This unit is about using the superlative.
Look at this dialogue.
A: What is the smallest country in the world?
B: I am not sure but I think Brazil is the most beautiful!
A: Maybe you are right but France makes the best food!
B: I don’t agree, anyway I know which is the largest, Russia.
Superlative form can be ‘est’ or ‘most’….
‘est’ is used with short words consisting of one syllable. If the word ends in ‘e’
then just use ‘st’ on the end.
Fast – Fastest Cheap – Cheapest Large – Largest Small – Smallest
Safe – Safest Smart – Smartest Dark – Darkest Clean – Cleanest
‘iest’ is used for adjectives ending in ‘y’
easy – easiest funny – funniest happy – happiest pretty – prettiest
‘most’ and ‘least’ is used with words consisting of two syllables or more .
intelligent – most/least intelligent beautiful – most/least beautiful
extravagant – most/least extravagant reliable – most/least reliable
Normally we use ‘the’ before a superlative.
the most clever the least narrow the quietest the tallest the smallest
To make things a bit more confusing, there are a few irregular adjectives and
adverbs.
good – best well – best bad – worst far – furthest.
Finish the sentences with a superlative form that best suits the sentence.
When John and Tim were younger Tim was given more responsibility because he was ..the oldest..(old)
When Tom finished school he had ……… grades in the school. (bad)
I have just won the lottery, I want ……… thing in your shop! (expensive)