The white egg is the biggest and the red egg is the smallest. The white egg is the biggest and the red egg is the smallest.
We use superlative adjectives of superiority and inferiority to compare more than two things or people.
The construction usually depends on the number of syllables.
Superiority
One-syllable |
'the' + adjective + 'est'
the coldest
|
Antarctica is the coldest place in the world.
|
Two-syllables and ending in a consonant and 'y'
|
'the' + adjective + 'est'
the busiest
|
September is the busiest month for us.
|
Others with two syllables |
'the most' + adjective
the most honest |
She's the most honest person in the department.
|
More than two syllables |
'the most' + adjective
the most expensive
|
This is the most expensive car in the world. |
Inferiority
All adjectives |
'the least' + adjective |
May is the least busy month for us.
She's the least honest person in the department.
This is the least expensive car in the world.
|
Note that we rarely use this construction with one-syllable adjectives. It is better to use the opposite superlative of superiority.
This is the least big house in the street.
|
This is the smallest house in the street. |
She has the least cheap car. | She has the most expensive car. |
It's the least good car. |
It's the worst car. |
The comparatives and superlatives of most two-syllable adjectives are formed with 'more...than' and 'the most' but here is a list of some common ones that can also add 'er' and 'est'.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| clever | cleverer more clever
| the cleverest the most clever |
| gentle | gentler more gentle
| the gentlest the most gentle |
| simple | simpler more simple
| the simplest the most simple |
| friendly | friendlier more friendly | the friendliest the most friendly
|
| quiet | quieter more quiet | the quietest the most quiet
|
| narrow | narrower more narrow
| the narrowest the most narrow |
|
| Comparative | Superlative |
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
| far | farther/further* | the farthest/furthest* |
*'Farther' and farthest' refer to physical distance whilst 'further' and 'furthest' indicate a greater level or more advanced stage of something. However, many people use 'further' and 'furthest' in both situations. For example:
We wanted to go to Toulouse but we didn't get farther/further south than Bordeaux.
The farthest/furthest I can see clearly without glasses is about 3 metres.
I've been trying to write this report all morning but I can't get further than the introduction.
I applied for a job with our main competitor but the furthest I got was the first interview.
If the adjective is also the past participle of a verb, we do not add 'er' or 'est' even to short, one syllable adjectives. Instead we use the rule for long adjectives.
Examples
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative | Example |
| lost | more lost | the most lost | The closer I got to the town centre the more lost I became. |
| burnt | more burnt | the most burnt | This piece of toast is more burnt than the first piece. |
| bored | more bored | the most bored | She was the most bored she had ever been, there was nothing for her to do. |
| Comparative - a small difference |
| Comparative - a big difference | Examples |
|
a little a bit a little bit slightly
| |
much a lot a great deal far not nearly as...as... nowhere near as...as... nothing like as..as [informal] quite a bit |
My new car is a lot faster but far less economical than my old one.
I chose this hotel because it's slightly less expensive.
I go to the gym much more often than I used to.
I can't run nearly as quickly as I could when I was young.
|
With superlative adjectives, we use 'by far' and 'easily' as intensifiers. For example:
Our company sells by far the most cars in Europe.
She's easily the tallest person in her family.
=====Examples=====
They have four daughters. The oldest is nine and the youngest is one. |
April is usually the wettest month in England. |
The pink flower is the prettiest. |
Our company is the most successful in Europe. |
We often have the best weather in September. |
I have the worst office in the department! |
The train is the least stressful way to travel. |
This is the least interesting part of my job! |
One-syllable adjectives
Most of these take 'er' and 'est' for superiority but there are a few, particularly some ending in 'l', that are better with 'more...than...' For example:
I'm more apt to forget things when I'm tired.
Some dreams seem more real than others.
And there are a few others which can use both forms. For example:
She's frailer/more frail than her sister.
That's clearer/more clear now - thank you for explaining.
It would be fairer/more fair to divide it equally.
For inferiority, most take 'not as...as...' but a few use both forms. For example:
It isn't as cold as it was.
It's less cold than it was.
Riding a bike isn't as safe at night.
Riding a bike is less safe at night.
'All the more'
This expression means 'even more than previously or otherwise'. We can use it with adjectives or adverbs or with neither. We can also use 'all the less' in a similar way as well as 'all the' + comparative adjective or adverb. For example:
I really can't wait for my holiday and it's all the more exciting for being outside Europe - it will be my first time.
We were already doing well and we worked all the faster when we heard there'd be a bonus for finishing before the deadline.
We've never had much faith in him and his arguments are all the less convincing when you consider his lack of experience.
I'm starting to recover now and I feel all the better for your visit - thanks for coming.
Note that 'even more/less' or 'even + er' are generally more common in conversation.
Comparing two qualities
We don't use 'er' to compare two qualities of the same person or thing. For example:
Pierre is more sad than angry. [His sadness is greater than his anger.]
The film was more funny than tragic. I think it's more red than orange. She's more of an artist than a poet.
|
Pierre is sadder than angry.
|
Similes
We use 'as...as...' in similes - standard expressions which use a comparison of two things that are alike. It's an alternative to using 'very' or 'really'.
Her hair is as white as snow.
I love cycling here - it's as flat as a pancake
It's impossible to make him change his mind - he's as stubborn as a mule.
There are many of these in use in informal English and they are often used in a fun or joking manner.
Note that we cannot use 'so' in similes.
Superlative adjectives with 'the least'
With one-syllable adjectives, we usually prefer to use the opposite adjective of superiority:
This is the least dark colour. 
This is the lightest colour. 
With other adjectives, both are often possible:
This is the least expensive car. This is the cheapest car.
However, we need to be careful because these kinds of sentence don't always have the same meaning. For example:
'February was the least cold month of last winter' isn't the same as 'February was the hottest month of last winter.' [because none of the winter months were hot.]
'So'
For comparatives of inferiority using 'not...as...', we can substitute 'so' for the first 'as':
He isn't as/so tall as his brothers.
'not as...as...' is more common. 'not so...as...' is more likely to be used with ellipses than in full sentences:
It isn't so cold today. [as yesterday]
People aren't so poor nowadays. [as they used to be]
Note that we cannot use 'so' in comparatives of equality:
It's as cold today as yesterday. It's so cold today as yesterday.
or in the following similar kinds of expression:
I drove as fast as I could. I drove so fast as I could.
I'll call him as soon as possible. I'll call him so soon as possible.
However, 'so' is possible in some expressions which are not comparatives. For example:
'as/so far as' = to the degree or extent that
'as/so long as' = on condition that or since
As/so far as I'm aware, there's no meeting this week.
As/so long as I get paid extra, I'll work on Saturday.
As/so long as you're dealing with this, I'll go to lunch now.
'Most' as an intensifier
The word 'most' can be used in a way that is not a superlative. It has the same meaning as words like 'very', 'really' and 'extremely'.
Note that this structure is rarely used and sounds old-fashioned so do not use it. The following examples are for information only :
Intensifier | Superlative |
I read a most interesting article in this magazine.* [I read a very interesting article - there is no suggestion of a comparison with other articles.]
This soup is most delicious.*
|
This is the most interesting article in the magazine.
This is the most delicious soup I've ever had.
|
* It is much more natural in conversation to say:
I read a really interesting article.
This soup is absolutely delicious.
Other comparative and superlative structures
Here are some examples of different ways to express comparatives and superlatives:
It was as successful a venture as he could have hoped.
Their request deserved as quick a response as we were able to give.
It's isn't as much fun working here as it used to be.
I have a much faster journey to work now.
A male-dominated company is less likely to offer flexible working hours.
The most likely outcome is that sales will start slowly and take off later in the year.
It isn't as high quality as the previous model.
What's most important to me is job satisfaction.
What I like best about him is his ability to explain things clearly.
He lived the longest of all his family.
I like most kinds of cheese but my favourite is Camembert.
