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The phrase “superlative” is usually used as an adjective to explain extremely sensible issues: a superlative scholar who excels in historical past, or a superlative efficiency on Broadway.
In each English and Spanish grammar, a superlative is an adjective or adverb that amplifies the best or lowest diploma of comparability. Finally, they assist us specific our ideas with extra precision. For instance, to precisely describe the great thing about Playa del Carmen in Mexico, most could be tempted to name it not simply “lovely” however the “most lovely” seashore in Mexico.
Studying Spanish superlatives lets you place emphasis on the stuff you love most—or the stuff you love least. On this publish, we’ll dive into a variety of superlatives that can be utilized so as to add aptitude to your sentences. Plus, we’ll additionally cowl comparative adjectives, that are useful in describing sure components as they relate to one another.
When you’re inquisitive about how you can say “the perfect canine,” “the worst good friend,” or “probably the most lovely seashore” in Spanish, learn on!
>> Want a primer earlier than leaping in? Get began with primary Spanish phrases and phrases.
Are superlatives and comparative adjectives the identical?
To grasp superlatives, it’s useful to additionally study the perform of comparative adjectives. They’re related in that they each depend on comparability, which applies to each English and Spanish grammar. Comparative adjectives in Spanish examine two issues, whereas superlatives examine three or extra nouns.
Comparative adjectives in Spanish
Listed here are two examples of comparative adjectives in Spanish:
La playa es más bonita que el bosque. = The seashore is prettier than the forest.
La playa es menos bonita que la montaña. = The seashore is much less fairly than the mountain.
In these examples, we’re evaluating two issues. Within the first, the phrase más bonita que compares la playa (the seashore) and el bosque (the forest). Within the second, menos bonita que compares la playa (the seashore) and la montaña (the mountain).
Superlatives in Spanish
Then again, Spanish superlatives are all about extremes—you’re singling out one thing as being “probably the most” or “the least” in a roundabout way.
We are able to use a superlative to explain one factor usually or inside a gaggle. For instance:
Esta playa es la más bella en el páis entero. = This seashore is probably the most lovely in the entire nation.
Es la playa más corta. = It’s the shortest seashore.
In each examples, the seashore is excessive in a roundabout way. The primary sentence describes this seashore as probably the most lovely amongst a gaggle (all of the seashores within the nation). Within the second instance, it’s described because the shortest. Discover that when utilizing superlatives, the factors of comparability could be implied, for the reason that size of this seashore doesn’t fall into any specific group. We’ll flesh this level out within the subsequent part.
Superlatives and comparatives in Spanish each assist us rank issues in line with their traits, nevertheless it’s necessary to recollect how their features differ!
>>Want a evaluate? Brush up on 100+ frequent Spanish adjectives.
What’s the distinction between a relative and absolute superlative?
A relative superlative makes a judgment a few noun being probably the most or least in comparison with others in the identical class or group. For instance:
Mi tía es la persona más alta de mi familia. = My aunt is the tallest individual in my household.
Lima es la ciudad más interesante de Perú. = Lima is the most fascinating metropolis in Peru.
Then again, an absolute superlative exhibits {that a} noun is probably the most or the least with out making a direct comparability to anything. You may acknowledge it when you see some examples. It’s the adjective fashioned by including a suffix equivalent to –ísimo or -ísima.
lindo → lindísimo
El caballo es lindísimo.
fairly → extraordinarily fairly
The horse is extraordinarily fairly.
corto → cortísimo
La película es cortísima.
quick → extraordinarily quick
The movie is extraordinarily quick.
Let’s have a look at two extra examples to deliver all of it collectively.
To check Carlos to everybody else within the class, we use a relative superlative:
Carlos es el estudiante más inteligente de la clase. = Carlos is the most clever scholar within the class.
Now, let’s say that Carlos is just not solely good in comparison with different college students, however extraordinarily good. Good, even. We’d use an absolute superlative like:
Carlos es inteligentísimo. = Carlos is extraordinarily clever.
On this case, we’re not evaluating Carlos to anybody else. We’re giving a standalone judgment that he’s sensible.
To summarize: You’ll use a relative superlative to explain one noun as “probably the most” or “the least” in comparison with others in a gaggle. You’ll use an absolute superlative to explain one noun as “probably the most” or “the least” with out making a direct comparability to anything.
How do you kind Spanish superlatives?
Spanish superlatives observe a easy sample that’s simple to decide to reminiscence. Most learners are relieved to listen to that there aren’t many irregular varieties to recollect!
Common Spanish superlative adjectives
Comply with these easy guidelines to kind Spanish superlatives. In all instances, do not forget that the article and the adjective within the superlative phrase should agree with the gender and quantity (singular or plural) of the noun you’re describing.
To explain one thing as being “probably the most” in comparison with others, use article + más + adjective + de. For instance:
- Su escuela es la más nueva del pueblo. = Their college is the latest in the city.
- Los maestros son los más talentosos de todos. = The academics are probably the most proficient of all.
To explain one thing as being “the least” in comparison with others, use article + menos + adjective + de. For instance:
- Los niños pequeños son los menos independientes de la escuela. = The little kids are the least unbiased in the college.
- Son los menos competitivos de todos, también. = They’re the least aggressive of all, too.
You may drop the de when you’re talking usually and never making a direct comparability inside a gaggle. For instance:
- Los estudiantes son los más artísticos. = The scholars are probably the most inventive.
- Las salas son las más amplias. = The rooms are probably the most spacious.
- También son las menos oscuras por las ventanas grandes. = They’re additionally the least darkish due to the massive home windows.
To kind an absolute superlative that doesn’t want some extent of comparability, take a look at the principles beneath.
If the adjective or adverb ends with a vowel, drop the vowel and add -ísimo:
- bello → bell
o→ bell- + ísimo → bellísimo - delgado → delgad
o→ delgad- + ísimo → delgadísimo - grande → grand
e→ grand- + ísimo → grandísimo - inteligente → inteligent
e→ inteligent- + ísimo → inteligentísimo
If the adjective or adverb ends with a consonant, simply add -ísimo:
- common → common + ísimo → popularísimo
- superficial → superficial + ísimo → superficialísimo
Irregular Spanish superlative adjectives
There are a number of irregular Spanish superlatives that you simply’ll must study. Whereas irregular superlatives aren’t plentiful in Spanish, you’ll use a number of of them—like bueno and malo— continuously in dialog.
- bueno → mejor good → greatest
- malo → peor unhealthy → worst
- viejo → mayor outdated → oldest (when referring to individuals)
- joven → menor younger → youngest (when referring to individuals)
- grande → mayor large → greatest
- pequeño → menor small → smallest
| Spanish | English |
| el mejor, la mejor, los mejores, las mejores | the perfect |
| el peor, la peor, los peores, las mejores | the worst |
| el mayor, la mayor, los mayores, las mayores | the oldest (referring to individuals) or the largest |
| el menor, la menor, los menores, las menores | the youngest (referring to individuals) or the smallest |
You’ll discover that some absolute superlatives bear spelling adjustments to keep up the pronunciations of the basis phrases they’re primarily based on.
- poco → po
co→ poqu- + ísimo → poquísimo - fresco → fres
co→ fresqu- + ísimo → fresquísimo - cerca → cer
ca→ cerqu- + ísima → cerquísima
Within the examples above, the pronunciation of the c could be smooth, like an s sound, if we simply dropped the final vowel and added -ísimo. The c adjustments to qu to keep up the arduous ok sound of the unique phrase.
Beneath are another examples of irregular absolute Spanish superlative adjectives.
- joven → jovencísimo younger → extraordinarily younger
- antiguo → antiquísimo vintage → historic
- nuevo → novísimo new → extraordinarily new
- fuerte → fortísimo sturdy → extraordinarily sturdy
Straightforward sufficient, proper? You’ll be capable to beef up your descriptions very quickly.
Do Spanish superlative adjectives should agree with the nouns they describe?
Sure! Each Spanish adjective, together with a superlative adjective, has to agree in gender and quantity with the noun it’s describing.
For instance, take into account las actrices (the actresses). It’s a female and plural noun. So the superlative adjective that describes las actrices might be female and plural, too.
Estas actrices chilenas son talentosísimas. = These Chilean actresses are extraordinarily proficient.
Within the instance beneath, los actores (the actors) is masculine and plural, so the superlative adjective phrase los más jovenes (the youngest) is masculine and plural, too.
Los actores peruanos son los más jóvenes del competition. = The Peruvian actors are the youngest within the competition.
Grasp Spanish superlatives and past
Spanish superlatives are a significant a part of Spanish grammar guidelines, they usually add a component of sophistication to your language abilities. With Spanish superlatives, you’ll be able to elevate your conversations and successfully describe “probably the most” and “the least” in a gaggle or usually.
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Written by Laura Skidmore
