The structure that we use to stress the top of something is called the superlatives which means there is nothing ahead of that thing.

In grammatical structure we define the top level of something the adjectives or adverbs with -est or with most if the adjective or adverb is more than two syllables.

E.g:pretty-prettiest E.g:pretty-prettiest big-biggest big-biggest clever-cleverest clever-cleverest expensive-the-most expensive expensive-the-most expensive frequent-the-most frequent frequent-the-most frequent pleased-the most pleased pleased-the most pleased

In other cases in which the adverb and adjective type is the same their new form will again be the same as follows:

Hard-Hardest Fast-fastest Late-Latest Early-Earliest The adjective and adverb forms are the same for those words but their superlative form will not change.

In building up a sentence with a superlative we do this as follows: SubjectTo bethe superlative form Noun The group which is at the top Everestisthehighestmountainin the world. The sunisthebrighteststarin the sky. Naval transport isthecheapestmethodis the of all.

Note:Late is an exception that it has two types of its own superlative form 1-Late-Latest 2-Late-Last

If the meaning to say in the last time in other words recently/lately, it should be formed as late-latest and an example will follow.

I usually get up late.My son gets up later than me and my husband gets up the latest. (adverb) The latest train we can get direct to there will be here.

The latest also means up-to- date and the structure does not change. E.g:Have you read his latest book?

Latter is only used as an adjective and it is used for two things which comes one after another and it means the latest of the second thing. The first of two things is used with former

Clarifying: There are two films on at the same time. One is a thriller and the other is a romance. -I’d prefer to watch the latter. I’d find the former too nerve- racking

In the last page’s example when we say the latter we mean to say the romance film and with former we mean to say thriller.

Another meaning of former is old. (In former times). Former here is not comperative itself.However formerly is used as an adverb which means in the past. I formerly worked as a secretary

Last can be used as both adverb and adjective and it is opposite of first. I first went to Germany in 1973,and last went there in 1986(adverb)

I will be the last person to leave the office. Who will be the first? (adjective)

Irregular adverbs and adjectives can be formed as follows: good/better/the best bad/worse/the worst far/further/the furthest or the farthest much/more/the most little/less/the least

In all superlatives to signify its high or top level each structure of adverb or adjective is added “the” in front of them. We normally use the but when we use his,my,this,that we should not use the. His best book is his latest

She is the most hardworking student in the classroom. She is the most hardworking student in the classroom. Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey. Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey. Our apartment is the tallest of all. Our apartment is the tallest of all. She has the most money among us. She has the most money among us.

Note: If we do not signify most with the, most this time means very 1-He is the most intelligent in the world 2-He is most intelligent

In the former example we meant the most as superlative and in the latter we meant with most as “very”

By the way we can use more,most and least to signify the verbs. 1- I more prefer coffee to tea 2- She most fears that she may lose her job 3- She usually comes when I least need her and doesn’t when I need most

We can also signify the verbs like, enjoy with a superlative -Of all singers I like Sezen Aksu best. But we cannot use dread and hate with best to signify unpleasure.

The difference between oldest and eldest is that,if we define the person or something which is older than one else we use oldest and if we define the family member who is older than others we use eldest.

Who is the oldest in this classroom? Who is the oldest in this classroom? The oldest representative came from China The oldest representative came from China My eldest uncle is lawyer My eldest uncle is lawyer My eldest brother is getting married next week My eldest brother is getting married next week

John Paul Getty, reputed to have been the richest man in the world, once bought some goods the most expensive shop of London called Neiman-Marcus store,but refused to pay the most expensive goods for full price. When refused to pay most the police arrived because he was arrested for asking discount but this was wrong for that day because he was thought mad when it is seen “ Today everything is free of charge”

In superlatives we form the little as the least and few as the fewest. We use little for uncountables and fewest for countables. Of all my students, Filiz made the fewest mistakes in the exam Of all my students, Filiz made the fewest mistakes in the exam The least of the water is in Arabia The least of the water is in Arabia

In superlatives we can combine negative forms as well. Wasn’t the Empire State building the tallest building in the world once? Wasn’t the Empire State building the tallest building in the world once? On the other hand to make the meaning negative we use least This was the least exciting day in my life. This was the least exciting day in my life.

Ali Sarıca İngilizce Öğretmenliği 1. Sınıf Gündüz Grubu No: