Definition of Superlative Adjectives
Superlative adjectives describe the highest degree of a quality among three or more things or people. In German, they express "the most" or the "-est" form of an adjective, similar to English superlatives like biggest, fastest, or most beautiful. They emphasize that someone or something has a property to the greatest extent compared to all others.
Forming Superlative Adjectives in German
This car is the fastest.
Dieses Auto ist ____ (schnell).
am schnellsten
Predicative superlatives use 'am' before the adjective and '-sten' at the end.
To form the superlative of regular adjectives in German, add -st to the adjective stem. When using the superlative as a predicate (after verbs like sein), add am before the adjective and -sten at the end. For example:
- schnell (fast) → am schnellsten (the fastest)
As an attributive adjective (before a noun), the superlative ends with -ste or -sten depending on the case, gender, and number. For example:
- der schnellste Wagen (the fastest car)
- die schönste Blume (the most beautiful flower)
Declension of Superlative Adjectives
I see the smartest student.
Fill in: 'Ich sehe den ____ (klug) Schüler.'
klügsten
Accusative masculine singular attributive superlative ends with '-sten'.
Superlative adjectives must be declined according to the gender, number, and case of the nouns they describe when used attributively. The endings follow the normal adjective declension patterns but with the superlative stem:
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der schnellste | die schnellste | das schnellste | die schnellsten |
| Accusative | den schnellsten | die schnellste | das schnellste | die schnellsten |
| Dative | dem schnellsten | der schnellsten | dem schnellsten | den schnellsten |
| Genitive | des schnellsten | der schnellsten | des schnellsten | der schnellsten |
Usage in Sentences
Superlative adjectives are used to highlight the most extreme quality within a group:
- Er ist der klügste Schüler der Klasse.
He is the smartest student in the class.
- Dieses Haus ist am größten.
This house is the biggest.
- Sie ist die freundlichste Person hier.
She is the friendliest person here.
Irregular Superlatives
Some German adjectives form their superlative irregularly or have stem changes. For example:
- gut (good) → am besten (the best)
- viel (much, many) → am meisten (the most)
- gern (gladly) → am liebsten (the most gladly / like best)
Summary Table of Regular Superlative Formation
| Positive Adjective | Superlative Predicate | Attributive Superlative (Nominative Masc.) |
|---|---|---|
| schnell (fast) | am schnellsten | der schnellste |
| groß (big) | am größten | der größte |
| schön (beautiful) | am schönsten | der schönste |
Additional Notes
- When using superlatives in predicative form, always use am + adjective + -sten (e.g., am besten).
- When used attributively, superlatives take appropriate adjective endings.
- German superlatives are commonly combined with expressions like der, die, das (the) to specify the noun.
This overview helps learners understand how to recognize, form, and use superlative adjectives correctly in German.
Last updated: Sun May 18, 2025
