Adjectives: Superlatives

Superlative Adjectives

Superlative adjectives compare 3 or more things.

Goal: I will be able to correctly write a sentence using superlative adjectives to compare 3 or more things.

Rubric:

Highly Proficient: Know to use “the” in front of superlatives. Know when to use “-est” and “most”. Know that you cannot use “-est” and “most” together in the same sentence. Know the rule: Change the y to i and add est.

Rubric:

Proficient: Know to use “the” in front of superlatives. Know when to use “-est” and “most”. Know that you cannot use “-est” and “most” together in the same sentence. Know the rule: Change the y to i and add est.

Rubric:

Partially Proficient: Can sometimes remember to use “the” plus the superlative. Not sure when to use “-est” and when to use “most”.

Rubric:

Minimally Proficient: Cannot create a sentence that follows the rules. Sentences don’t make sense.

Rule #1: For adjectives that have 1 syllable or adjectives that end in –y and have 2 syllables, add “-est”:

tall --- tallest big --- biggestcute --- cutest old --- oldestnew --- newest

Rule #2: If the adjective has 2 syllables and ends in “y”, change the “y” to “i”, and add “est”.

silly ---- silliest

crazy ---- craziestroomy --- roomiest

Rule #3: Use “the” in front of the superlative and “of” after it.

...the craziest of ideas...

...the spiciest of chiles...

...the jolliest of elves...

Directions- Write a superlative sentence with the given adjectives:

1. adj: coldnoun: this room +++noun: all the rooms +

1. This room is the coldest of all the rooms.

2. adj: bignoun: the blue whale +++noun: all the animals on

Earth +

2. The blue whale is the biggest of all the animals on Earth.

3. adj: newnoun: this cell phone +++noun: all the models +

3. This cell phone is the newest of all the models.

4. adj: roomynoun: Dad’s truck +++noun: all of our vehicles +

4. Dad’s truck is the roomiest of all of our vehicles.

5. adj: spicynoun: his chili +++noun: all the chili I’ve tasted +

5. His chili is the spiciest of all the chili I’ve tasted.

6. adj: juicynoun: these oranges +++noun: all the ones I’ve ever eaten

+

6. These oranges are the juiciest of all the ones I’ve ever eaten.

Read this sentence:

Brambles is the cutest.

Notice it has “the”, but not “of”.

Brambles is the cutest.

A sentence like this assumes that the reader understands that Brambles is being compared to EVERYTHING else that is cute.

So, you don’t always need to use the word “of”. Practice writing sentences like this:

7. adj: sweetnoun: this watermelon +++noun: every watermelon in the

world +

7. This watermelon is the sweetest!

Note: You can put the noun after the adjective.

This watermelon is the sweetest!

This is the sweetest watermelon!

8. adj: grumpy noun: my uncle +++ noun: every person in the world +

8. My uncle is the grumpiest!

The grumpiest is my uncle!

9. adj: bravenoun: you +++noun: every person in the world

+

9. You are the bravest person.

The bravest person is you.

10. adj: cleannoun: your room +++noun: every room in the world +

10. Your room is the cleanest.

The cleanest room is yours.

Take Superlative Quiz #1

Rule #4: If the adjective has more than 2 syllables, YOU MUST put “the most” in front of the adjective. You CANNOT use “-est”!

Examples:

interesting --- the most interesting

dangerous --- the most dangerous

11. adj: disgustingnoun: this food +++noun: all the food in the world

+

11. This food is the most disgusting!

The most disgusting food is this.

12. adj: despicable noun: your claim +++ noun: all the lies in the world +

12. Your claim is the most despicable lie!

The most despicable lie is your claim!

13. adj: interestingnoun: this theory +++noun: all the theories in the world +

13. This theory is the most interesting.

The most interesting is this theory.

14. adj: excruciatingnoun: this toothache +++noun: all the toothaches in the world +

14. This toothache is the most excruciating!

The most excruciating is this toothache.

Rule #5: These 3 words don’t follow the rules. You must simply remember them.

good --- the bestbad --- the worstfar --- the farthest

15. adj: goodnoun: Grandma’s pumpkin pie +++noun: Mom’s pumpkin pie and my

pumpkin pie +

15. Grandma’s pumpkin pie is the best.

Grandma’s is the best pumpkin pie.

16. adj: badnoun: this movie +++noun: all the movies in the world +

16. This movie is the worst!

This is the worst movie!

17. adj: farnoun: Neptune +++noun: all the planets in the solar

system +

17. Neptune is the farthest planet.

The farthest planet is Neptune.

Directions: Determine if each sentence is correct.

1. My cat is the lazyest cat in the world.

1. My cat is the laziest cat in the world.

2. Golden retrievers are friendliest dogs.

2. Golden retrievers are the friendliest dogs.

3. That actor has the recognizest face in the world.

3. That actor has the most recognized face in the

world.

4. Cobra snakes are one of the most dangerous snakes in the

world.

4. Cobra snakes are one of the most dangerous snakes in the world.

This sentence is already correct.

5. Yesterday was horriblest day ever!

5. Yesterday was the most horrible day ever!

6. Mom’s mashed potatoes are the most good.

6. Mom’s mashed potatoes are the best.

7. His injury is the worse.

7. His injury is the worst.

Take Superlative Quiz # 2