Superlatives• • • • • • • Rules to Remember

Superlative adjectives compare three or more people, things, or ideas.

Rule: Superlative adjectives have the ending st or est added.

What’s the loudest pet?
. . . a trumpet
• Explanation: “loud” + “est” = “loudest” = the most loud of all pets.

Which fruit has the shortest temper?

. . . the crab apple
• Explanation: “short” + “est” = “shortest” = the most short of all fruits.

Rule: When an adjective ends in a short vowel and consonant, the consonant is doubled before the est
is added.

Where can you find the world’s biggest spider?

. . . on the Worldwide Web
• Explanation: “big” + “g” + “est” = “biggest” = the most big of all spiders.

Rule: When the adjective ends in a consonant + y, the y is changed to i and then est is added.
Mother: “Wash your hands after you fill your piggybank. Money is
one of the dirtiest things you can touch.”
Son: “So that’s why they call people filthy rich!”
• Explanation: “dirty” + “est” = “dirtiest” = the most dirty of all things.

Rule: The words most and best are superlative adjectives. Note the st used near the end of both
words.

Which insect is the most religious?

. . . the praying mantis
What’s the best way to double your money?
. . . fold it in half
What kind of books do skunks read?
. . . best smellers

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Superlatives• • • • • • • • • • • Practice Page

Directions: Complete each joke or riddle by writing the superlative form of the adjective given in
parentheses.

1. What’s the world’s _____________________ vegetable? (lazy)

. . . a couch potato

2. Boy: “How can I get to the _____________________ hospital quickly?” (close)

Girl: “Go stand in the middle of that busy street.”

3. What’s the _____________________ waterway in the U.S.A.? (scary)

. . . the Erie Canal

4. What’s the _____________________ piece of classroom furniture? (long)

. . . a multiplication table

5. What are the _____________________ ocean dwellers? (strong)

. . . mussels

6. What professional athletes are the _____________________ eaters? (sloppy)

. . . basketball players, because they dribble a lot

7. What was the _____________________ invention of all time? (great)

. . . the wheel, because it got things rolling

8. What’s the _____________________ way to get on TV? (fast)

. . . Sit on top of your set.

9. What part of the human body is the _____________________? (noisy)

. . . the ear drums

10. Which pine has the _____________________ needles? (sharp)

. . . the porcupine

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 Answer Key

Superlatives

1. laziest
2. closest
3. scariest
4. longest
5. strongest
6. sloppiest
7. greatest
8. fastest
9. noisiest
10. sharpest

©Teacher Created Resources, Inc. #3019 Laugh and Learn Grammar