Grammar:Superlative

pages 40-45Prepared by

Maali Hamdan

We use the superlative form of adjectives to show the highest degree of a particular quality that describes people, places, things, ideas, etc.

She is the kindest person I know.That is the most expensive restaurant in

Tel-Aviv.

There are two ways of making superlatives of adjectives.

A: the ________________ - est B. the most

In choosing which form of the superlative to use, we follow the same rules as with comparatives.

We use the______-est (or –st after an adjective ending in a vowel): For one syllable adjectives.

Dan is the tallest boy in the class.He is the nicest person I know.

For two-syllable adjectives ending in yfunny-funniestdirty-the dirtiestsilly-the silliestHenry is the funniest person I know

For certain other two-syllable adjectives quiet-the quietest. simple-the simplest clever-the cleverest gentle-the gentlest feeble-the feeblest

The simplest solution is usually the best.

The spelling rules are the same as with the comparative forms (see page33)Adjective Comparativ

eSuperlative

long longer the longesthappy happier the

happiesthot hotter the hottest

cheap cheaper the cheapest

B) We use the most ______ For adjectives of three or more syllables. The

adjective itself does not change its form. That is the most interesting exhibit in the

museum. We are in the most expensive restaurant in town.

For adjectives ending in –ed even if they have only one syllable. He was the most hated man in the company. That’s the most debated subject nowadays.

For most two-syllable adjectives. That was the most boring movie of the festival.

Instead of the before superlatives, we can put the personal possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, its, our, their).

This is my longest day of the week.Friday is their most relaxing day.

The adjectives that have irregular comparatives have irregular superlatives as well.Adjective Comparativ

eSuperlative

good better bestbad worse worstfar further furthest

little (size) smaller smallest

They are a bad group. They must be the worst in town.

Julie is not just a good singer. She’s probably the best soprano* in the opera company.

*1. The highest singing voice of a woman or young boy.*2. A singer having such a voice.

Note

When we use one of +superlative, the noun is in the plural

This is one of the best films in town.

This is the best film in town

The least can be used in place of the most, with no change in the adjective. This is the least expensive hotel in town.

= There is no hotel as cheap as this one. He is the least clever person I know.

= I know nobody as stupid as he is.

NOTE the expressions at least, at (the) most: His work is expensive, but at least he is

honest.

I don’t think there’ll be any food. At most we’ll get a sandwich.

After superlatives, we use in with places (towns, countries, buildings, etc.) Which is the biggest city in Israel?

We have the best teacher in the school.

But we use of with other nouns:

Spring is the best time of the year.

She says that it’s the happiest day of her life.

Homework: Pages 41-44

PARTICIPLES (-ING, –ED) AS ADJECTIVESpage 45

Verb + ing

That was a boring movie.That lecturer was interesting.

The –ing form is an adjective. It describes a noun.We use the –ing form when the noun gives a feeling or performs an action

That was an exciting experience.

3rd form of the verb

They wanted to leave because they were bored.

They were interested in what the lecturer was saying.

The –ed form is an adjective. It describes a noun.We use –ed form when the noun feels something or is the receiver of an actionLook at the difference in meaning

between these sentences.

Joe is boring. I hope he leaves soon.

Ran is bored. He wants to leave as soon as he can.

Homework

Pages 45+46