Superlative (am …-sten)

The superlative is the highest degree of comparison - "the most", "the biggest", "the best". You use it when one thing stands above all others.

There are two forms:

• Predicative (after the verb, no noun directly after): am + adjective + -sten. Er läuft am schnellsten. - He runs (the) fastest.
• Attributive (before a noun): der/die/das + adjective + -ste. der schnellste Läufer - the fastest runner.

Adjectives ending in -t, -d, -s, -ß, -z insert an extra -e- for easier pronunciation:

• alt → am ältesten
• kalt → am kältesten
• but schön → am schönsten (no extra -e-)

Examples:

• Im Sommer sind die Tage am längsten. - In summer the days are the longest.
• Das ist der schönste Tag des Jahres. - That is the most beautiful day of the year.
• Welcher Berg ist am höchsten? - Which mountain is the highest?

Common mistakes: Don't forget the extra -e- after -t/-d/-s/-ß/-z (it is am kältesten, not am kaltsten). Don't mix the two forms: use am …-sten without a following noun, and der/die/das …-ste before a noun.

Form the superlative with 'am …-sten' (predicative) or 'der/die/das …-ste' (attributive).

Predicative superlative uses 'am' + adjective + '-sten' (am schnellsten). Before a noun it becomes 'der/die/das …-ste'. Insert -e- after -t/-d/-s/-ß/-z.

Den Superlativ bildet man mit 'am …-sten' oder mit 'der/die/das …-ste'.