Why we need this form
A superlative identifies the highest degree of a quality within a group. With many long adjectives, put most before the unchanged form: most demanding. Several objects may share the same highest value.
This form is common in real communication: reviews, recommendations, accounts of impressions and everyday conversations about what is best, worst or most noticeable among several options.
Of all the jobs I've had, this one is the most demanding.
Of all the jobs I've had, this one is the most demanding.
Demanding is a long adjective, so use the most rather than -est.
This is one of the most useful tools in my kitchen.
This is one of the most useful tools in my kitchen.
One of the most + adjective + plural noun makes a less categorical claim.
When an adjective counts as long
Adjectives such as interesting, comfortable and expensive form their superlatives with most. Many two-syllable words behave the same way, including careful, famous and modern. Syllable count is a useful guide, not an exceptionless formula.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (happy), -le (simple), -er (clever) or -ow (narrow) often have an -est form and belong to another rule; irregular adjectives such as good, bad and far have separate superlative forms.
the + most + long adjective (with no change to the adjective itself)
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
She gave the most careful explanation I've heard on this topic.
She gave the most careful explanation I've heard on this topic.
Careful has two syllables and does not end in -y/-le/-er/-ow, so use the most careful.
This is the most modern building on the street.
This is the most modern building on the street.
Modern has two syllables; its standard form is the most modern.
The basic pattern: the most + adjective
The basic pattern before a noun is the most + adjective: the most interesting book. A possessive can replace the: my most interesting book. After be without a noun, the is sometimes omitted: Which topic is most interesting?
Unlike short adjectives, a long adjective in this construction never changes its own form: no extra letters or endings are added to the word itself.
This is the most reliable option we have right now.
This is the most reliable option we have right now.
Reliable remains unchanged; the superlative is marked by the word before it.
That was the most complicated problem in the whole exam.
That was the most complicated problem in the whole exam.
Complicated is a long adjective; use the most complicated.
Which group are we comparing?
For a direct comparison of two items in learner writing, we usually choose more: This one is more useful than that one. A superlative identifies an extreme degree within a group. In real speech, it is also used to choose between two, so this is not a universal prohibition.
You can name the group with in or of: in the city, of the three, of the year. A basic comparison with than requires more expensive than; do not mix that pattern with the most expensive in town.
This café is the most popular place in the neighbourhood.
This café is the most popular place in the neighbourhood.
In the neighbourhood uses in for the location as a whole.
Out of all the interns, she was the most organised.
Out of all the interns, she was the most organised.
Out of all the interns explicitly identifies the group within which her organisation stands out.
One of the most + a plural noun
When a claim should be less categorical, identifying one of a leading group rather than a single leader, use one of the most + adjective + plural noun. The noun in this construction is always plural even when the sentence refers to one particular object.
This form is useful when a writer does not want to, or cannot, claim absolute superiority but wants to identify something as among the best or most important.
This bridge is one of the most photographed landmarks in the country.
This bridge is one of the most photographed landmarks in the country.
Landmarks is plural even though the sentence concerns one particular bridge.
He is one of the most experienced pilots at this airline.
He is one of the most experienced pilots at this airline.
This does not claim he is uniquely the most experienced, only that he belongs to the leading group.
Common mistakes and limits of use
The most common error is double marking: adding most to a word already ending in -est (the most tallest) or to an irregular superlative (the most best). Mark the superlative only once.
Before a noun in a superlative pattern, the or a possessive is usually needed: the most interesting museum, my most interesting visit. Do not confuse this pattern with comparative more … than.
The word order is fixed: the + most + adjective + noun. Rearranging these elements, such as beautiful the most instead of the most beautiful, breaks the construction.
This was the most impressive performance of the evening.
This was the most impressive performance of the evening.
The order and form are correct: the most impressive, with of the evening identifying the comparison group.
No other candidate was as experienced as Iryna, so she got the job.
No other candidate was as experienced as Iryna, so she got the job.
A statement that no other person matches X in a quality is often equivalent to saying X is the most experienced.
Using the pattern in communication
In real conversations, the most + long adjective rarely stands alone: it is usually accompanied by a reason for choosing that item, a comparison group or personal experience with I've ever + verb.
The ultimate goal is to combine the most freely with your own facts in recommendations, reviews and accounts of experience, not merely to fill a gap in a sentence.
This is the most difficult decision I've had to make this year.
This is the most difficult decision I've had to make this year.
I've had to make this year gives personal experience that limits the comparison group in time.
Of everyone on the team, she gives the most thoughtful feedback.
Of everyone on the team, she gives the most thoughtful feedback.
Of everyone on the team explicitly names the group before the assessment.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:This café is the beautifulest place I've visited this year.
Correct:This café is the most beautiful place I've visited this year.
In neutral standard English, the superlative of beautiful is most beautiful.
Incorrect:She is the most tallest person in our team.
Correct:She is the tallest person in our team.
Tallest is already the superlative of the short adjective tall; do not add most before it.
Incorrect:This café is the most expensive than the one next door.
Correct:This café is more expensive than the one next door.
For a direct comparison of these two places, use more expensive than. The most expensive singles out a place within a group, such as in town.
Incorrect:This is most interesting museum in the city.
Correct:This is the most interesting museum in the city.
Before singular museum, this pattern requires a determiner: the most interesting museum.
Incorrect:She is the most intelligentest student in the class.
Correct:She is the most intelligent student in the class.
This is double marking: both most and -est have been added to the long adjective intelligent. Mark the superlative only once.
Incorrect:This is one of the most beautiful city in Europe.
Correct:This is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
After one of the most, the noun is always plural (cities), even when the sentence concerns one particular city.
Incorrect:That was the excitingest game I've ever watched.
Correct:That was the most exciting game I've ever watched.
The standard superlative of exciting is most exciting.
Incorrect:This is beautiful the most house on the street.
Correct:This is the most beautiful house on the street.
The word order is fixed: the + most + adjective + noun. Rearranging the elements breaks the construction.