UNIT 107 Superlatives--the longest/the most enjoyable etc

A. Study these examples:

What is the longest river in the world?

What was the most enjoyable holiday you've ever had?

Longest and most enjoyable are superlative forms.

B. The superlative form is ~est or most... In general, we use ~est for short words and most... for longer words. (The rules are the same as those for the comparative - see Unit 104.)

long -> longest, hot -> hottest, easy -> easiest, hard -> hardest

but most famous, most boring most difficult, most expensive

These adjectives are irregular:

good -> best, bad -> worst, far -> furthest

For spelling, see Appendix 6.

C. We normally use the before a superlative (the longest/the most famous etc.):

* Yesterday was the hottest day of the year.

* That film was really boring. It was the most boring film I've ever seen.

* She is a really nice person - one of the nicest people I know.

* Why does he always come to see me at the worst possible moment? Compare:

* This hotel is the cheapest in town. (superlative)

* This hotel is cheaper than all the others in town. (comparative)

D. Oldest and eldest

The superlative of old is oldest:

* That church is the oldest building in the town. (not 'the eldest')

We use eldest (or oldest) when we are talking about people in a family:

* My eldest son is 13 years old. (or My oldest son.)

* Are you the eldest in your family? (or. the oldest.

E. After superlatives we use in with places (towns, buildings etc.):

* What is the longest river in the world? (not 'of the world')

* We had a lovely room. It was one of the nicest in the hotel. (not 'of the hotel')

We also use in for organisations and groups of people (a class/team/company etc.):

* Who is the best student in the class? (not 'of the class')

We normally use of for a period of time:

* What was the happiest day of your life?

* Yesterday was the hottest day of the year.

F. We often use the present perfect (I have done) after a superlative (see also Unit 8A):

* What's the best film you've ever seen?

* That was the most delicious meal I've had for a long time.

G. Sometimes we use most + adjective to mean 'very':

* The book you lent me was most interesting. (= very interesting)

* Thank you for the money. It was most generous of you. (= very generous)