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JohnKeats Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Superlatives
Do natives agree with the following rules about superlatives?
Adjectives of three or more syllables usually have MOST:
Mr Seller is "the most amusing" person I've ever met.
This watch is "the most expensive" we have.
Botticelli's paintings are "the most beautiful" in the gallery.
(We can include: the most hardworking, the most obedient, the most unbelievable).
Adjectives with two syllables are not all treated in the same way.
Words like "unhappy" are exceptions: they can have forms in -est
(unhappiest / most unhappy).
Thanks a lot.
JK
Adjectives of three or more syllables usually have MOST:
Mr Seller is "the most amusing" person I've ever met.
This watch is "the most expensive" we have.
Botticelli's paintings are "the most beautiful" in the gallery.
(We can include: the most hardworking, the most obedient, the most unbelievable).
Adjectives with two syllables are not all treated in the same way.
Words like "unhappy" are exceptions: they can have forms in -est
(unhappiest / most unhappy).
Thanks a lot.
JK
Top answer
This native speaker agrees.
- This native speaker agrees.
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3 Answers
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Yes. Except for prefixed forms like 'unhappy' I don't think there's any example of a three-syllable adjective that forms its superlative with -est.
CJ
CJ
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