Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 90 · A2

the oldest, the most expensive

Superlatives compare one thing with all the others. Short adjectives add -est (the cheapest), adjectives ending in -y change to -iest (the easiest), and long adjectives take the most (the most careful). good and bad become the best and the worst. Superlatives take the, and often go with I've ever ...

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 24 minutes

In this lesson

Comparative and superlativeA3 screens of questions
-est or mostB1 screen of questions
Use theC2 screens of questions
superlative + I've ever ...D2 screens of questions

Point A of 4

Comparative and superlative

Bag A is heavier than bag B. Bag A is heavier than all the other bags. Bag A is the heaviest bag.

heavier / older / more expensive are comparatives. heaviest / oldest / most expensive are superlatives.

  • The Ritz is more expensive than the Park Hotel.
  • The Ritz costs more than any other hotel in town.
  • The Ritz is the most expensive hotel in town.

Point A · Exercise 90.1 · part 1 of 3

Read each scene. Write sentences with comparatives (older etc.) and superlatives (the oldest etc.), using the letters and adjectives given.

  1. Example

    Four boxes. A is very large, C is large, D is medium-sized and B is small.

    (big/small) A / D

    A is bigger than D.

    AnswerA is bigger than D.

  2. Example

    Four boxes. A is very large, C is large, D is medium-sized and B is small.

    (big/small) A

    A is the biggest.

    AnswerA is the biggest.

  3. Example

    Four boxes. A is very large, C is large, D is medium-sized and B is small.

    (big/small) B

    B is the smallest.

    AnswerB is the smallest.

  4. Four lines. A is 6 cm, B is 4 cm, C is 8 cm and D is 10 cm long.

    (long/short) C / A

  5. Four lines. A is 6 cm, B is 4 cm, C is 8 cm and D is 10 cm long.

    (long/short) D

  6. Four lines. A is 6 cm, B is 4 cm, C is 8 cm and D is 10 cm long.

    (long/short) B

  7. Four friends. A is 26, B is 17, C is 31 and D is 22.

    (young/old) D / C

Point A · Exercise 90.1 · part 2 of 3

Read each scene. Write sentences with comparatives (older etc.) and superlatives (the oldest etc.), using the letters and adjectives given.

  1. Four friends. A is 26, B is 17, C is 31 and D is 22.

    (young/old) B

  2. Four friends. A is 26, B is 17, C is 31 and D is 22.

    (young/old) C

  3. Four vases with price tags. A costs £8, B costs £20, C costs £45 and D costs £15.

    (expensive/cheap) D / A

  4. Four vases with price tags. A costs £8, B costs £20, C costs £45 and D costs £15.

    (expensive/cheap) C

Point A · Exercise 90.1 · part 3 of 3

Read each scene. Write sentences with comparatives (older etc.) and superlatives (the oldest etc.), using the letters and adjectives given.

  1. Four vases with price tags. A costs £8, B costs £20, C costs £45 and D costs £15.

    (expensive/cheap) A

  2. Online reviews of four cafés. Café A: superb. Café B: all right. Café C: good, but nothing special. Café D: dreadful.

    (good/bad) A / C

  3. Online reviews of four cafés. Café A: superb. Café B: all right. Café C: good, but nothing special. Café D: dreadful.

    (good/bad) A

  4. Online reviews of four cafés. Café A: superb. Café B: all right. Café C: good, but nothing special. Café D: dreadful.

    (good/bad) D

Point B of 4

-est or most

type rule examples
short words the + -est old > the oldest, cheap > the cheapest
irregular good > the best, bad > the worst
double the last letter big > the biggest, hot > the hottest
ending in -e add -st nice > the nicest
ending in -y the + -iest easy > the easiest, heavy > the heaviest, pretty > the prettiest
long words the most ... careful > the most careful, interesting > the most interesting
  • This is the cheapest café in the area.
  • That was the easiest question on the paper.
  • She's the most careful driver I know.

Point B · Extra practice

Write the superlative of the adjective in brackets.

  1. This is café in town. Everything is under £3. (cheap)

  2. Yesterday was day of the year. (hot)

  3. It was film I've ever seen. (exciting)

Point C of 4

Use the

Say the oldest, the most expensive and so on, with the.

You can leave out the noun when it is clear: the best = the best player.

  • This pub dates from 1450. It's the oldest building on the street. (= older than every other building there)
  • What's the highest mountain in Scotland?
  • Work matters, but it isn't the most important thing in life.
  • Excuse me, where's the nearest cashpoint?
  • Nadia is a good swimmer, but she isn't the best in the club. (the best = the best swimmer)

Point C · Exercise 90.3 · part 1 of 2

Write sentences with a superlative (the longest etc.). Use the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    (Sydney / large / city / Australia)

    Sydney is the largest city in Australia.

    AnswerSydney is the largest city in Australia.

  2. (Everest / high / mountain / the world)

  3. (Brazil / large / country / South America)

  4. (Jupiter / large / planet / the solar system)

  5. (Alaska / large / state / the USA)

Point C · Exercise 90.3 · part 2 of 2

Write sentences with a superlative (the longest etc.). Use the words in brackets.

  1. (the Nile / long / river / Africa)

Point D of 4

superlative + I've ever ...

A superlative often goes with I've ever ... / you've ever ... (present perfect + ever).

  • That meal was dreadful. I think it's the worst meal I've ever eaten.
  • What's the strangest thing you've ever seen?

Point D · Exercise 90.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use a superlative (the oldest etc.).

  1. Example

    This bridge is very old. It's the oldest bridge in the city.

    AnswerThis bridge is very old. It's the oldest bridge in the city.

  2. My graduation was a wonderful day. It was of my life.

  3. It's a really good book. It's I've ever read.

  4. He's a very popular actor. He's in the country.

  5. It was a very bad decision. It was I've ever made.

Point D · Exercise 90.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use a superlative (the oldest etc.).

  1. It's a very pretty beach. It's I've ever seen.

  2. It was a very hot day. It was of the summer.

  3. She's a very interesting person. She's I've ever met.

Lesson 90 · Result

How you did

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–Right

Each point

A. Comparative and superlative–Not checkedB. -est or most–Not checkedC. Use the–Not checkedD. superlative + I've ever ...–Not checked