In a previous blog post, we explored some features of comparative language, which is used to compare one person/thing with another.
Now, let’s take a look at the concept of superlatives, used to express the most extreme degree of a quality (e.g. best, worst, fastest, slowest, richest, poorest). It helps us to compare somebody or something with the whole group that he, she, or it belongs to. For instance, when we say someone is the tallest in the class, we are comparing that person with all their classmates and saying that they possess the highest degree of a particular quality.
Here are some basic features of superlatives:
1. We generally use the definite article, the, before the superlative form.
Examples:
They have four children: Christy is the oldest and Tommy is the youngest.
Drake has just been signed by the biggest football club in Europe.
2. If there is a possessive adjective (e.g. my, our, your, their) before the superlative, then the definite article should be dropped.
Examples:
She is my brightest cousin. (NOT She is my the brightest cousin.)
Ivan is their most expensive player. (NOT Ivan is their the most expensive player.)
Also, on occasions when we compare the same person or thing in different situations, we drop the definite article.
Examples:
Joe is happiest when he is painting.
(Comparing the levels of happiness felt by the same individual in different situations)
This device is most effective in winter.
(Comparing the efficiency of the same thing in different seasons)
3. As with comparatives, there are two common ways to form superlatives:
adding ‘-est’ to the end of the adjective or adverb, or using the word ‘most’ in front of the adjective or adverb. Generally speaking, the suffix ‘-est’ is added to short adjectives (e.g. tall → tallest, rich → richest), whereas long adjectives (e.g. expensive → most expensive, intelligent → most intelligent) have the word ‘most’ before them.
Examples:
She was the prettiest girl he had ever met.
It’s certainly the most interesting film I’ve seen.
4. Like comparatives, superlatives can also be made to sound stronger with the help of degree modifiers, such as almost, easily, definitely, and by far.
Examples:
Yesterday was easily the best day of my life.
She is by far the most efficient manager I’ve worked with.
Now that you know some of the basic rules, it’s time to go online, find some exercises, and put your knowledge to the test.