What’s a Superlative?
Which subject is your weakest?
What’s the most difficult part of studying English?
What are some of your best childhood memories?
Do you ever ask or get asked these types of questions? Questions that probe into who or what you think is the “most” or “least” of something, whatever that “something” may be? They’re the classic yearbook graduation questions we’re all familiar with (e.g., “cutest couple“, “most likely to succeed in everything“, “biggest overachiever“).
As you can probably guess from this article’s title, the words in bold are examples of superlative adjectives in English. Superlatives might be the most fun part of grammar—let’s explore.
Meaning of the word “superlative
The best way to understand a word or term is to look to its language of origin (a free bonus tip, and a valuable one at that!) Superlative entered English from the Old French superlatif, meaning “absolute, highest, powerful, best”. As an adjective and describing word, superlative still retains this meaning of saying something or someone is of “very high quality”, or “surpassing all others; i.e., supreme“, in whichever regard is relevant to the context (from Merriam-Webster).
For example, if your teacher tells you that your work is “superlative“, they’re using it as an adjective to say it’s supreme or top-notch (or Jim-dandy!). As a term in grammar, superlative adjectives denote something as “the highest degree of comparison (of adjectives and adverbs, indicated by –est or more), according to Etymonline.
The highest degree of comparison is a clunky term. Let’s break it down below.
Superlative vs comparative adjectives
Compare how the adjective generous appears in each sentence.
Simple: Colin is generous.
Comparative: Colin is more generous than Owen.
Superlative: Colin is the most generous person I know.
The first sentence tells us that the person (Colin) has the trait of being generous, but without specifying to what degree or extent they are generous. This is the simple form of the adjective; it simply states someone or something has some trait or quality. It’s also the form of the word that appears when you go to look it up in the dictionary.
The second sentence, ‘Colin is more generous than Owen’, tells us that Colin, compared to Owen, has more of the quality of generosity.
Comparatives compare two people, objects, or things with each other, and say which has “more” or “less” of a quality or trait, and they either end with –er or follow “more“, unless it’s irregular.
The third sentence is the superlative “most generous“, which describes the greatest in quantity, extent, or degree of a trait compared to everything else.
To compare more than two things with each other, and to say which has the most of a trait, we use the superlative form. Some adjectives form the superlative by following the adverb “most”, or they add –est (unless they’re irregular).
Formation of superlative adjectives
To be a proficient English speaker and writer, it’s necessary to know the proper forms superlatives take. This list breaks it down for your convenience.
Single-syllable adjectives
Single-syllable adjectives add -est to form a superlative:
- cool ➜ coolest
- small ➜ smallest
- short ➜ shortest
- tall ➜ tallest
Adjectives that end in “e” add –st:
- cute ➜ cutest
- free ➜ freest
- late ➜ latest
- large ➜ largest
Single-syllable (consonant-vowel-consonant)
Adjectives that are one-syllable and have a consonant–vowel–consonant pattern, double the last consonant and add –est.
- big ➜ biggest
- hot ➜ hottest
- wet ➜ wettest
One or two syllables ending in –y
Adjectives with either one or two syllables replace y with i and add –est:
- happy ➜ happiest
- silly ➜ silliest
- dry ➜ driest
Two-syllable suffixes: –er, –ow, or –le
Adjectives with two syllables that end in –er, –ow, or –le add –est without changing its initial spelling. Two-syllable adjectives that end in -le add -st (there’s no need to add a second e).
- clever ➜ cleverest
- shallow ➜ shallowest
- simple ➜ simplest
Long adjectives follow “most”
Two-syllable adjectives that don’t end in “y“, and adjectives with three or more syllables follow “most”. E.g., “most careful“; “most boring“; “most patient“.
Irregular superlatives
Those familiar with their irregular noun and verb forms will be no stranger to these idiosyncrasies in English. Adjectives also have an irregular form, and don’t follow the so-called “conventional” rules when switching from their base to comparative to superlative form. Here’s a rundown on these irregularly formed adjectives:
| Base adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| little | less | least |
| much | more | most |
| far | further/farther | furthest/farthest |
Synonyms of superlative
- A1
- bang up
- blue-chip
- dope (slang)
- first-rate
- fabulous
- fantastic
- top-notch
- five-star
- marvelous
- stellar
- fantabulous
- top-of-the-line
Read about other topics in grammar
- Who’s vs. Whose?
- They’re vs. Their vs. There?
- Whether vs. Weather: Which is Correct?
- Allude or Elude?
- Elicit or Illicit?
- Past or Passed?
Sources
- “Jim-dandy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jim-dandy. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.
- “Superlative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superlative. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.
- “Most.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/most. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.
- “More.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/more. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.
