S2L2.4 Superlatives

S2L2.4 Superlatives

by Monica Gajdos

​Both English and Spanish use superlatives to express the highest or lowest degree of a quality.

​el/la mejor the best

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​ el/la peor the worst

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​ el/la más alto/a the tallest

​This construction is used to form superlatives. Note that the noun is always preceded by a definite article and that de is equivalent to the English in or of.

​¡Atención!

While más alone means more, after el, la, los, or las, it means most. Likewise, menos can mean less or least.

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​Es el café más rico del país.--> It's the most delicious coffee in the country.

​Es el menú menos caro de todos.--> It's the least expensive menu of all.

​The noun can be omitted if the person, place, or thing referred to is clear.

​¿El restaurante Las Delicias? ---> Es el más elegante de la ciudad.

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​Recomiendo el pollo asado. ---> Es el más sabroso del menú.

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​Irregular superlative forms

​The rule learned on Comparisons regarding the use of mayor/menor with age, but not with size, is also true with superlative forms.

​Absolute superlative

​The absolute superlative is equivalent to extremely, super, or very. To form the absolute superlative of most adjectives and adverbs, drop the final vowel, if there is one, and add -ísimo(s)/ísima(s)

​malo -> mal~ -> malísimo

​ej. ¡El bistec está malísimo!

​mucho-> much~ -> muchísimo

​ej. ¡El bistec está malísimo!

Notice these spelling changes.

​rico ---> riquísimo

​fácil ---> facilísimo​

​largo ---> larguísimo​

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​joven ---> jovencísimo

​feliz ---> felicísimo

​fácil ---> facilísimo​

​trabajador ---> trabajadorcísimo​

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