UNIT 78 The superlative of adjectives
(the cheapest / the most expensive / the least expensive)

A
To compare a person or thing with a group, the superlative of adjectives is used.

• Adjectives with one syllable or those with two syllables that end in -y form the superlative by adding -est.
the youngest the oldest the busiest

The addition of -est entails the same spelling changes as the addition of -er in the comparative does:
– the y changes to i: easy  the easiest dry  the driest BUT: shy  the shyest
– in one-syllable adjectives that end in a vowel + a consonant, the final consonant is doubled.
fat  the fattest, think  the thinnest, But: deep  the deepest (it isn’t doubled, as there are two vowels)
– -st is added to adjectives that end in –e.
large  largest, pale  palest

• Adjectives with two or more syllables (apart from two-syllables ones that end in -y) form the superlative with the adverb most.
the most famous the most common the most popular

• Two-syllable adjectives that end in -ow, -er, -le and certain others (quiet, polite, friendly, stupid…) can have both forms.
the cleverest / the most clever the quietest / the most quiet

Superlative adjectives are nearly always preceded by the definite article (the) or by a possessive (my, your, his, Lucy’s…)

Tim is the most popular student in his class.
That was his greatest success.

B
The object that follows the superlative is introduced by the preposition in if it’s a place (in the world, in Europe…) or by the preposition of when the term of comparison is a group of elements or an expression of time (of all my friends, of all times…).

Chicago is one of the largest cities in the USA.
February is the shortest month of the year.

The comparison can also be expressed by a relative clause with a verb in the present perfect or past perfect, which is sometimes accompanied by the adverb ever.

It’s one of the funniest films (that) I’ve seen.
He was the most generous person I had ever met.

C
To emphasise a superlative, the adverbial expression by far can be used.

He’s by far the most talented musician in the orchestra.

D
The superlative of less is least.

This bag was the least expensive they had in the shop.
It’s the least relevant thing I’ve ever heard.