Superlative Adjectives Definition, Examples and Exercise

Because we are comparing with adjectives we always use the verb to be in this type of sentence. You can use the verb to be with different tenses (past simple, present simple, etc.) 

To form a superlative adjective we add the indefinite article the and -est at the end of the adjective for one-syllable adjectives. 

For two or more syllable adjectives we add the most

Examples: 

Ava is the cleverest girl in the class. 

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. 

Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci is the most expensive painting ever sold.

Remember! We always use the before the adjective!

More examples: 

This is the greatest book I’ve ever read. 

She’s the most beautiful. 

What’s the most interesting book you’ve read? 

This laptop is the cheapest in the market. 

Exceptions

Irregular adjectives like good and bad change in form when we use the superlative: 

Good: the best 

Bad: the worst 

Far: the furthest 

Examples: 

He’s my best friend. 

That was the worst day of my life! 

That is the farthest bus stop, let’s take a taxi. 

The furthest or the farthest? 

We use them to talk about distance. Farthest can only be used to talk about physical distance. Furthest can also be used for abstract ideas

New Zealand is the farthest country from Ireland.

This is the furthest we can go in this project.

The negative of superlatives (the least)

Usually, we want to say something is the highest number/the most intense. 

When you need to compare something as the lowest amount of something, then we use the least

Remember, you still compare one thing with all the other things.

Examples:

You are the least likely to win the competition.

This is the least spicy dish on the menu. (all the other options are spicier!)

This phone is the least expensive phone.

Notice that in the final example, you could say, “This phone is the cheapest phone” This is more common so only use the least when necessary.