is exaggerating a situation.
irregular adjectives
good → better (2) → best (3+)
bad → worse (2) → worst (3+)
far → farther (2) → farthest (3+)
fun → more fun (2) → most fun (3+)
It’s important to be able to show the differences among adjectives in the comparative (2) and superlative (3+) forms. Try to remember that comparative adjectives are for two things or two people. Superlative adjectives are for three or more things or people.
40c. Examples
- The best way to get around town is by bike.
- It’s also the most fun* way to travel.
*For some reason, “fun” uses “most” — not “est.”
- His worst experience as a chef was at a restaurant in London.
- It was also the farthest location from his home in New York.
- He makes the best soup in town.
40d. one / some of the + superlative
Superlative adjectives are often used with “one of the” or “some of the” when expressing an opinion.
- That is one of the best places to get pizza. (There are other places that are also good, but this one is really, really good.)
- He’s one of the most difficult people you will ever meet. (There are many difficult people in this world.)
- Some of the most expensive home in the country are in this city. (Other cities have very expensive homes.)
40d. Examples
- These are some of the best french fries that I have ever tasted.
- One of the best things you can do for your body is to avoid eating greasy junk food.
superlative adjectives (PDF)
Superlative Adjectives
Part A. Directions: Use the adjectives provided to form superlative adjectives. Don’t forget to use “the” when necessary.
1. That was _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Chinese food I have ever had. (good)
2. That is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ building in the city. (tall)
3. They have _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ chicken. (delicious)
4. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ way to get there is to take this highway. (fast)
5. What is _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ highly _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ hotel in this area? (rated)
6. It’s one of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ countries in the world. (dangerous)
7. He’s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ kid in the school. (mean)
8. It’s one of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ movies I have ever seen. (funny)
9. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ state in the United States is Alaska. (cold)
10. They have _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ lawn mower. (noisy)
Part B. Directions: End each sentence with the superlative adjective.
1. Their ideas are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (bad)
2. Of all the people we studied, his story was _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (interesting)
3. Among these five entries in the contest, hers is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (creative)
4. Of all teachers I have ever had, Mr. Brown was _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (hard)
5. Among the five great lakes, Lake Superior is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (clean)
6. I think these mangoes are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (good)
7. In this part of the country, gas prices are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (low)
8. He always tries to buy shoes that are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (cheap)
9. Sometimes the best products are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . (expensive)
10. Compared to all those other games, this one is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (fun)
The answers are below.
Here are the answers:
Superlative Adjectives
Part A. Directions: Use the adjectives provided to form superlative adjectives. Don’t forget to use “the” when necessary.
1. That was the best Chinese food I have ever had. (good)
2. That is the tallest building in the city. (tall)
3. They have the most delicious chicken. (delicious)
4. The fastest way to get there is to take this highway. (fast)
5. What is the most highly rated hotel in this area? (rated)
6. It’s one of the most dangerous countries in the world. (dangerous)
7. He’s the meanest kid in the school. (mean)
8. It’s one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. (funny)
9. The coldest state in the United States is Alaska. (cold)
10. They have the noisiest lawn mower. (noisy)
Part B. Directions: End each sentence with the superlative adjective.
1. Their ideas are the worst. (bad)
2. Of all the people we studied, his story was the most interesting. (interesting)
3. Among these five entries in the contest, hers is the most creative. (creative)
4. Of all teachers I have ever had, Mr. Brown was the hardest. (hard)
5. Among the five great lakes, Lake Superior is the cleanest. (clean)
6. I think these mangoes are the best. (good)
7. In this part of the country, gas prices are the lowest. (low)
8. He always tries to buy shoes that are the cheapest. (cheap)
9. Sometimes the best products are the most expensive. (expensive)
10. Compared to all those other games, this one is the most fun. (fun)