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48 Superlatives
oldest, most expensive

PRESENTATION ●
a Short adjectives
When we compare three or more things with a short
adjective, we can add -est to the adjective. We usually
put the before the adjective:
The Plaza 66 is tall.
The Jin Mao Tower is taller than the Plaza 66.
The World Financial Centre is the tallest building in
Shanghai.
Top Winter Sun For spelling rules, see page 150.
Tourist Destinations
HOURS OF SUNSHINE We also compare two-syllable adjectives ending in -y
(February average)
(easy, sunny, funny) in this way:
Majorca 6 Majorca is sunny.
Tunisia 6.5 Tunisia is sunnier than Majorca.
Cyprus 7 Cyprus is the sunniest winter destination.
! Short adjectives which end in -ed (pleased, tired, Plaza 66 Jin Mao Tower World Financial
etc.) use the most. (288m) (421m) Centre (492m)
wrong: Johann is the tiredest of all of us.
right: Johann is the most tired of all of us.

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b Longer adjectives
When we compare three or more things with a long adjective, we use the most:

Zen is expensive.
Jude is more expensive than Zen.
Aspire is the most expensive.

●
c Irregular forms
The superlative forms of good and bad are irregular:
The results in May were good. Sales in January were bad.
The results in June were better. Sales in February were worse.
The results in October were the best. Sales in April were the worst.

100 Superlatives: oldest, most expensive

ESSENTIAL BUSINESS GRAMMAR AND PRACTICE

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EBGP Elem U41-49.qxd 27/3/06 16:33 Page 101

PRACTICE ●
1 Short adjectives
Complete the text with the superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.
At the Geneva Motor Show, the big car makers showed us a picture of the future.
1
The newest (new) cars from car-making alliance TPCA (Toyota, Peugeot, Citroen, Alliance) are special because
they are some of 2 (cheap) cars they have ever made. The Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, and Toyota Aygo,
which will cost about €8,500, all have the same basic design. Toyota, now one of 3 (big) car makers
in the world, provides the engines, and the cars are all made in the same factory in Kolin, where labour costs are
among 4 (low) in Europe. Cheap does not mean bad quality. The new range has one of
5
(clean) engines of any modern car, and meets 6 (late) standards for CO2 emissions.

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2 Longer adjectives
Complete the text with the superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.
One of the stars of the show was the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage. According to Aston boss Ullrich Bez, it is
1
the most compact (compact) car that Aston Martin has made for many years, and at only €100,000, it is
2
(affordable) Aston Martin ever. The V8 is 3 (important) car in the company’s history
because it will compete with rivals like the Porsche 911. They do not expect to sell as many units as Porsche, but
are sure that the V8 Vantage will be 4 (popular) car they have ever made. At the top of the range at
Geneva was the Bugatti Veyron from the VW Group. With a top speed of about 400 kph, this was 5
(powerful) car on display. But with a price tag of $1 million, it was also 6 (expensive), and they only
plan to make 300 units.

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3 Irregular forms
Complete the text with the superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.
One of 1the best-looking (good-looking) concept cars at the show is the Mitsubishi Nessie 4x4. In general, 4x4
SUVs* have 2 (bad) figures for CO2 emissions of any kind of car, but the Nessie is different. It has a
new hydrogen engine, which will give it 3 (good) CO2 emissions figure possible – 0%. And with its
powerful engine and 4x4 design, the Mitsubishi Nessie will be able to handle 4 (bad) driving conditions
with ease.

*SUV = Sports Utility Vehicle

●
4 Review
Read the sentences and correct the mistakes.
1 In 2001, we had the most best results ever. the best
2 Remington is the most old gunmaker in the US.
3 Wal-Mart is the company the largest in the world.
4 London is the most biggest city in England.
5 That was the worse presentation I have ever heard.
6 The GTX2 is the product most successful we have ever made.
7 They say the Bangkok Oriental is the better hotel in the world.
8 Intel’s latest chip is the most smallest processor they have ever made.

OVER TO YOU Make sentences with the superlative using the notes and your own ideas.
1 good decision/you have ever made Studying economics was the best decision I have
ever made.
2 expensive thing/you own .
3 nice city/in your country .
4 interesting part/your job .
5 boring part/your job .
6 big company/in your country .
7 famous person/in your country .
8 rich person/in your country .

Superlatives: oldest, most expensive 101

ESSENTIAL BUSINESS GRAMMAR AND PRACTICE

© Oxford University Press www.oup.com/elt