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Superlative adjective definition, usages and examples

Superlative adjective definition, usages and examples

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05/22/2023

Superlative adjectives are used to describe the highest or lowest degree of a quality among three or more things. They indicate the utmost or extreme level of a characteristic.

Here are some key points about superlative adjectives:

  1. Definition: Superlative adjectives modify nouns by expressing the highest or lowest degree of a quality when comparing three or more things.

  2. Formation: Most superlative adjectives are formed by adding "-est" to the base adjective for one-syllable adjectives, or by using "most" before the adjective for adjectives with two or more syllables.

    • Example:
      • "tall" (one syllable) becomes "tallest,"
        • Small: "This is the smallest house in the neighborhood."
        • Happy: "She is the happiest person I know."
        • Sad: "It was the saddest movie I've ever seen."
        • Bright: "He has the brightest smile."
        • Strong: "She is the strongest athlete in the competition."
      • "beautiful" (two syllables) becomes "most beautiful."
        • Intelligent: "He is the most intelligent student in the class."
        • Delicious: "This is the most delicious cake I have ever tasted."
        • Interesting: "It was the most interesting book I've read."
        • Difficult: "That was the most difficult exam I have ever taken."
        • Comfortable: "This is the most comfortable chair in the house."
  3. Three-Item Comparison: Superlative adjectives are used when comparing three or more things or individuals.

    • Example:
      • "She is the tallest girl in the class,"
      • "This is the most beautiful flower in the garden."
  4. Superlative Marker "The": The definite article "the" is used before the superlative adjective to indicate that it is the highest or lowest degree.

    • Example:
      • "He is the fastest runner in the race,"
      • "It was the most memorable experience of my life."
  5. Degree of Comparison: Superlative adjectives indicate the highest or lowest degree of a particular quality among three or more things.

    • Example:
      • "He is the smartest person I know,"
      • "This is the least expensive option."
  6. Irregular Forms: Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms that do not follow the standard "-est" or "most" pattern.

    • Example:
      • "good" becomes "best,"
      • "bad" becomes "worst,"
      • "far" becomes "farthest" or "furthest."
      • Little: "She has the least amount of experience."
      • Many: "He has the most friends of anyone I know."
      • Much: "She has the most money in the group."
  7. Agreement: Superlative adjectives do not change based on the number or gender of the noun they modify.

    • Example:
      • "The tallest trees,"
      • "The most interesting books."

 

Superlative adjectives help us describe the highest or lowest degree of a quality among three or more things. By using them appropriately, we can emphasize the extremes and create more impactful descriptions.

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