What Is a Superlative Adjective?
A superlative picks one person or thing as number one in a group of three or more.
THE + SHORT ADJECTIVE + -ESTtall → the tallest
Phong comes first.
Phong is the tallest student in my class.
THE MOST + LONG ADJECTIVEbeautiful → the most beautiful
This is the most beautiful beach in Vietnam.
IRREGULARgood → the best
That was the best day of my life.
A superlative needs the, and -est or most.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"The blue whale is blank animal in the world."
The three forms
SHORT ADJECTIVE
theadj + -est(noun)
It's the oldest house in the street.
1 syllable, or 2 ending in -y.
LONG ADJECTIVE
the mostadj(noun)
The red sofa was the most comfortable one in the shop.
2 or more syllables.
IRREGULAR
thebest / worst(noun)
Saturday is the best day for the market.
good → the best · bad → the worst
-EST SPELLING
- longlongest
- safesafest
- hothottest
- easyeasiest
The same as -er: bigger → biggest, easier → easiest.
After my, your, our, there is no the: my best friend, our biggest problem.
in + a place or a group's name: in my class, in the world, in Vietnam
of + all / a number / a time: of all, of the three, of the year, of my life
TRY IT
- Question 1
"The small café is blank place for breakfast."
When you need a superlative
Praising a friend
You're the best. Thank you so much!
To say thank you.
Choosing in a shop
I want the cheapest one, please.
Picking one of many.
Common phrases: the cheapest one · the smallest size · the most comfortable one
Superlative or Comparative?
| COMPARATIVE · TWO THINGS | SUPERLATIVE · THREE OR MORE | |
|---|---|---|
| short adjective | Khoa is taller than Duy. | Khoa is the tallest of the three. |
| long adjective | Physics is more difficult than biology. | Physics is the most difficult of all my subjects. |
Two things: -er / more + than. Three or more: the -est / the most.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"In the city centre, a bike is blank a car."
- Question 2
"This is blank photo in the album. Look at your face!"
Common mistakes
Incorrect:It is the most biggest city in the north.
Correct:It is the biggest city in the north.
Use -est or most, never both.
Incorrect:This is the goodest phở in town.
Correct:This is the best phở in town.
Good → the best.
Incorrect:This is one of the best restaurant in Hà Nội.
Correct:This is one of the best restaurants in Hà Nội.
One of the… = one from a group: plural noun.
Incorrect:Lan is the smartest student of my class.
Correct:Lan is the smartest student in my class.
A class is a group's name: use in.
Incorrect:Of the three bags, this one is cheaper.
Correct:Of the three bags, this one is the cheapest.
Three bags: use the superlative.
Incorrect:My the best friend lives in Đà Nẵng.
Correct:My best friend lives in Đà Nẵng.
After my, there is no the.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct words:
Winter is the coldest season in Hà Nội.
- A. the coldest — Correct
- B. coldest
- C. the colder
Answer: A. the coldest
The colder is for two things.
Choose the correct form:
Of all the apps on my phone, this one is the most useful.
- A. the most useful — Correct
- B. the usefulest
- C. the more useful
Answer: A. the most useful
No -est on long words.
Choose the correct spelling:
Russia is the biggest country in the world.
- A. the biggest — Correct
- B. the bigest
- C. the most big
Answer: A. the biggest
Same spelling as -er.
Choose the correct form:
I lost my wallet and my phone. It was the worst day of the trip.
- A. the worst — Correct
- B. the baddest
- C. the worse
Answer: A. the worst
Worse is for two things.
Choose the correct word:
Tâm is the kindest of all my friends.
- A. of — Correct
- B. in
Answer: A. of
Of + all, a number or a time.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions
