Let's Speak English

The superlative is used to say what thing or person has the most of a particular quality within a group or of its kind. Superlative adjectives normally come before any other adjectives.

		Snowdon is not the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis is.
Mount Snowdon is 3,559 feet high.	Ben Nevis is 4,408 feet high.

Forming the superlative

Form	Rule	For example
Words of one syllable ending in 'e'.	Add -st to the end of the word.	wide - widest
Words of one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at the end.	Double the consonant and add -est to the end of the word.	big - biggest
Words of one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant at the end.	Add - est to the end of the word.	high - highest
Words of two syllables, ending in 'y'.	Change 'y' to 'i', and add -est to the end of the word.	happy - happiest
Words of two syllables or more, not ending in 'y'.	Place 'the most' before the adjective.	beautiful - the most beautiful

The following adjectives are exceptions:

• 'good' becomes 'the best'
• 'bad' becomes 'the worst'
• 'far' becomes 'the furthest'

For example:

• "Jill is the best student in the class ."
• "Jack is the worst student in the class."
• "In our solar system the planet Pluto is the furthest planet from the Sun."

!Note - superlatives are usually preceded by 'the'.
For example:

• "The Rio de la Plata river, on the southeast coastline of South America, is the widest river in the world."
• According to the List of World records Carol Yager (1960-1994), from Michigan, is the fattest person ever to live, weighing 725 kg (1,600 lb).
• "Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world."
• "I think that Castle Combe is the prettiest village in England."
• "Arguably, Rome is the most beautiful city in the world."

However, used to has another meaning, it can be used as an adjective and we use it to talk about things that have become familiar, and are no longer strange or new.
Used to usually comes after verbs such as be, get or become.

• After a while you get used to the noise.
• She will become used to the smell.
• I was used to the web site.

You can also say that someone is used to doing something.

• I'll never get used to getting up at six o'clock in the morning.
• It took me a while until I was used to driving on the right-hand side of the road.

Appearance	Condition
adorable alert average beautiful blonde bloody blushing bright clean clear cloudy colourful concerned crowded curious cute dark dirty drab distinct dull elegant fancy filthy glamorous gleaming graceful grotesque homely light misty motionless muddy plain poised quaint scary shiny smoggy sparkling spotless stormy strange ugly unsightly unusual	alive brainy broken busy careful cautious clever crazy damaged dead difficult easy fake false famous forward fragile guilty helpful helpless important impossible infamous innocent inquisitive mad modern open outgoing outstanding poor powerful puzzled real rich right robust sane scary shy sleepy stupid super tame thick tired wild wrong
Feelings - negative	Feelings - neutral	Feelings - positive
afraid angry annoyed anxious arrogant ashamed awful bad bewildered bored concerned condemned confused creepy cruel dangerous defeated defiant depressed disgusted disturbed doubtful eerie embarrassed envious evil fierce foolish frantic frightened grieving guilty helpless hungry hurt ill jealous lonely mad naughty nervous obnoxious outrageous panicky repulsive safe scared shy sleepy sore strange tense terrible tired troubled unusual upset uptight weary wicked worried	alright calm different fair fine OK pleasant puzzled	agreeable alert amused brave bright charming cheerful comfortable cooperative courageous delightful determined eager elated enchanting encouraging energetic enthusiastic excited exuberant faithful fantastic friendly frowning funny gentle glorious good happy healthy helpful hilarious innocent jolly kind lively lovely lucky obedient perfect proud relaxed relieved silly smiling splendid successful thoughtful victorious vivacious well witty wonderful
Shape	Size	Sound
broad crooked curved deep even flat hilly jagged round shallow square steep straight thick thin triangular uneven	average big fat gigantic huge large little long massive medium miniature narrow petite short skinny small tall tiny wide	cooing deafening faint harsh high-pitched hissing hushed husky loud melodic moaning mute noisy purring quiet raspy screeching shrill silent soft squeaky squealing thundering voiceless whispering
Speed	Taste	Time
fast quick rapid slow swift	bitter bland delicious different fresh greasy hot juicy repulsive revolting ripe rotten salty sour spicy stale strong sweet tasteless tasty terrible wonderful	ancient brief. early late long modern new old old-fashioned quick short young
	Touch
	blunt boiling breakable breezy broken bumpy chilly clean cold cool crooked cuddly curly damaged damp different dirty dry dusty filthy flaky fluffy fuzzy greasy grubby hard icy loose plastic prickly ripe rough rubbery scratchy shaky shaggy sharp silky slimy slippery smooth soft solid steady sticky tight uneven unusual unripe warm weak wet wooden wooly