English Superlatives Explained: Relative vs. Absolute Rules and Exceptions

01/10/2026 Learning & Grammer created by Sprachcaffe Team

Explanation, examples, and sentences with the English superlative | After having explored the comparatives of majority, equality, and minority in detail, all that's left is to discover everything about their best ally: the English superlative!

In this way, at the end of this Sprachcaffe lesson, you will be able to say, in English, that someone is truly beautiful , or perhaps the most beautiful of all : in fact, we will discover how both the majority superlative (or minority superlative) and the absolute superlative are formed in English, and we will also see together what the differences are between these two constructions.

Don't worry: the topic is simple, if approached with the right spirit. We'll also add example sentences that will help you better understand the formation of the superlative in English by placing it in a concrete and realistic context.

Let's get started right away!

What is the English Superlative and What is it Used For?

The superlative in English is a grammatical form used to express the highest degree of a quality within - or not within - a group of elements.

It is used to compare three or more elements and to indicate that one of them possesses the described quality to a greater extent (majority superlative) or lesser extent (minority superlative) than all the others.

The superlative is used to emphasize the superiority or inferiority of one element compared to others in the context of a given quality .

This allows us to express clear and definitive comparisons between multiple elements: we have the necessary construction to form the superlative, using "the most/least + adjective + reference group", or the suffix -issimo/a.

In English, there are two different types of superlative, just like in Italian:

Relative , which is used to compare an element with all the others belonging to a group, according to a specific characteristic;
Absolute , to focus on a subject that stands out for its quality to the highest degree, without comparing it with other elements.

In both cases, the superlative in English is used to:

Emphasize : This allows you to highlight that an element has a quality that is exceptionally superior to all the others.
Example :
She is the most talented musician here.
Compare : Facilitates the comparison of multiple elements, making it clear which one possesses a certain quality to the highest or lowest degree.
Example :
This mountain is the highest in the region.
Describe : Helps provide precise and detailed descriptions, indicating the outstanding features of an item.
Example :
He is the most diligent worker in the company. → He is the most diligent worker in the company.

The English Relative Superlative

Let's start by looking at how the relative superlative is formed in English. As we've seen, this is the construction used to compare an item to all the others in a group, indicating that it possesses a quality of the highest degree compared to the others.

As we also found in the comparative of majority or minority, we have two different forms for short and long adjectives.

It is formed by adding the suffix " -est" to short adjectives or using " most " for long adjectives. The definite article " the " is also added before the superlative adjective.
So:

Short adjectives :
the + adjective + -est
Example :
He is the tallest in the class.
Long adjectives:
the most + adjective
Example :
She is the most intelligent student here.

The Absolute English Superlative

Instead, the absolute superlative in English is used to express a quality to the highest degree without comparing it to other elements.

In English, it's very similar: it's formed by using adverbs like " very " or " extremely " before the adjective, or by using intensified forms like " the -est " or " the most " in an absolute context, that is, by omitting the part where it is compared to a group or a plurality.

So:

Short adjectives:
very/extremely + adjective
Example :
She is very tall. → She is very tall.
Long adjectives:
very/extremely + adjective
Example :
This problem is extremely difficult.

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English Majority and Minority Superlatives: What's the Difference?

The relative superlative in English, can be either a majority or a minority verb: the difference between the two versions, of course, is what we want to place the emphasis on.

On the one hand, the superlative of majority indicates that a person or thing possesses a quality to a greater extent than all the other elements of a group.

He is the tallest in the class.

On the other hand, the minority superlative indicates that a person or thing possesses a quality to a lesser extent than all the other elements in a group. Naturally, we can express the exact same concept as the previous sentence, but using the minority superlative:

He is the least short in the class (which is like saying the tallest)

The key difference, therefore, besides the emphasis placed, is the adverb used: it will be the most for the majority, and the least for the minority.

These structures allow you to express the maximum or minimum degree of a quality in a clear and precise way.

Sentences with the English Superlative

Let's now look at some example sentences with all the possible superlative combinations in English, so you can practice seeing how this construction behaves in different contexts. This will be very useful not only to learn how to identify it much more easily, but also-and above all-to become familiar with its grammar and learn to use it yourself, sounding increasingly native when you speak English.

That said, let's start with some sentences with the relative superlative in English:

He is the tallest student in the class.
This is the most expensive car in the showroom.
She is the most talented artist in the group.

Let's now look at some sentences with the absolute superlative in English:

She is very beautiful. → She is very beautiful.
The cake is extremely delicious.
He is incredibly smart. → He is incredibly smart.

Now, let's get more specific and look at some sentences with the majority superlative and minority superlative in English:

He is the strongest athlete on the team.
This is the most challenging puzzle I have ever solved.
She is the most diligent worker in the office.
This is the least expensive item in the store.
He is the least experienced member of the team.
She is the least confident person in the group.

Great! We've finished today's lesson. As you've probably noticed, the superlative in English is a relatively simple topic.

Make sure you understand this lesson well enough before moving on to the next one, where we'll look at the differences between much and many and the rules for how and when to use them, all right here on Sprachcaffe!

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