Superlative Adverbs
Basics on the topic Superlative Adverbs
Superlative Adverbs – Definition
What is a superlative adverb? Superlatives are used for comparing. There are three forms we use for comparing. The positive, comparative and the superlative. Look at the chart below to see examples of these three forms of adverbs.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| positive | long |
| comparative | longer |
| superlative | longest |
Superlative adverbs always compare at least three actions or performances to one another.
Revision – Adverbs
Remember: Adverbs are words used to describe verbs. With adverbs, you can describe how something is done or in what manner something is done. You can find the adverb in a sentence by examining if the verb is described in more detail.
| Subject | Verb | Adverb | Object |
|---|---|---|---|
| My brother | runs | slower | than my sister. |
The adverb (slower) compares how fast the brother in the example can run compared to his sister.
Forming Superlatives – Regular Adverbs
How do we make the superlative form of an adverb? Now that we can define superlative adverbs, we will learn that there are many different ways to make the superlative form of an adverb. Let’s first look at how regular superlative adverbs are formed. A regular superlative adverb follows rules and patterns.
If an adverb ends with the suffix -ly, add least or most in front of the word. For example, the adverbs likely and evenly change to the superlative form by adding least or most in front, making them least likely and most evenly.
If an adverb does not have the suffix -ly, add -est to the end. For example, the adverbs long and high change to the superlative form by adding the suffix -est to the end, making them longest and highest.
Forming Superlatives – Irregular Adverbs
Irregular superlative adverbs don't follow any of these rules, so we need to memorize how to make each of these adverbs superlative!
For example, the superlative adverb of badly is worse.
Superlative Adverbs – Summary
What is superlative adverb?
Superlative adverbs are adverb forms which compare at least three actions or performances to one another. A regular superlative adverb follows rules and patterns. Irregular superlative adverbs don't follow any of these rules, so we need to memorize how to make each of these adverbs superlative.
So what is the superlative for the adverb fast? It is fastest, because the positive fast does not end on the syllable -ly.
Keep all this in mind the next time you want to describe verbs in a more detailed manner. Want some more practice with superlative adverbs? On this website you will find more interactive exercises with examples as well as worksheets, and other activities.
Let's practice: superlative adverb Exercises
With the following exercises on the topic of superlative adverb, you can test whether you have understood everything. Test your knowledge now!
Transcript Superlative Adverbs
Superlative Adverbs Bertha, Pip, and Koko have decided to go head to head in the sequel to their favorite game: Biggest, Best, Hero Adventure! The score screen is using superlative adverbs to describe how they did! Let's take a closer look. An adverb, describes an action by answering questions such as: how?,(...) when?,(...) where?,(...) how often?,(...) and in what way?. A superlative adverb compares THREE or more actions or performances to one another. Regular superlative adverbs follow rules and patterns. If an adverb ends with the suffix
Superlative Adverbs exercise
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Determine if the adverbs are regular or irregular.
HintsThere is one regular, and one irregular adverb in each sentence.
SolutionThese examples are all irregular and need to be memorized:
- Worst is the superlative for badly.
- Furthest is the superlative of far.
- Best is the superlative of well.
- Earliest is the superlative of early.
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Identify which sentences contain superlative adverbs.
HintsSuperlative adverbs compare 3 or more actions or performances.
Superlative adverbs say what something is like to a degree. For example, if you did very badly at a game you might feel like the worst player.
Sometimes superlative adverbs follow the words most or least compare one action to another.
Solution- Sentence 1 uses superlative adverbs as it is comparing all three friends.
- Sentence 2 does not use superlative adverbs because it is only comparing 2 flavors.
- Sentence 3 does not use superlative adverbs because is just describing the dog; it uses an adjective.
- Sentence 4 uses superlative adverbs as it compares 4 members of a family.
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Identify the adverbs in their superlative form.
HintsIrregular adverbs don't follow the usual rules. For these exceptions, you need to memorize the superlative form.
Complete the sequence: good, better, ______.
Complete the sequence: bad, worse, _____.
SolutionIrregular superlative adverbs need to be memorized.
Regular adverbs: early, far
Irregular adverbs: well, badly, little, much -
Identify the correct and incorrect superlative adverbs.
HintsExample:
Out of all the players, Koko is least likely to complete the level first.Example:
Pip collected the highest amount of coins in the level.In each sentence there is one mistake, and one correct superlative adverb.
SolutionIncorrect answers:
- Least and most cannot be combined with the ending est to make a superlative form.
- Best, worst, and most are already superlative, and cannot be combined with the ending est.
- When an adverb ends with the letter Y, such as with early, the y is changed to an i to create iest for the superlative form.
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Determine which superlative adverbs are used with "most" and "least".
HintsAdverbs that end with the suffix -est, such as easiest, do not use the words the most or the least to complete the superlative form.
Adverbs that end with the suffix -est, such as fastest, do not use the words the most or the least to complete the superlative form.
SolutionThe adverbs likely and carefully both end in ly, and must have the words most or least before them.
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Write the adverbs below in their superlative form.
HintsThere are 3 irregular adverbs.
Regular adverbs always end in -est or -ly.
SolutionThe correct answers are shown in the image above.
The regular adverbs in this problem are: carefully, evenly, slowly, and longest.
The irregular adverbs in this problem are: most, best, and farthest.
