Flo-Joe for Cambridge English Exams

Cambridge English: Preliminary

Vocabulary practice for the Cambridge PET exam

Grammar: Introduction to Superlatives

1: Work it Out

The superlative is used to say something is 'the biggest', 'the smallest', 'the most exciting', 'the least expensive' etc. But when do you use 'est' and when should you use 'most' or 'least'? Do you have to make any spelling changes? Look at these sentences. Can work out the rules:

John is the tallest in the class.
This is the fastest car I've ever driven.
The Danakil desert is the hottest place on earth.
This is the happiest I've ever seen him.
I'm reading about the most expensive house in the world.
She's the least popular person in the group.

Try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: 2: Check Superlatives

Complete each sentence by typing the correct superlative form:

A) Tim is (OLD) boy in the class.

B) You always take (BIG) piece of cake.

C) I'll carry (HEAVY) bag for you.

D) That school only takes (INTELLIGENT) pupils.

E) I did (COMPLICATED) puzzle first, then a difficult one.

Well done! We use 'the ...est' for short, one and some two syllable adjectives. One syllable adjectives ending in a vowel and a consonant double the consonant. Adjectives ending in 'y' drop the 'y' and add 'iest'. Other two syllable and longer adjectives use 'most' or 'least'. The correct answers are A) the oldest, B) the biggest, C) the heaviest, D) the most intelligent, E) the least complicated. We use 'est' for short, one and some two syllable adjectives. One syllable adjectives ending in a vowel and a consonant (hot, big) double the consonant (hottest, biggest). Adjectives ending in 'y' drop the 'y' and add 'iest' (heaviest). Other two syllable and longer adjectives use 'most' or 'least' (least interesting, most expensive). Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

 

 

3: Sentence Transformation Practice

For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
Use no more than three words.

A) There isn't a river in the world as long as the Nile.
The Nile river in the world.

B) I've never visited anywhere so beautiful.
It was place I have ever visited.

C) I've never read such a sad book.
It book I have ever read.

D) Those parcels are lighter than this one.
This parcel of them all.

E) Do the easiest questions first in the exam.
In the exam, do the questions that difficult first.

F) I have never met such a famous person before.
She was person I have ever met.

Well done!The correct answers are: A) is the longest, B) the most beautiful, C) was the saddest, D) is the heaviest, E) are the least, F) the most famous.Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

Study Tip, Grammar

To practise superlative forms design a quiz for your partner. Use the Internet to write questions about the biggest, the most expensive, the oldest ect. For example:

Where is the coldest place on earth?
What is the tallest building in the world/in your country?
How much did the most expensive painting cost?