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Superlatives: The+ adjective+ est; The most/least + adjective. Regular and irregular adjectives (good, bad, far)

Presentation / Objective


In this section, you will explore the superlative form, its use. It is essential to understand superlatives because you will be able to rank the highest or lowest quality of an object in a group in everyday speech.

You will have some examples, explanations where you will practice your writing and speaking. In the end, you will also be able to test your knowledge with some quizzes.

most expensive

Teacher: “Where is your homework?”
Pupil: “I lost it fighting this guy who said you weren't the best teacher at the college."

Taken from: jokes4teachers.com


Superlatives are used to describe an object, person or idea within a large group of its kind.


Objective

At the end of this topic you will:
Be able to use regular and irregular superlatives by recognizing, practicing and applying them in order to express the greatest degree of a given descriptor.

Content


Check the following chart. It will help you to learn about the superlative form, when to use it and the rules to form it. Click on each of the four squares to learn more:

Now read the following examples. It will help you to understand superlatives better.

  • This is the oldest building in Mexico.
  • She likes the cheapest cafeteria around here.
  • It’s the nicest gift I’ve ever received.
  • This bank is the safest place to keep your money.
  • It’s the hottest country in the world.
  • Jupiter is the biggest planet in our Solar System.
  • This is the funniest joke I’ve heard.
  • It is the happiest day in my life.
  • The most dangerous time in winter.
  • I can’t find the most comfortable jeans.
  • The best place in the world.
  • That’s the worst film I have seen this year.
  • This is the least expensive sweater in the store.

The opposite of the most is the least:

  • This is the least expensive phone in the store. (All the other phones cost a lot more).
  • This is the least popular park in Toluca. (This park is not popular. The other parks are much more popular).

Reading

Activity 1

Reading to understand details

What comes to your mind when you listen to the word circus?

Do you like going to the circus?

When was the last time you were in a circus?

Read the following text called: A circus in Coyoacan and decide if the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

Reading

Activity 2

Circus Performances

Do you prefer clowns or acrobats?
What is your favourite act?
Give your opinion about these performances by outstanding its characteristic. Use the following adjectives:

Strong / dangerous / precise / spectacular / coordinated /

  When you finish check that you answer yes to this questions:


Listening

Activity 3

Listening to identify superlatives

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?
Why do you like that place?
Would you like to travel around the world?

Watch the video The Most Beautiful Places in the World. Click the link to watch the video. You can do it as many times as you need it.

Then, match the two columns, in the end, you will know your result.

Listening

Activity 4

Superlatives

What’s your opinion about the previous places?
Let’s classify these amazing places with some superlative adjectives.
You can watch the video again, this time you will write the superlative form that corresponds to each place.

Mountains

Spragg, B. (2008). The Fiordland National Park. Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/volvob12b/8366209611

Look at the example:
1. Fiordland National Park is the most overwhelming mountains range.

  Before sending your answers to check the following statements. Did you use just an adjective in each sentence?


Writing

Activity 5

Describing my neighbourhood

Do you prefer big cities or small countries?
What places do you frequently visit a city?
What can you get in a market?
Read the following paragraph and complete it with the superlative form given in parenthesis.

City

Vanshiway, V. (2016). Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/la-construcci%C3%B3n-de-ciudad-complejo-1625852/

Writing

Activity 6

The place I live

Where do you live?
What do you like about the place where you live?

Now write a similar paragraph describing the best places in your city or neighbourhood (60 – 100 words). You can use the following ideas to include in your description.

  • (delicious) restaurants
  • (good) hotels
  • (expensive) department store
  • (unusual) market
  • (interesting) museums
  • (Not expensive) fruit and vegetable
  • (beautiful) flowers
  • (original) souvenirs
  • (wild) clothes

Use these questions to check your writing:

  • Are you using at least eight superlatives to describe your city or town?
  • Did you check grammar and spelling?
  • Are you using linking words to connect your sentences? (first, additionally, also, besides, further, moreover, finally)
  • Are you writing the text using between 50 to 80 words?

Read the following example. It can help as a guide for this activity.

    The place where I live

  • I live in a town near Desierto de Los Leones one of the most beautiful forests in the city. There are some local restaurants where you can enjoy the most delicious typical food. Prices vary depending on the place you decide to eat. It can be the least expensive or one of the best restaurants in the area. You should go there sometime.

Write your descriptions following the instructions.

When you finish, use the following rubrics to get your score.

Speaking

Activity 7

Speaking about your country

City

Have you ever met a foreigner?
Today is your opportunity to meet and know more about a foreign person’s country. Follow the next steps:

  1. Visit the webpage: Interpals.net.
  2. Open an account (it's free)
  3. Once you sign in, edit your profile: name, likes and dislikes, favourite music, books, films, etc. Most important is that you practice your English!
  4. Look for a person with similar likes, introduce yourself and ask him/her the following questions about his/her country.

Or

If you prefer you can visit some touristic places in your town and interview foreigners.
Tell him or her that you are studying English and would like to ask him or her some questions about the things he or she loves the most about his or her country.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR COUNTRY? MEXICO

NA. (2005). Colors. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/colores-méxico-colorido-mexico-1353407/ Dezzeter, A. (2005). Horse. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/méxico-puebla-carro-veh%C3%ADculo-1388435/ NA. (2016). Cabo San Lucas. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/cabos-san-lucas-mexico-1206254/ Garcia, M. (2013). CU. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/biblioteca-méxico-ciudad-345273/ Mark, D. (2012). Mexico. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/mexico-ciudad-la-construcción-de-71209/ De la Torre, R. (2014). Historia. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/la-construcción-de-histórico-469032/ NA. (2012). States. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/es/mexico-bandera-mano-nacional-641595/

  1. What’s / cheap / restaurant?
  2. What’s / high / building?
  3. What’s / expensive / place?
  4. What’s / big / city?
  5. What’s / hot / month?
  6. What’s / beautiful / city?
  7. What’s / popular / store?
  8. What’s / dangerous / place?
  9. What’s / delicious / food?
  10. What’s / good / way of transportation?
  11. What’s / bad / time to visit this city?
  12. What’s / long / river?
  13. What’s / good / school?
  14. What’s / far / Mexican’s beach from here?
  15. What’s / old / building?
  16. What’s / populated / city?

Now make a summary with all the answers you got and RECORD it.

Include the following aspects:

  • What and where the places are.
  • Use the superlative elements you discussed with your partner.
  • Add extra information about those places.
  • Don’t forget to use the superlative rules properly.

Listen to the example and do your own following the instructions requested:

Your tutor will check if you:

  • Now start your activity. When you finish, use the following rubric to evaluate your performance.

Self assessment

Exercise 1

Test yourself

Now that you learnt to use and have practised superlative adjectives, it’s time to test yourself.
Complete the sentences, using the correct superlative form.

Self assessment

Exercise 2

Practice and test your knowledge

Remember that not all the adjectives become a superlative in the same way. There are short and long adjectives, and each has its unique spelling. Don’t forget that irregular adjectives have their proper spelling.
Complete the questions with superlative adjectives.

Self assessment

Exercise 3

Practice and test your knowledge

Now relax and assess your understanding of superlatives. Choose an answer to the previous questions. Then check your answers.

References

Basic references

  • Eales, F., y Oakes, S. Speak Out Elementary. Pearson Education. 2012. Oxeden, C., Latham-Koenig, C. y Seligson, P. American English File 1. Oxford University Press. 2008.
  • Saslow, J., Ascher, A. y Morsberger, R. Top Notch 1. Pearson Longman. 2011.
  • Soarz, J. y Soarz, L. American Headway 1. Oxford University Press. 2001.

Complementary references

  • Aarts, Bas. (2011). Oxford Modern English Grammar. New York. Oxford University Press. Chamot, Anna Uhl, et al. (2008). The learning strategies. New York. Longman.