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Adjectives: Superlatives

Around the World in Superlatives

Focus on Grammar 3 Part VI, Unit 25 By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Superlatives Trivia Quiz

1. What is the highest mountain in the world? Hang on! Youll 2. Where is the tallest waterfall located? get the answers later! 3. What is the longest river? 4. What is the driest place on earth? 5. What is the most populated nation? 6. What is often called the happiest place on earth?

7. What is one of the most mysterious places?

Superlative Adjectives
Use superlative adjectives to compare one person, place, or thing with other people, places, or things in a group.

The Amazon River The Amazon River

The Nile River The Nile River

The Yangtze River The Yangtze River

The Nile River is the longest river in the world.

Form 1
For short adjectives (one syllable and two syllables ending in y), use the + adjective + -est.

happy Disneyland is often called the happiest place on earth.

the happiest

the highest

high Mount Everest is the highest mountain.

Be Careful!
There are often spelling changes when you add est.

dry
The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest desert.

the driest

big The pyramids in Egypt are the biggest tombs. the biggest

Be Careful!
Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms.

good

bad

Wow!! This is the This is the worst camera. best place to see the Eiffel Tower!

Form 2
For long adjectives (two or more syllables), use the most / the least + adjective.

Some scientists say inhabited that the Brazilian rain forest is the least inhabited the on earth. placeleast inhabited

mysterious Some archaeologists

say that Easter Island is one of the most mysterious the most mysterious places in the world.

Form 3
For some adjectives, like pleasant, lively, lovely, or quiet, use either the -est or the most / the least. The weather in Greece in May The weather in the GrandThe weather in Greece in May was the most pleasant. was the pleasantest. Canyon in July was the least pleasant.

Practice 1

Change the adjectives into superlative forms.

Example: large the largest

1. friendly the friendliest or the most friendly
2. hot the hottest 3. crowded the most crowded 4. expensive the most expensive 5. far the farthest
Now, create your own sentences with these superlatives .

6. nice the nicest

7. early the earliest

Expressions 1
We often use the superlative with other words and expressions, including in and of (in the world, of all).

China is the most populated nation in the world.

Angel Falls in Argentina is the tallest waterfall of all (waterfalls).

Expressions 2
We often use the superlative with ever + the present perfect.

Machu Picchu has the most amazing ruins that Ive ever seen! ever + present perfect

Practice 2

Talk with a partner and complete the sentences with your own ideas.

Example: The most interesting place Ive ever seen is

1. The most popular tourist site in my country is

The most interesting place Ive ever to stay in my country is 2. The nicest placeseen is the Taj Mahal in India.

3. The most dangerous place of all places is

4. I think the oldest ruins in the world are 5. The best food Ive ever eaten is 6. The prettiest place Ive ever been to is

References
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.