Superlative Adjectives

Superlative Adjectives exercise

• Find the superlative adjectives

  Hints

  We usually add 'the' to the beginning of superlative adjectives.

  Tom is the slowest snail in the race.

  In this example, slowest is the superlative adjective.

  Solution

  The first sentence uses the superlative adjective 'tastiest', it is the superlative form of the word 'tasty'. As tasty is a two-syllable adjective, we must add the, drop the 'y' add an 'i' and the suffix 'est'. It therefore becomes 'tastiest'.

  The second sentence uses the superlative adjective 'most generous', it is the superlative form of the word generous. As this adjective has more than three syllables, we make them superlative by adding 'the most' before it.

  The third sentence uses the superlative adjective 'fastest'. It is the superlative form of the word 'fast'. Since 'fast' has one syllable, it changes to the superlative form by adding 'the' and the suffix 'est', making it 'the fastest'.

• Irregular adjectives and their superlative form

  Hints

  An irregular adjective is an adjective whose superlative forms is not created by simply adding "-est" to the base form. Often you have to memorise them.

  On this list we can see some irregular superlative adjectives.

  Solution

  1. Bobby had just woken up from the worst (bad) nightmare he had ever had!

  1. Amal really wanted the most (much) expensive set of building blocks in the shop.

  1. Carla was fascinated by the fireworks, it was the best (good) display she had ever seen!

  The superlative adjectives 'worst' and 'best' are irregular and do not follow the rule where we must add the suffix 'est'. Don't forget, 'worstest' and 'bestest' are not actually real words!

• Rules for using superlative adjectives

  Hints

  One-syllable words have an 'unbroken' sound, for example: small, short, long and high.

  Two-syllable words have two definite sounds, for example: tasty, happy and fluffy. Three-syllable words have three definite sounds, for example the word 'important'.

  For adjectives that have one syllable and end with a single consonant with a single vowel before it, such as the word 'fat', we must remember to double the consonant. Consonants are the letters of the alphabet that aren't a vowel (a, e, i, o or u). Therefore, add 'the' then double the 't' and add 'est' to make 'fattest'.

  Solution

  • If the adjective has one syllable, such as 'short'... it changes to the superlative form by adding 'the' and the suffix 'est'.

  • If the adjective has one syllable, and ends with a single consonant with a single vowel before it...double the consonant, add 'the' before it, and add 'est' to the end. For example, 'fat' becomes 'fattest'.

  • If the adjective has one syllable and ends with an 'e' add... 'the' and 'st'. For example, 'blue' becomes 'bluest'.

  • If the adjective has two syllables, and ends in a 'y' such as 'tasty' we must... add 'the', drop the 'y' add an 'i' and the suffix 'est'.

  • If the adjective has more than three syllables, such as 'beautiful', we make them superlative by adding... the most before it.

  • Irregular adjectives don't always follow these rules so... we must memorise them.

  Some examples of irregular superlative adjectives are: best, worst, least, and most. In these cases, we have to memorise their irregular forms.

• Complete the sentences using the superlative form.

  Hints

  Study the word bank carefully and use the adjectives in the brackets to help you choose the most suitable superlative form.

  If an adjective has two syllables and ends with a 'y', such as 'pretty', we add 'the' before it, remove the 'y' add an 'i' and the suffix 'est'.

  The superlative form of good is an irregular superlative adjective.

  Solution

  The little girl's eyes shone with joy: it was the biggest (big) toy shop she had ever seen! She scanned the shelves, looking for the best (good) toy. The young girl spotted a doll, its dress was glittery and pink - the prettiest (pretty) in the shop! But she kept looking.

  A giraffe caught her eye, it was hard not to miss: the largest (large) toy in the shop! It must have been the same size as her, or perhaps even taller. However, it was also the most expensive (expensive) toy and the little girl only had a small amount of money. She kept looking.

  Finally she found it - the cutest (cute), softest (soft) and fluffiest (fluffy) toy of them all! A small grey rabbit with a pink button nose and the longest (long) bunny ears she had ever seen! She was sold.

• Regular adjectives and their superlative form

  Hints

  Remember, when a one syllable adjective ends in 'y', we remove the 'y' add an 'i' and 'est'. The word 'busy' is an example of an adjective that follows this rule!

  A superlative adjective doesn't end in 'er' because that would be a comparative adjective!

  Solution

  • busy - the busiest
  • long - the longest
  • happy - the happiest
  • short - the shortest

  The adjective busy matches to the busiest which is its superlative form. Similarly, the adjective happy matches to the happiest. In both of these cases, we add 'the', then remove the 'y', add an 'i' and then the suffix 'est'.

  The longest is the superlative form of the adjective long. Since 'long' has only one syllable, we add 'the' and then the suffix 'est' to the end. Similarly, the shortest is the superlative form of short.

• Can you spot the regular and irregular adjectives?

  Hints

  An irregular adjective is an adjective whose superlative forms is not created by simply adding '-est' to the base form. Often you have to memorise them. For example, 'bad' becomes 'the worst'.

  A regular adjective is an adjective that becomes its superlative form by adding '-est' to the base form of the adjective.

  Solution

  An irregular adjective is an adjective whose superlative forms is not created by simply adding "-er" or "-est" to the base form. Often you have to memorise them. These adjectives follow this rule: good (the best), far (the farthest), bad (the worst), little (the least) and many (the most).

  A regular adjective is an adjective that becomes its superlative form by adding "-er" and "-est" to the base form of the adjective. These adjectives follow this rule: pretty (prettiest), cute (cutest), happy (happiest), tall (tallest), long (longest), big (biggest).