In a previous post we already advanced that we would talk in depth about adjectives in the superlative degree. What is the superlative degree? It is the highest degree within ascale, and as a general rule it is very easy to identify, since the adjective is usually accompanied by the adverb of quantity muy or incorporates the suffixes – ísimo or –érrimo.
Free, very free, very free
Ready, very smart, very smart
However, there are other resources for an adjective to reach the superlative degree, for which the use of certain adverbs is usually used. For example:
Really poor
Horrifyingly creepy
Unbelievably yummy
On the other hand, it must be said that there are two kinds of superlatives. There is the absolute superlative and the relative superlative.
The first corresponds to the examples cited above in which suffixes or adverbs are used.
Maria is gorgeous. Maria is very pretty.
While the relative superlative indicates a comparison. And for this, these formulas are used:
Maria is the prettiest. Maria is the best of all.
On the other hand we have to talk about synthetic superlatives. Just as there are synthetic comparatives such as better or superior, these also have their equivalents in superlative form. And of course they have a sense of absolute superlative:
Good – best- best
Bad – worse – lousy
Small – minor – minimum
Large – largest – maximum
Low – lower – lowest
High – superior – supreme
Regarding the formation of the superlative, the truth is that almost all adjectives admit the suffixes –ísimo/a or –érrimo/a. Either it is added directly with causing changes in the basic adjectives due to the presence of diphthongs or having to resort to its Latin roots.
Gordísimo (for fat), most terrific (for tender), most remarkable (for remarkable)
Although there are also adjectives that never admit this type of suffix, and must resort to the use of the adverb muy:
Very heroic, very blind. (You can't say heroic or blind)
