The superlative
Understanding grammar is key to understanding a language.
German grammar tips with Wunderbla, online German lessons.
The superlative
The superlative is constructed in one of the following ways:
- am + adjective + ‑sten ending
Ich schwimme am schnellsten.
I swim fastest.
Er isst am liebsten Eis.
He likes eating ice cream best.
Dieses Hotel ist am billigsten.
This hotel is the cheapest.
- der/die/das + adjective + ‑ste ending + noun
Der höchste Berg Deutschlands ist die Zugspitze.
The highest mountain in German is the Zugspitze.
Die lustigste Komödie des Jahres.
The funniest comedy of the year.
Wir feiern in der schönsten Kneipe der Stadt.
We are celebrating in the nicest pub in town.
- As in the comparative, a, o and u often take an umlaut:
jung (jünger) (am) jüngsten
young (younger) youngest
groß (größer) (am) größten
big (bigger) biggest
- These are the most important irregular forms to learn:
gern lieber am liebsten
willingly more willingly most willingly (note: these words are mostly used to refer to what we like doing)
gut besser am besten
good better best
hoch höher am höchsten
high higher highest
viel mehr am meisten
a lot more most
Note: an e is often added before the endings ‑sten und ‑ste in order to make pronunciation easier.
Betty ist am ältesten.
Betty is the oldest.
Der weiteste Weg.
The longest path.
Taking your learning further
Still facing difficulties with 'The superlative'? Improve your German with Wunderbla - try our German lessons for free now and receive a free level assessment!
Do you know any tips to avoid making mistakes with 'The superlative'? Share it with us!
Improve your German further and test Wunderbla, online German lessons.