Superlative

An adjective in superlative degree, also called comparative of excellence, expresses the characteristic in its maximum degree. In the languages of the world, gradation is applied mainly to adjectives qualifiers, but it can also occur in adverbs, nouns, verbs and even prepositions.

Superlative in Spanish

In Spanish there are two basic types of superlatives:

• Absolute superlative: An element has a characteristic at its highest degree, regardless of other elements. The absolute superlative is expressed by adverbs that modify the adjective, and by suffixes -Very much. (sighs)Errimo (paupérrimo) or prefixes super- (supermarket); extra- (extrade), etc.
• Relative Superlative: An element of a group that differs from others for having a greater degree. It is constructed with the comparative grade adjective of superiority or comparative degree of inferiority, preceded by the article and followed by a preposition-led complement of.

Absolute superlatives can be regular or irregular. In regular superlatives, the superlative degree is formed by adding the suffix -ísimo/-ísima to the root that presents the adjective in a positive degree. For example: clarísimo (clear) and rarísimo (rare). Irregular superlatives can have their own form. When building them, the root of the adjective is substantially modified. For example: celebrimo (famous), infimo (lower), maximum (greater), minimum (minor), optimal (good), worst (bad).

It is usually considered that certain adjectives lack degree, since they always have a meaning equivalent to a superlative (maximum degree of quality), so that their gradation is not possible: colossal, tiny, perfect.

Irregular absolute superlatives