{"id":12701,"date":"2025-01-05T22:32:31","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T21:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/maria-es-la-mas-alta-the-superlatives\/"},"modified":"2025-03-28T23:56:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T22:56:39","slug":"maria-es-la-mas-alta-the-superlatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/maria-es-la-mas-alta-the-superlatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Mar\u00eda es la m\u00e1s alta: the superlatives"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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uperlatives are the way in which, in Spanish and in all the languages I know, a quality shows its highest or lowest expression. I also assume that they exist in all languages. Moreover, they are very commonly used. In Spanish, there are two forms of superlatives: relative and absolute superlatives. While there are some irregular adjectives, the rules are simple. In this article, we will review the rules for forming superlatives, the two types, and many examples. Let\u2019s go!\n<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Los superlativos relativos.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Thinking out loud while I write, in my humble opinion, this is the case of the true superlatives in Spanish, as it expresses that a noun possesses a quality in the highest or lowest degree compared to a group of comparable nouns. The general structure to build the superlative is:<\/p>

noun <\/b><\/span>+ <\/b>verb <\/b><\/span>+ <\/b>definite article <\/b><\/span>+ (<\/b>m\u00e1s<\/b><\/span>\/menos) <\/b>adjective <\/b><\/span>+ de + <\/b>definite article <\/b><\/span>+ <\/b>noun
<\/b><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Relative superlatives of superiority.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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They are used to indicate that the noun’s quality is the highest compared to the other members of the group. What determines that the superlative indicates superiority is the use of the comparative adverb m\u00e1s <\/i> (more). <\/p>\n

Mar\u00eda<\/span> es<\/span> la<\/span> m\u00e1s<\/span> alta<\/span> de las<\/span> chicas<\/span>. Mar\u00eda is the tallest of the girls. <\/p>\n

The adjective, as in all cases in Spanish, matches the noun it describes in grammatical gender and number. In this example, alta <\/i> (tall) describes Mar\u00eda. Likewise, the definite articles also agree with the nouns they precede in both grammatical gender and number. Let\u2019s look at the same example with a masculine grammatical subject: <\/p>\n

Mario<\/span> es<\/span> el<\/span> m\u00e1s <\/span>alto<\/span> de los<\/span> chicos<\/span>. Mario is the tallest of the boys. <\/p>\n

The second noun can be omitted if, based on the context, it is unnecessary to mention it because it is understood.<\/p>\n

Mar\u00eda es la m\u00e1s alta. Mar\u00eda is the tallest.<\/p>\n

If you want to place more emphasis on the quality rather than the noun possessing it, the word order of the sentence can be altered. The latter is quite flexible in Spanish, and generally, what is placed first is emphasized: <\/p>\n

La m\u00e1s alta de las chicas es Mar\u00eda. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Relative superlatives of inferiority.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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They are used to indicate that the noun’s quality is the lowest compared to the other members of the group. What determines that the superlative indicates inferiority is the use of the comparative adverb menos <\/i> (less). <\/p>\n

Este libro es el menos interesante de todos. This book is the least interesting of all. Again, the group can be omitted if the context allows: este libro es el menos interesante, and the quality can be emphasized: el libro menos interesante de todos es este. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at some more examples of superlatives in general, and in the process, let\u2019s introduce another possibility.<\/p>\n

Esta es la pel\u00edcula m\u00e1s interesante<\/b> de todas. This is the most interesting movie of all.<\/p>\n

Juan es el estudiante menos aplicado<\/b> de la clase. Juan is the least diligent student in the class.<\/p>\n

Este hotel es el m\u00e1s caro<\/b> de la ciudad. This hotel is the most expensive in the city.<\/p>\n

Es el libro menos complicado<\/b> que he le\u00eddo. It is the least complicated book I have read.<\/p>\n

In the last case, after the superlative, there is a relative clause, something that is possible since in cases like this, the group can be omitted. The full sentence, including the group, could be, for example: es el libro menos complicado de todos los que he le\u00eddo.<\/i> It is the least complicated of all the books I have read.” <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Irregular adjectives.
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There are some adjectives that, when used in the superlative form, just like in the comparative form, have irregular forms. In these cases, the irregular form is used, omitting m\u00e1s <\/i> or menos<\/i>. They vary in singular and plural, but are the same in both grammatical genders. Let\u2019s review the same examples we saw for the comparative form, but adapting them to the superlative form. <\/p>\n

Bueno: <\/b>mejor. Este restaurante es el mejor de la ciudad. Estos restaurantes son los mejores del mundo. Esta nadadora es la mejor de la competencia. Estas nadadoras son las mejores. <\/p>\n

Malo: <\/b>peor. \u00c9l es el peor de todos en matem\u00e1ticas. Ellos son los peores de todos en matem\u00e1ticas. La tormenta de ayer fue la peor de las que he visto. Las tormentas de este a\u00f1o fueron las peores de la \u00faltima d\u00e9cada. <\/p>\n

Joven: <\/b>menor. \u00c9l es el menor de mis hermanos. Mis primos son los menores de la familia. Mi madre es la menor de sus hermanas. Mis hermanas son las menores. <\/p>\n

Viejo: <\/b>mayor. Yo soy el mayor de mis hermanos. Ellos son los mayores del grupo. Mi t\u00eda es la mayor de sus hermanas. \u00bfTus hermanas son las mayores de la clase? <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Absolute superlatives.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The absolute superlative, instead of comparing the noun to a group, intensifies the quality independently of other comparable nouns. It is formed in two ways: <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sufijos \u00edsimo\/\u00edsima\/\u00edsimos\/\u00edsimas.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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By adding these suffixes to adjectives, we intensify them. For example, instead of saying that el examen fue dif\u00edcil (the exam was difficult), we say that el examen fue dificil\u00edsimo (extremely difficult). Let\u2019s look at the rules for forming these superlatives with these suffixes. <\/p>\n

If the adjective ends in a consonant, except for a few exceptions that we will see below, we simply add the suffix: dif\u00edcil, dificil\u00edsimo (extremely difficult), h\u00e1bil, habil\u00edsimo (extremely skillful).<\/p>\n

If the adjective ends in a vowel, we remove the vowel and add the suffix: alto, alt\u00edsimo (extremely tall), corto, cort\u00edsimo (extremely short).<\/p>\n

If the adjective ends in ble<\/i>, we change ble <\/i> to bil <\/i> and add the suffix: noble, nobil\u00edsimo (extremely noble), amable, amabil\u00edsimo (extremely kind). <\/p>\n

If the adjective ends in co<\/i>, we change co <\/i> to qu <\/i> and add the suffix: flaco, flaqu\u00edsimo (extremely thin), rico, riqu\u00edsimo (extremely rich).<\/p>\n

If the adjective ends in z, we change the z to c and add the suffix: feliz, felic\u00edsimo (extremely happy), veloz, veloc\u00edsimo (extremely fast).<\/p>\n

If the adjective ends in n or or<\/i>, we add c\u00edsimo\/c\u00edsima\/c\u00edsimos\/c\u00edsimas<\/i>: joven, jovenc\u00edsimo (extremely young), trabajador, trabajadorc\u00edsimo (extremely hardworking).<\/p>\n

If the adjective ends in io <\/i> or ia<\/i>, we remove both vowels and add the suffix: amplio, ampl\u00edsimo (extremely wide). But if the adjective ends in \u00edo <\/i> or \u00eda <\/i> (note the accent mark difference), we remove only the last vowel: fr\u00edo, fri\u00edsimo (extremely cold). <\/p>\n

If the adjective ends in go<\/i>, we replace the o with a u and add the suffix: largo, largu\u00edsimo (extremely long), amargo, amargu\u00edsimo (extremely bitter). <\/p>\n

In the case of the irregular superlatives we saw earlier, these suffixes are added to the adjective, following the same rules. So, we say viej\u00edsimo (extremely old), jovenc\u00edsimo (extremely young), mal\u00edsimo (extremely bad) and\u2026 bon\u00edsimo<\/i> (extremely good). Colloquially, the word buen\u00edsimo <\/i> is much more commonly used, but it is not found in the RAE dictionary. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Use of adverbs.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Another way to form the absolute superlative is by using adverbs like muy (very). For example, instead of saying la comida est\u00e1 riqu\u00edsima<\/i> we can say la comida est\u00e1 muy rica<\/i>, which conveys the same meaning. Other adverbs, such as incre\u00edblemente (incredibly), extraordinariamente (extraordinarily), etc., can also be used. Let\u2019s look at some examples in both ways of forming absolute superlatives. <\/p>\n

El agua est\u00e1 muy fr\u00eda. El agua est\u00e1 fri\u00edsima. The water ist very cold. <\/p>\n

La clase fue muy interesante. La clase fue interesant\u00edsima. The class was very interesting. <\/p>\n

El museo es muy grande. El museo es grand\u00edsimo. The museum is very big. <\/p>\n

The adverbs bien (well) and mal (badly) do not admit the use of these suffixes; they only allow the use of adverbs.<\/p>\n

Ella cocina muy bien, pero el cocina muy mal. She cooks very well, but he cooks very badly.<\/p>\n

Finally, for the case of absolute superlatives formed with adjectives, these agree with the noun in gender and number. <\/p>\n

El auto es lind\u00edsimo.<\/p>\n

La casa es lind\u00edsima.<\/p>\n

Los autos son lind\u00edsimos.<\/p>\n

Las casas son lind\u00edsimas.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Absolute superlatives of adverbs.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Adverbs allow the use of absolute superlatives, and these can be formed in the same ways as with adjectives, following the same formation rules. The difference is that in this case, there is no agreement in gender and number when using the suffixes; that is, the formed word does not change. <\/p>\n

El corre r\u00e1pido. El corre muy r\u00e1pido. El corre rapid\u00edsimo. <\/p>\n

Ella corre r\u00e1pido. Ella corre muy r\u00e1pido. Ella corre rapid\u00edsimo. <\/p>\n

Ellos corren r\u00e1pido. Ellos corren muy r\u00e1pido. Ellos corren rapid\u00edsimo. <\/p>\n

Ellas corren r\u00e1pido. Ellas corren muy r\u00e1pido. Ellas corren rapid\u00edsimo. <\/p>\n

Here are exercises to practice this topic. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Thank you for reading! <\/p><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>Prev<\/span><\/span>Anterior<\/span>Where to start learning Spanish? The general pronunciation rules (II)<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tSiguiente<\/span>Superlativos relativos: fill in the blanks.<\/span><\/span><\/path><\/svg>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Superlatives in Spanish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[144],"tags":[158],"class_list":["post-12701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grammar","tag-feed-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12701"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15577,"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12701\/revisions\/15577"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conexionsp.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}