✨ Lesson 11: Superlative Adjectives (the biggest, the most interesting)
In our last lesson, we learned how to use comparative adjectives (like 'bigger' or 'more expensive') to compare two things.
Today, we will learn about Superlative Adjectives1. We use superlatives to compare three or more things. A superlative shows which thing is at the top level—the maximum2 or minimum—in a group3.
The Golden Rule: Superlative adjectives almost always use the definite article the.
Forming Superlative Adjectives
The rules are very similar to the comparative rules you already know.
Rule 1: For short (one-syllable) adjectives, add 'the ...-est'.
- old → the oldest (Angkor Wat is one of the oldest temples.)
- tall → the tallest (That is the tallest building in Siem Reap.)
- hot → the hottest (April is usually the hottest month.)
Rule 2: For long (2+ syllable) adjectives, use 'the most'.
- beautiful → the most beautiful (The sunrise at Angkor Wat is the most beautiful sight.)
- interesting → the most interesting (For me, Bayon is the most interesting temple.)
- expensive → the most expensive (This is the most expensive hotel in the city.)
Special Rule: Two-syllable adjectives ending in '-y'
We change the 'y' to 'i' and add '-est'.
- busy → the busiest (Pub Street is the busiest area at night.)
- happy → the happiest (This is the happiest day of my life.)
Comparative vs. Superlative Summary
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative (-er / more) | Compares TWO things | A tuk-tuk is faster than a bicycle. |
| Superlative (the -est / the most) | Compares THREE+ things | The airplane is the fastest of all. |
🧠 Practice Quiz: Comparative or Superlative?
Choose the correct form of the adjective for each sentence.
- My brother is (older / the oldest) than me.
→ older (Comparing two people: my brother and me) - This is (more delicious / the most delicious) soup I have ever eaten!
→ the most delicious (Comparing this soup to all other soups) - Which temple is (bigger / the biggest), Bayon or Ta Prohm?
→ bigger (Comparing two temples) - Mount Everest is (higher / the highest) mountain in the world.
→ the highest (Comparing it to all other mountains)
📝 Homework: Write Your Opinions
Write three sentences giving your opinion. Use a different superlative adjective in each sentence.
Example: I think football is the most exciting sport. My mother is the best cook in my family.
1: ___________________________________
2: ___________________________________
3: ___________________________________