ishquality: “youngish”
ismdoctrine, belief “materialism”
istperson who “spiritualist”
ityquality: “mendacity”
ivenature: “evaluative”
izecause: “nationalize”
lesslacking: “pointless”
mentcondition: “development”
nessstate: “happiness”
ouscharacteristic: analogous also spelled ious: “obvious”
shipposition: “leadership”
tionstate: motion also spelled
sion: “tension”
Sung. See
sing.Sunk. See
sink.Superlative. In
comparison the highest degree is called superlative Superlative is the highest degree In the example highest
is atypical superlative, formed by adding
“-est” to the simple form of the
adjective high The same pattern applies to most
one-syllable or short adjectives and adverbs. Longer adverbs and adjectives form the superlative by combining most and the simple form Superlative is not the most acceptable form of the adjective. One most commonly sees the simple form.”
Note that these compound
modifiers are never hyphenated. Since the line between long and short modi ers is not very clear, it is necessary to check a
dictionary or reference grammar to be sure that an est superlative form exists. See also
compoundword and
hyphen.There are many irregular adjectives and adverbs, the most common of which are listed herewith their unpredictable superlative forms
“bad (badly, worst
“good,best” “ill, worst
“little, least (not
in sense of size little, littlest
“many, most
“much,most”
“some” and well, best These words have unexpected comparative forms as well.
Superlatives can be used only when comparison extends beyond two things or
people Superlative is the highest degree of the three levels of comparison.”
WRONG: Johnson is the best of the two skaters RIGHT Johnson is the better of the two skaters. Johnson is the best
skater in the whole class Standard Englishpermits only this use of the superlative and comparative, while more
colloquial usage allows superlative when
emphasis is sought. In no circumstances should most be added to an adjective or adverb that has already taken the est superlative form.
WRONG: Johnson is the most fastest skater in the world RIGHT Johnson is the fastest skater in the world.”
Make sure that superlatives (especially when they appear as
subject complementsi n
predicates after
linking verbs) have a clear link to the thing they are being compared to. WRONG Johnson is the fastest Unless there is a good deal of surrounding text to make it clear in what way Johnson is the fastest what, this sentence would be better and more complete if it added something like skater in the world In everyday speech, the greatest and similar unconnected superlatives are tolerable as empty expressions of enthusiasm or agreement. But in more formal writing,
it is unfair to leave the audience to guess what is being compared to what.
See also-
er.Swam. See
swim.Swim, swam, swum. An
irregular verb in its main,
past tense, and past
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