Understanding superlative adjectives begins with recognizing the three forms (degrees) that most adjectives have: positive, comparative, and superlative. These different forms are likely familiar to many of you.<\/p>\n
Positive<\/strong><\/td>\n| Comparative<\/strong><\/td>\n | Superlative<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | cold<\/td>\n | colder<\/td>\n | coldest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | tall<\/td>\n | taller<\/td>\n | tallest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | soft<\/td>\n | softer<\/td>\n | softest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | As shown, shorter adjectives often form the comparative degree with -er <\/em>and the superlative degree with -est.<\/em><\/p>\n If an adjective is longer\u2014i.e., it has three or more syllables or two syllables and\u00a0does not\u00a0end in -y<\/em>\u2014it will typically form the comparative by including the word more<\/em> (or less<\/em>) and the superlative by including the word most<\/em> (or least<\/em>).<\/p>\n Some adjectives also form their degrees irregularly:<\/p>\n Note that if an adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant is doubled before the superlative ending: thin > thinnest, fit > fittest. <\/em><\/p>\n If a two-syllable adjective ends in y<\/em>, the y<\/em> must be changed to an i<\/em> to form the –est<\/em> superlative: busy<\/em> > busiest<\/em>, easy<\/em> > easiest<\/em>.<\/p>\n A superlative adjective\u00a0identifies the attribute of a person or thing that is either the highest or lowest in degree when compared with the other items in a group of nouns. As discussed, most superlative adjectives are formed by adding -est <\/em>to shorter words and most <\/em>or least <\/em>to longer ones: nicest<\/em>, most agreeable<\/em>, least argumentative.<\/em><\/p>\n In American English, we use the comparative degree for two items: Richie is taller<\/u> than Bobby.<\/em> To compare more than two items, we use the superlative: Among Richie, Bobby, and Brian, Richie is the tallest<\/u>.<\/em><\/p>\n As precise and eloquent writers, we will avoid using comparative adjectives for more than two items and superlative adjectives for only two.<\/p>\n Richie is tallest<\/u> than Bobby.<\/em><\/p>\n Among Richie, Bobby, and Brian, Richie is the taller<\/u>.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The same principle applies to irregular adjectives:<\/p>\n Richie is best<\/u> than Bobby at golf.<\/em><\/p>\n Among Richie, Bobby, and Brian, Richie is the better<\/u> at golf.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n You may have noticed that superlative adjectives are often preceded by the word the<\/em>. This is because a superlative adjective establishes a singular reference: No higher degree is possible within the scope given.<\/p>\n Caitlyn is the smartest<\/u> student in her class.<\/em><\/p>\n Roger is the fastest<\/u> runner on the team.<\/em><\/p>\n We need the most determined<\/u> agent for this particular task.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In contexts that compare points in time rather than identify someone or something, some superlative adjectives might not include the word the <\/em>before them:<\/p>\n Midwest temperatures are coldest<\/u> in winter.<\/em> (compared with other seasonal times)<\/p>\n I am least focused<\/u> when listening to one of his lectures.<\/em> (compared with the timing of other activities)<\/p>\n Tracy is most jittery<\/u> at night.<\/em> (compared with another time of day)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Some superlative adjectives can take both the -est<\/em> and less<\/em> or more<\/em> forms.<\/p>\n |