Grammar / Superlative Adjectives
Superlative Adjectives: Explanation, Examples & Exercises
Superlative adjectives pick out one thing at the top or bottom of a group of three or more: the cheapest option, the most reliable supplier, the best decision. Short adjectives add -est, longer adjectives use most, and the almost always comes before the superlative.
Reviewed by Brando Oxley · 9 Aug 2026
Form
Use the before a superlative: the cheapest, the fastest, the most useful.
One-syllable adjectives add -est: cheap → the cheapest, old → the oldest, fast → the fastest. Adjectives ending in -e add only -st: nice → the nicest, large → the largest.
One-syllable adjectives ending in one vowel + one consonant double the consonant: big → the biggest, hot → the hottest, thin → the thinnest.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y change -y to -iest: busy → the busiest, easy → the easiest, happy → the happiest.
Longer adjectives (two or more syllables) use the most: the most expensive, the most interesting, the most comfortable.
A few common adjectives are irregular: good → the best, bad → the worst, far → the farthest / furthest.
How it is used
Use a superlative to compare three or more people, places or things and name the one at the extreme: This is the cheapest flight of the three.
A superlative often names its group with in or of: the tallest building in the city, the best day of the year.
Present perfect + superlative is common for life experience: It was the best meal I have ever had. That was the hardest exam I've ever taken.
Remember the difference from comparatives: comparatives compare two (cheaper than), superlatives pick the extreme of three or more (the cheapest).
Common errors
✗This is the most cheapest hotel.
✓This is the cheapest hotel.
Use -est or most — never both together.
✗She is the most busy person in the office.
✓She is the busiest person in the office.
Busy is a two-syllable adjective ending in -y, so it takes -iest, not most.
✗It was best film of the year.
✓It was the best film of the year.
A superlative almost always needs the in front of it.
✗Monday is the worse day of the week.
✓Monday is the worst day of the week.
Worse is the comparative (of two); worst is the superlative (of three or more).
✗He is the most tall in his team.
✓He is the tallest in his team.
Tall is a short adjective, so it takes -est, not most.
Example sentences
Short adjectives (-est)
- This is the cheapest ticket on the website.
- July is usually the hottest month here.
- Take the earliest train to avoid the crowds.
Longer adjectives (the most)
- It was the most expensive item on the menu.
- She gave the most helpful answer in the meeting.
- That was the most interesting talk of the day.
Irregular forms
- This is the best coffee in the neighbourhood.
- Friday was the worst day of my week.
- The new office is the farthest from my home.
Exercise 1 — Fill the gaps
Complete each sentence, then tap to check your answer.
1.This is · restaurant in town.(cheap)
2.August is · month of the year here.(hot)
3.She is · member of the team.(busy)
4.That was · meeting I have ever attended.(long)
5.Monday is · day of my week.(bad)
6.He gave · answer in the interview.(good)
7.It is · building in the whole city.(tall)
Exercise 2 — Choose the correct form
Tap an option to check it immediately.
1.This is ____ phone in the shop.
2.She is the ____ person in our department.
3.It was the ____ decision of my career.
4.That is the most ____ hotel in the city.
5.Today was the ____ day of the week.