Lesson 14: The Best in the World
Superlative Adjectives (Records & Extremes)
English A2 – Pre-Intermediate | Unit 4: Comparisons and Work Life
🎯 Lesson Goals
- Identify the difference between comparative and superlative forms.
- Apply the “the + -est” and “the most” rules correctly.
- Discuss world records and personal “bests” in a professional and social context.
⚖️ The Comparison Scale
Before we look at the rules, let’s understand the difference in meaning. We use comparatives for two things, but superlatives for the “number one” in a group.
Adjective
Tall
“Mary is tall.”
Comparative
Taller than
“Mary is taller than Lucy.”
Superlative
The Tallest
“Mary is the tallest girl in the class.”
Fast
“A car is fast.”
Faster than
“A car is faster than a bike.”
The Fastest
“A jet is the fastest of all.”
🔍 Guided Discovery
Read (listen to) these facts about our world. Pay attention to how the adjectives change when we talk about one thing (the “number one”) in a whole group.
- Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth.
- Tokyo is the most crowded city in the world.
- The Vatican City is the smallest country in existence.
- For many travelers, the best way to see Europe is by train.
📐 Grammar Focus: The Superlative Rule
We use superlatives to compare three or more things. Note: We almost always use “the” before the superlative.
| Rule Type | Superlative Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Short (1 Syllable) | the + -est | Old → The oldest |
| CVC Rule | Double letter + -est | Hot → The hottest |
| Ending in -y | Change y to -iest | Easy → The easiest |
| Long (2+ Syllables) | the most + Adj | Modern → The most modern |
| Irregular | Unique forms | Good → The best Bad → The worst |
🤔 Flexible Superlatives
Just like in Lesson 13, some 2-syllable adjectives can use both rules. The -est form is very common in speech.
| Adjective | Option 1 (-est) | Option 2 (the most) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | The simplest | The most simple |
| Polite | The politest | The most polite |
🔎 Sample Questions & Answers
Q: What’s the tallest building in your city?
A: The hospital is the tallest building.
Q: Who is the best football player?
A: I think Messi is the best.
Q: What’s the most popular food in your country?
A: Arepas are the most popular.
🗣️ Language in Use: The Interview
Interviewer: Why should we hire you? What is your greatest strength?
Candidate: I think I am the hardest worker in my current team. I also try to be the most helpful person in the office.
Interviewer: And what was the most difficult challenge you faced last year?
Candidate: Dealing with a very late project. It was the worst situation, but we found the quickest solution by working together.
Interviewer: Excellent. We want the best people for this company.
💬 Your Turn: Personal Bests
Answer these three questions about your life using superlative adjectives:
- What is the most interesting place you have visited?
- Who is the funniest person you know?
- What is the best thing about your job?
🎙️ Shadowing Practice: The Ultimate City
“Tokyo is the BIGGEST city in the world. It has the FASTEST trains and the MOST AMAZING food. Some people say it is the BUSIEST place on Earth, but it is also one of the SAFEST. For many, it is the BEST destination for a modern holiday.”