Unit 90 · Adjectives and adverbs

the oldest / the most expensive

Study

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Box A is bigger than Box B.

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Box A is bigger than all the other boxes.

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Box A is the biggest box.

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The Europa Hotel is more expensive than the Grand.

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The Europa Hotel is more expensive than all the other hotels in the city.

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The Europa Hotel is the most expensive hotel in the city.

Bigger and more expensive etc. are comparative forms (➞ Unit 87). Biggest and most expensive etc. are superlative forms.

The superlative form is -est (oldest) or most ... (most expensive).

Short words (old/cheap/nice etc.) ➞ the -est:

old	➞ the oldest
cheap	➞ the cheapest
nice	➞ the nicest

but

good	➞ the best
bad	➞ the worst

Spelling (➞ Appendix 5):

big	➞ the biggest
hot	➞ the hottest

Words ending in -y (easy/heavy etc.) ➞ the -iest:

easy	➞ the easiest
heavy	➞ the heaviest
pretty	➞ the prettiest

Long words (careful/expensive/interesting etc.) ➞ the most ...:

careful	➞ the most careful
interesting	➞ the most interesting

We say the oldest ... / the most expensive ... etc. (with the):

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The church is very old. It's the oldest building in the town. (= it is older than all the other buildings)

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What is the longest river in the world?

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Money is important, but it isn't the most important thing in life.

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Excuse me, where is the nearest bank?

You can use the oldest / the best / the most expensive etc. without a noun:

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Luke is a good player, but he isn't the best in the team. (the best = the best player)

You can use superlative + I've ever ... / you've ever ... etc.:

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The film was very bad. I think it's the worst film I've ever seen.

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What is the most unusual thing you've ever done?

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked

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90.1

Write sentences with comparatives (older etc.) and superlatives (the oldest etc.).

1
big/small
(A/D) A is bigger than D. (A) A is the biggest. (B) B is the smallest. example
2
long/short
(C/A) C is . (D) D is . (B) B .
3
young/old
(D/C) D . (B) . (C) .
4
expensive/cheap
(D/A) D . (C) C . (A) A .
5
good/bad
(A/C) A . (A) A . (D) D .

90.2

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

1
This building is very old. It's the oldest building in the town. example
2
It was a very happy day. It was of my life.
3
It's a very good film. It's I've ever seen.
4
She's a very popular singer. She's in the country.
5
It was a very bad mistake. It was I've ever made.
6
It's a very pretty village. It's I've ever seen.
7
It was a very cold day. It was of the year.
8
He's a very boring person. He's I've ever met.

90.3

Write sentences with a superlative (the longest etc.). Choose from the boxes.

SydneyAlaskahighcountryriverAfricaSouth AmericaEverestthe NilelargecitystateAustraliathe worldBrazilJupiterlongmountainplanetthe USAthe solar system

1
Sydney is the largest city in Australia. example
2
Everest .
3
Brazil .
4
Alaska .
5
The Nile .
6
Jupiter .