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Superlative Adjectives in English: How to Compare 3 or More Things
Superlatives compare 3 or more things and always take "the": the tallest, the most expensive.
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
Superlatives are used to compare 3 or more things and say which one is number one: "She is the tallest in her class." They always take "the" before the adjective.
Rules for forming superlatives
Irregular superlatives
It always takes 'the'
Unlike comparatives, superlatives always take "the" before the adjective: "the tallest," "the most expensive." It's never dropped.
Common mistakes with superlatives
Using "most" with short adjectives that already take -est, like saying "the most tall" instead of "the tallest." It's also common to drop "the" when speaking quickly.
"In" or "of" after the superlative
Use "in" with places or groups seen as a space (city, class, team, world): "the tallest building in the city," "the best student in the class." Use "of" with a group of specific items or people: "the youngest of the three brothers," "the best of all the options." A common mistake is using "of" when "in" is needed: "the best restaurant of the city" sounds off, the natural form is "the best restaurant in the city."
Two-syllable adjectives that accept both forms
Some two-syllable adjectives (especially ones ending in -y, -er, -ow, -le) accept both -est and most: funny can be "the funniest" or "the most funny," both are correct, though "-est" sounds a bit more natural. The same happens with clever, quiet, simple, and narrow. If you are unsure with a two-syllable adjective, either form is usually acceptable.
Superlative + "ever" + present perfect
One of the most natural structures in spoken English combines the superlative with "ever" and the present perfect: "This is the best movie I've ever seen." "That's the worst thing he has ever done." This combination expresses that, out of everything you have experienced so far, this is the most extreme case.
Practice superlative adjectives with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Another common mistake: the double superlative
Incorrect
the most biggest
Correct
the biggest
Superlatives in a real conversation
A: "What's the best pizza place around here?" B: "Honestly, this is the most expensive one, but it's also the best." A: "Good, that's the one I want to try."
More examples of superlatives
- That was the funniest joke I've heard all week.
- She is the most talented singer in the group.
- This is the cheapest option we have.
Superlatives with possessives instead of "the"
When a possessive (my, his, the world's) is already in the sentence, it replaces "the," it does not add to it: "my best friend" (not "my the best friend"), "the world's tallest building." The possessive itself already does the job that "the" normally does before a superlative.
One of the + superlative
A very common pattern is "one of the" plus a superlative and a plural noun: "She is one of the best teachers in the school." "This is one of the most famous cities in the world." It is softer than saying "the best" when there are several excellent options, and it shows up all the time in reviews, recommendations, and everyday speech.
The least: the opposite direction
To say the lowest degree, English uses "the least" before an adjective: "This is the least expensive option." "It was the least interesting part of the trip." With short adjectives, people usually reverse the sentence instead: "the cheapest" sounds more natural than "the least expensive" in conversation.
Superlatives for reviews and recommendations
- It is the best pizza place in town.
- That was the funniest movie I've seen.
- She is the most hard-working student in class.
- This is the worst traffic of the year.
- He is the tallest player on the team.
Frequently asked questions
How do you form superlatives in English?
One-syllable adjectives use the + adjective + -est (tall becomes the tallest), adjectives with two or more syllables use the most + adjective (expensive becomes the most expensive).
Do you need 'the' before the superlative?
Yes, always. "The tallest," "the most expensive": "the" is never dropped with superlatives.
What are the irregular superlatives in English?
Good becomes the best, bad becomes the worst, far becomes the farthest/the furthest. There is no pattern, so learn them as separate words.
What are some examples of superlatives?
"This is the best restaurant in town." "He is the tallest player on the team." "That was the most difficult exam."
Why do learners say "the most tall" instead of "the tallest"?
Because in many languages, one word for "most" is used regardless of the adjective's length, which leads to applying "most" to short adjectives that should use -est in English.
Is it "the best restaurant in the city" or "of the city"?
It's "in the city." Use "in" with places seen as a space (city, class, world) and "of" with a group of specific items or people ("the best of the three").
Can you say "the most biggest"?
No, that's a double superlative and it's incorrect. The correct form is simply "the biggest"; "most" is never combined with "-est" on the same adjective.
Can two-syllable adjectives use either -est or most?
Yes, some can, especially ones ending in -y, -er, -ow, or -le, like funny, clever, quiet, and narrow. "The funniest" and "the most funny" are both correct, though the -est form usually sounds more natural.
Can I use a superlative without the?
Sometimes. "The" can be dropped after a possessive ("my best friend") and with adverbs ("She sings best"). In all other cases, use "the": "the tallest student."
Do I use than with superlatives?
No. Than belongs to comparatives. Superlatives use in or of: "the tallest in the class," "the best of all."
Practice superlative adjectives with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Keep learning
- Comparatives vs. Superlatives in English: Which One to Use and WhenComparative compares 2 things (taller than), superlative compares 3 or more and points out the number one (the tallest).
- Comparative Adjectives in English: How to Compare Two ThingsShort adjectives add -er, longer ones use more, and both are followed by than.
- Order of Adjectives in English: The Correct Order When Using SeveralWhen you use two or more adjectives before a noun in English, they have to go in a specific order, not just any order.