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Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the uppermost or lowermost limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.

Superlatives are formed by adding +EST to the end of an adjective.

• Tallest

• Softest

• Shortest

• Thinnest

• Strongest

For adjectives with three or more syllables, modify the adjective by writing 'most' before it.

• Most beautiful

• Most intelligent

• Most important

In some cases, the entire adjective changes.

• Best

• Worst

• Farthest

Some adjectives have a spelling change in the superlative form. If the adjective has a 'consonant' + 'vowel' + 'consonant' spelling, double the last letter before adding +EST

• big - biggest

• fat - fattest

• sad - saddest

If the adjective ends in 'Y', the 'Y' changes to an 'i' before adding +ER

• happy - happiest

• lazy - laziest

If the adjective ends in 'E' simply add +ST

• large - largest

the definite article 'the' comes before a superlative in a sentence.

• Elephants are the biggest animals.

• My sister is the shortest in the family.