Meaning & use
superlative form
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Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
The form of an adjective or adverb that shows the highest degree of a quality, such as tallest or most carefully.
Grammar: A grammar term: the superlative form of good is best.
Patterns
- the superlative form of something
The superlative form of happy is happiest.
Use the superlative form when comparing one student with the whole class.
Irregular adjectives such as bad have an unusual superlative form.
Word forms
| plural | superlative forms |
|---|
Common combinations
- regular superlative form
- The regular superlative form of fast is fastest.
- irregular superlative form
- Worst is the irregular superlative form of bad.
- use the superlative form
- Use the superlative form after the.
- superlative form of an adverb
- Most quickly is the superlative form of quickly.
- form the superlative form
- Add -est to form the superlative form.
Synonyms and how they differ
- superlative
- Superlative alone is the usual shorter way of saying the same grammar term.
- highest degree
- Highest degree is a plain explanation, not the name of the form.
- comparative form
- Comparative form compares two things and is not a synonym, though learners often confuse them.
Opposites
Word family
- superlative adjective
- of the highest degree
- comparative noun
- the form used to compare two things
- superlatively adverb
- to the highest degree
- degree noun
- level of comparison
Commonly confused: superlative form or comparative form?
superlative form vs comparative form
A comparative form compares two things, as in taller, while a superlative form picks out the extreme among many, as in tallest.
Practice
Which choice gives the superlative form of the adjective good?
Choose one answer.
Best is the irregular superlative of good. Better is the comparative, and gooder and most good are not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “superlative form”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.