When learning English, one of the key concepts you’ll come across is the use of superlatives. Superlatives allow you to express the extreme or highest degree of a quality among three or more items. In this article, we’ll focus on one of the most common ways to form superlatives: using ‘-est’. Mastering this grammatical structure will greatly enhance your ability to describe and compare things effectively in English.
What is a Superlative?
A superlative is a form of an adjective or adverb that is used to compare three or more nouns, indicating which one has the highest degree of the quality in question. For example, in the sentence “Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world,” the word “tallest” is a superlative adjective describing Mount Everest in comparison to all other mountains.
Forming Superlatives with ‘-est’
The ‘-est’ suffix is commonly added to the end of short adjectives (usually one-syllable adjectives) to create their superlative forms. Here’s a basic formula to follow:
**Adjective + -est**
Let’s look at some examples:
– **Tall** becomes **tallest**
– **Small** becomes **smallest**
– **Fast** becomes **fastest**
It’s important to note that when an adjective ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, you generally double the consonant before adding ‘-est’. For example:
– **Big** becomes **biggest**
– **Hot** becomes **hottest**
– **Thin** becomes **thinnest**
Exceptions and Special Cases
While the rule for forming superlatives with ‘-est’ is straightforward, there are some exceptions and special cases to consider.
**Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y:**
For adjectives with two syllables that end in a ‘-y’, you change the ‘-y’ to ‘-i’ before adding ‘-est’:
– **Happy** becomes **happiest**
– **Busy** becomes **busiest**
– **Pretty** becomes **prettiest**
**Two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y:**
For other two-syllable adjectives, and adjectives with more than two syllables, you generally use ‘most’ before the adjective instead of adding ‘-est’:
– **Careful** becomes **most careful**
– **Peaceful** becomes **most peaceful**
– **Interesting** becomes **most interesting**
Usage in Sentences
Using superlatives in sentences is quite simple. The basic structure is:
**Subject + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun**
Here are some examples to illustrate this:
– “She is the **smartest** student in the class.”
– “This is the **smallest** car I’ve ever seen.”
– “Mount Everest is the **highest** mountain in the world.”
Notice that the definite article ‘the’ is almost always used before the superlative adjective.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake learners make is forgetting the definite article ‘the’ before the superlative form. For example, saying “She is smartest student” is incorrect; it should be “She is the **smartest** student.”
Another frequent error is the misuse of superlative forms with adjectives that should use ‘most’ instead of ‘-est’. For example, “She is the carefullest person I know” should be “She is the **most careful** person I know.”
Comparative vs. Superlative
It’s also crucial to differentiate between comparative and superlative forms. Comparatives are used to compare two things, while superlatives compare three or more. For example:
– Comparative: “She is **taller** than her brother.”
– Superlative: “She is the **tallest** in her family.”
Comparatives often use ‘-er’ (or ‘more’ for longer adjectives), whereas superlatives use ‘-est’ (or ‘most’ for longer adjectives).
Irregular Superlatives
Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms that don’t follow the ‘-est’ rule. Here are a few common ones:
– **Good** becomes **best**
– **Bad** becomes **worst**
– **Far** becomes **farthest**
These irregular forms need to be memorized, as they don’t follow the standard rules.
Practical Exercises
To get better at forming and using superlatives, try these exercises:
1. Convert the following adjectives into their superlative forms and use them in sentences:
– Cold
– Bright
– Easy
– Funny
2. Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences:
– “This is the more interesting book I’ve ever read.”
– “He is the goodest player on the team.”
– “She is the more carefulest person I know.”
3. Write a short paragraph describing a place you’ve visited, using at least three superlative adjectives.
Answers to Exercises
1. Superlative forms and sentences:
– **Cold** becomes **coldest**. “This is the **coldest** winter I’ve ever experienced.”
– **Bright** becomes **brightest**. “She has the **brightest** smile.”
– **Easy** becomes **easiest**. “This is the **easiest** test I’ve ever taken.”
– **Funny** becomes **funniest**. “He is the **funniest** comedian.”
2. Corrected sentences:
– “This is the **most interesting** book I’ve ever read.”
– “He is the **best** player on the team.”
– “She is the **most careful** person I know.”
3. Example paragraph:
“Last summer, I visited the Grand Canyon. It was the **most breathtaking** place I’ve ever seen. The view from the top was the **highest** I’ve ever been. Despite the heat, it was the **most enjoyable** trip I’ve taken.”
Conclusion
Mastering the use of superlatives, especially those formed with ‘-est’, is a fundamental step in becoming proficient in English. By understanding the rules, exceptions, and proper usage, you’ll be able to make more precise and impactful comparisons in your conversations and writing. So, keep practicing, and soon you’ll find yourself using superlatives effortlessly!
