Adjectives: Superlatives 8 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 Hang on! You’ll get the answers later! What is the highest mountain in the world? Where is the tallest waterfall located? What is the longest river? What is the driest place on earth? What is the most populated nation? What is often called the happiest place on earth? 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 Nile River The Amazon River The Amazon River The Nile River The Yangtze River The Yangtze River The Nile River is the longest river in the world.

Form 1 happy high the happiest the highest For short adjectives (one syllable and two syllables ending in –y), use the + adjective + -est. Disneyland is often called the happiest place on earth. Mount Everest is the highest mountain. happy high the happiest the highest

Be Careful! dry big the driest the biggest There are often spelling changes when you add –est. The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest desert. The pyramids in Egypt are the biggest tombs. dry big the driest the biggest

Be Careful! bad good This is the worst camera. Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms. bad good This is the worst camera. Wow!! This is the best place to see the Eiffel Tower!

Form 2 inhabited mysterious the least inhabited the most mysterious For long adjectives (two or more syllables), use the most / the least + adjective. Some scientists say that the Brazilian rain forest is the least inhabited place on earth. Some archaeologists say that Easter Island is one of the most mysterious places in the world. inhabited mysterious the least inhabited the most mysterious

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

Now, create your own sentences with these superlatives. Practice 1 Change the adjectives into superlative forms. Example: large  the largest friendly hot crowded expensive far nice early  the friendliest or the most friendly  the hottest Now, create your own sentences with these superlatives.  the most crowded  the most expensive  the farthest  the nicest  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).

Machu Picchu has the most amazing ruins Expressions 2 We often use the superlative with ever + the present perfect. Machu Picchu has the most amazing ruins that I’ve ever seen! ever + present perfect

The most interesting place I’ve ever seen is… Talk with a partner and complete the sentences with your own ideas. Practice 2 Example: The most interesting place I’ve ever seen is… The most popular tourist site in my country is… The nicest place to stay in my country is… The most dangerous place of all places is… I think the oldest ruins in the world are… The best food I’ve ever eaten is… The prettiest place I’ve ever been to is… The most interesting place I’ve ever seen is… the Taj Mahal in India.

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