Most / -est
Indicating the unique quality of an item in a group
unique (adj) – the only one of its kind
Superlative Adjectives
| -EST | MOST | LEAST |
|---|---|---|
With a one-syllable word or a word ending in -y or -ly add the suffix -est to form an optional superlative phrase with "of all". |
With an adjective or adverb of more-than-one syllable, use most. |
With an adjective or adverb of more-than-one syllable, use least. |
Dad says the Honeycrisp apple is the best of all. (good - best) |
The Honeycrisp apple is the most popular of all. |
The Honeycrisp apple is the least popular of all. |
The Granny Smith apple is the tastiest baking apple. |
The Granny Smith apple is the most flavorful baking apple. |
The Granny Smith apple is the least flavorful baking apple. |
This Red Delicious apple is the reddest of all. |
This Red Delicious apple is the most exceptional of all. |
This Red Delicious apple is the least exceptional of all. |
This Golden Delicious apple is the sweetest apple. |
This Golden Delicious apple is the most desirable apple. |
This Golden Delicious apple is the least desirable apple. |
Superlative Adjective Exception List (some)
angry — angriest |
friendly — friendliest / most friendly |
handsome — handsomest |
good — best |
busy — busiest |
gentle — gentlest / most gentle |
far — farthest / furthest |
bad — worst |
happy — happiest |
little — littlest |
clever — cleverest / most clever* |
little — least (noncount nouns) |
ugly — ugliest |
narrow — narrowest |
simple — simplest / most simple* |
few — fewest (noncount nouns - regular) |
funny — funniest |
silly — silliest |
fun — funnest / most fun (see below) |
many / much — most |
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
This works more better than that one. (occurs in colloquial speech) |
This works better than that one. |
John is my most best friend. |
John is my best friend. Most is redundant (repetitive). Delete it. |
Superlative Adverbs
Indicating unique manner
Superlative Adverbs
| -EST | MOST | LEAST |
|---|---|---|
Use -est with a one-syllable adverb that does not take the -ly ending (loud, fast, hard, etc.) See adverb exceptions. |
Use most with most adverbs ending in -ly. |
Use least with most adverbs ending in -ly. |
|
The blades of blender A go the most rapidly of all. |
The blades of blender D go the least rapidly of all |
Blender A runs the quiest of all. (informal use) |
Blender A runs the most quietly of all. |
Blender D runs the least quietly of all. |
Blender A liquefies the best of all. (well) |
Blender A purees the most efficiently of all. |
Blender D purees the least efficiently of all. |
We had to push the hardest on the buttons of blender D. |
Blender B chops the most evenly of all. |
Blender C chops the least evenly of all. |
The blades of blender blades (n.) – the sharp cutting edges that spin in a circle
chop (v.) – to cut in small pieces.
liquefy (v.) – to turn into a liquid, purée
Other Adverbs with the -est Suffix
bad — worst It was raining the worst ever. |
high — highest He climbed the highest. |
near — nearest He came the nearest. |
*easy — easiest (informal) most easily |
early — earliest He arrived the earliest. |
late — latest He arrived the latest. |
soon — soonest He arrived the soonest. |
*loud — loudest (informal) most loudly |
fast — fastest He ran the fastest. |
long — longest He lasted the longest. |
well — best He worked the best. |
*slow — slowest (informal) most slowly |
hard — hardest He worked the hardest. |
low — lowest He bowed the lowest. |
|
*quick — quickest (informal) most quickly |
*These words are in transitional use.
Superlative
Expressions
First, Ever, Of
| FIRST | EVER | OF / IN |
|---|---|---|
For record-setting events, use first followed by an infinitve phrase. |
For record-setting events, use ever. |
Use a superlative with a prepositional phrase (of, in, from) to define the group. |
She is the first child to sail around the world. |
She is the youngest child ever to sail around the world. |
She was the youngest child of all to sail around the world. |
He was the first eighty-year old to swim the English Channel. |
He was the oldest person ever to swim the English Channel. |
He was the oldest of all the competitors to swim the English Channel. |
Michael Phelps was the first to win 14 gold medals. |
Michael Phelps won the most Olympic gold medals ever. |
Michael Phelps won the most Olympic gold medals of all the swimmers. |
It was the first 100 meter hotdog ever made. (passive voice) |
It was the longest hotdog ever [to be] made measuring 100 meters. |
It was the longest hotdog in the world. (27 Sept 2008 - Monterrey, Mexico) |
Practice 1
Giant George & Titan
World Records
Comparative or Superlative?
- Select the word or words that best complete the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer to the right by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 2
Superlative Irregular Word Forms
- Select the word or words that best complete the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer to the right by clicking the "check" button.