Grammar-Quizzes › Clauses › Comparative Clauses › Most / -est
Most / -est
Compare one item to the rest
Superlative Adjectives
| -EST | MOST | LEAST |
|---|---|---|
Add the suffix -est to 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". |
Place most before an adjective or adverb of more-than-one syllable, use most. ("greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number") |
Place the least before an adjective or adverb of more-than-one syllable, use least. ("smallest in size, amount, degree, etc.; slightest") |
The Honeycrisp apple is the best of all. The Honeycrisp apple is best of all. |
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. |
unique (Adj) – the only one of its kind
The Best
Determine the unique one
The— definite one
| THE BEST |
|---|
An individual or an item becomes defined when the superlative is used. It becomes unique, a known one. The determiner the or a genitive determiner such as his, her, my, our is used. |
Today is the best day of my life! This is the best apple that you can buy. |
Be the best that you can be. (be— "behave", "act" or "try") Be your best. Be on your best behavior. |
Do your best. (do — "perform") Try your best. |
| __ BEST |
|---|
The following are not used because the determiner (article or pronoun) does not express a definite one. Definite means "one in particular", "a known one". See "The" – one identified. |
*Today is a best day of my life. (use definite article) *This is best apple that you can buy. (missing article) |
*Be best. (missing article, not logical) |
*Do best. |
This is a personal best for him. (expression) This expresses that he will experience more winning moments after this in his life.
Superlative Adjective Exceptions
Other Spellings and Word Forms
Superlative Adjective Form Exception List
angry — angriest |
bad — worst |
busy — busiest |
clever — cleverest / most clever* |
far — farthest / furthest |
²few — fewest (count nouns) |
friendly — friendliest / most friendly |
fun — funnest / most fun (see below) |
funny — funniest |
gentle — gentlest / most gentle |
good — best |
happy — happiest |
handsome — handsomest |
late — last |
little — littlest (size) |
¹little — least (amount–noncount nouns) |
many / much — most |
narrow — narrowest |
silly — silliest |
simple — simplest / most simple* |
ugly — ugliest |
northern—northernmost (most southern) southern—southernmost (most southern) |
western—westernmost (most western) eastern—easternmost (most eastern) |
|
¹less, less, least – irregular; for noncount nouns
²few, fewer, fewest – regular, for count nouns
New York is more northern than San Francisco. Barrow, Alaska is the northernmost city in the United States.
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 quietest 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
bad — worst It was raining the worst ever. |
early — earliest He arrived the earliest. |
*easy — easiest (informal) most easily |
fast — fastest He ran the fastest. |
hard — hardest He worked the hardest. |
high — highest He climbed the highest. |
late — latest He arrived the latest. |
*loud — loudest (informal) most loudly |
long — longest He lasted the longest. |
low — lowest He bowed the lowest. |
near — nearest He came the nearest. |
*slow — slowest (informal) most slowly |
soon — soonest He arrived the soonest. |
*quick — quickest (informal) most quickly |
well — best He worked the best. |
*These words are in transitional use. They may occur as either form.
Superlative
Expressions
First, Ever, Of
| FIRST | EVER | OF / IN |
|---|---|---|
For record-setting events, use first followed by an infinitive. |
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 23 gold medals. |
Michael Phelps has won the most Olympic gold medals ever. |
Michael Phelps has won the most Olympic gold medals of all. |
It was the first 100 meter hot-dog ever made. (passive voice) |
It was the longest hot-dog ever [to be] made measuring 100 meters. |
It was the longest hot-dog in the world. (27 Sept 2008 - Monterrey, Mexico) |
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| FOCUS |
|---|
*Be best (nonsense) *Be best you can be. |
* This works more better than that one. (occurs in colloquial speech) |
*John is my most best friend. |
*This apple is sweetest enough to eat as a snack. |
*The Granny Smith apple has a firmest texture for baking. |
*He is the highest most honored man in my country. This needs punctuation or the modifiers need to be marked so that we know what each word is modifying.
|
| SOLUTION |
|---|
Do your best. Be the best you can be. |
This works better than that one. This works more efficiently than that one. |
John is my best friend. Most is redundant (repetitive). Delete it. |
This apple is sweet enough to eat as a snack. This apple is the sweetest of all. |
The Granny Smith apple has the firmest texture of all the apples for the purpose of baking. (superlative) |
He is the most highly honored man in my country. The the most modifies honored. The adverb highly (adv.) modifies honored (Adj) which modifies man (noun). He is the highest, (the) most honored man in my country. |
* Incorrect use / ~ Questionable use
Practice 1
World Records
Comparative or Superlative?
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Practice 2
My Perspective on Language Learning
perspective (N) – viewpoint
Superlative Irregular Word Forms
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Practice 3
Companion Dogs
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Dachshunds are by far the bestest small, companion dogs. They don't eat much. And they are the neatest from all dogs because they clean up after themselves. Actually, they don't make a mess while eating because they don't want to miss eating even smallest bit of food. They are always eager to see their caretaker and greet him other with enthusiasm and little licks. They don't bark excessively, but have deepest enough barks to frighten away burglars. As hounds they have a keenest sense of smell and can detect something approaching with their noses before they can see it with their eyes.
While their legs may be among the most shortest in the dog world, they can cover a great amount of distance quickly. They also have the longest torso than any other dog breed. This compensates for their short legs. They can reach up high when standing on their back legs. Or they can fit in the most smallest of all places, which is useful for retrieving objects that are lost under the bed or in the back of one's closet. Above all, dachshunds are the amusingest dogs. They are clowns and love to make you laugh. Their adorable expressions and antics draw you near for the highest most desired reward — a tummy rub.
by far (adv. expr.) – by a lot, to a great degree or extent
companion (N) a person or pet that is a friend and stays with you
excessively (adv.) – too much (adverb of degree)
deep (Adj) – a deep voice; having a low pitch; sounding as if it comes from a larger animal.
burglar (N) – a person who tries to enter a house to steal
caretaker (N) – owner, guardian, master
keen (Adj) – sharp, very good, very sensitive
approach (V) – coming toward them, coming near
detect (V) – discover through the senses
cover distance – travel, move, or run across a linear amount of space
torso (N) – body (without legs or arms)
dog breed (N) – type of dog (e.g., Labrador Retriever, English Bulldog, etc.)
compensates (V) – to make equal, "make up for", counter balance
retrieve (V) – fetch, go and get
clown (N) – a circus entertainer / comedian with a painted face and red nose
adorable (Adj) – very attractive, delightful, charming
antics (N) – playful tricks
desired (Adj) – wished for, wanted
reward (N) – something given in return for favorable behavior or action
tummy rub – petting or stroking the stomach
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