The same short words you used for comparing (one beat, like tall, fast, old, cheap) make the number-one form with the in front and -est at the end.
Short words: the ...-est
Lars is the tallest in the class.
This is the cheapest cafe in Haffenville.
Magaff Library is the oldest building here.
Always keep the: not "tallest in the class", but the tallest.
Try it: Lars is ___ in the class. (the tallest / tallest / the most tall) Answer: the tallest — Tall is a short word, so add -est: tallest. And a number-one word always needs the in front, so do not drop it: the tallest (not just "tallest", and not "the most tall").
Spelling: double the letter or drop the -e
The same two spelling changes you made for comparing happen before -est. big and hotdouble the last letter: big → the biggest · hot → the hottest. Words ending in -e just add -st: large → the largest · nice → the nicest.
Senfarren Tower is the biggest building in Haffenville.
July is the hottest month of the year.
This is the largest room in the house.
That was the nicest meal all week.
So it is biggest (not "bigest") and largest (not "largeest").
Try it: July is ___ month of the year. (the hottest / the hotest / the most hot) Answer: the hottest — Hot doubles its last letter before -est: the hottest (not "the hotest"), the same way big → the biggest. Hot is a short word, so it takes the ending, not "the most hot".
Try it: This is ___ room in the house. (the largest / the largeest / the most large) Answer: the largest — Large already ends in a silent -e, so drop the e before -est: the largest (not "the largeest"). Large is a short word, so it takes the ending, not "the most large".
Long words: the most ...
And the same longer words (two or more beats) that took more for comparing take the most here. Do not add -est.
Senfarren View Hotel is the most expensive in town.
That was the most interesting film this year.
This is the most difficult part.
Watch out: most two-beat words use the most too: the most famous, the most modern (not "the famousest"). Words ending in -y take the ending instead: the busiest, the happiest.
Try it: That was ___ film this year. (the most interesting / the interestingest / most interesting) Answer: the most interesting — Interesting is a long word, so use the most in front, not an -est ending (not "interestingest"). And keep the: the most interesting (not just "most interesting").
Words ending in -y
The same -y words that took -ier for comparing take -iest here, with the in front: happy → the happiest · easy → the easiest · busy → the busiest.
Today is the busiest day of the week.
That is the easiest question on the test.
She looks the happiest in this photo.
Try it: Today is ___ day of the week. (the busiest / the most busy / the busyest) Answer: the busiest — Busy ends in -y, so the y changes to iest: the busiest (not "the busyest", and not "the most busy" because this short -y word still takes the ending).
good, bad, far
The same three words from comparatives have their own number-one form too: good → the best, bad → the worst, far → the farthest (or the furthest).
Ghafridge Cafe makes the best coffee in town.
That was the worst traffic all week.
The station is the farthest (or the furthest) stop on this line.
Try it: Ghafridge Cafe makes ___ coffee in town. (the best / the goodest / the most good) Answer: the best — Good does not add -est and does not take most. Its number-one form is the best. ("The goodest" and "the most good" follow the regular patterns, but good is one to memorize.)
Always keep the
A number-one word always has the in front, because it points to the one — #1 in the group. Say the tallest, the most expensive, the best. Do not drop the.
She is the tallest in the class.
Senfarren View Hotel is the most expensive in town.
Ghafridge Cafe makes the best coffee here.
Not "She is tallest in the class." — say "She is the tallest in the class.". A number-one word always keeps the in front.
Try it: She is ___ in the class. (the tallest / tallest) Answer: the tallest — A number-one word always keeps the in front: the tallest (not just "tallest"). The points to the one person at the top of the group.
Try it: Of all the cafes, this one is ___ and it has ___ cakes. (the cheapest … the most delicious / the most cheap … the deliciousest / cheapest … most delicious) Answer: the cheapest … the most delicious — Cheap is short → the cheapest. Delicious is long → the most delicious. Both need the in front. The length of the word decides -est or most, but the is always there.