Start with the intended meaning
The table keeps the base and superlative together. Some forms have an umlaut or an irregular stem, so learn the complete form rather than adding -sten to every word.
Learn stems and common exceptions together
| Base | Common superlative |
|---|---|
| schnell | am schnellsten |
| alt | am ältesten |
| groß | am größten |
| kalt | am kältesten |
| teuer | am teuersten |
| dunkel | am dunkelsten |
| gut | am besten |
| viel | am meisten |
| gern | am liebsten |
| hoch | am höchsten |
| nah | am nächsten |
Check umlaut and the extra e
The superlative often needs -est after difficult final sounds: alt → am ältesten, heiß → am heißesten. But groß → am größten and adjectives in -isch such as praktisch → am praktischsten show why a universal final-letter rule fails. Unstressed e can disappear in the comparative: teuer → teurer, dunkel → dunkler. The superlatives retain the ordinary bases: am teuersten, am dunkelsten.
Add case endings only where the role needs them
For a usual descriptive or manner superlative: Dieser Raum ist am ruhigsten; Hier arbeiten wir am ruhigsten. Before a noun use a superlative stem plus an adjective ending: der ruhigste Raum; in dem ruhigsten Raum. Do not put simple am ruhigsten directly before Raum. An elliptical noun phrase is also possible: Dieser Raum ist der ruhigste means the quietest room, with Raum understood.
Choose the form and explain the meaning
4. Choose the descriptive superlative: Von den drei Räumen ist dieser __. (ruhig)
am ruhigsten. This is the usual predicative superlative. Der ruhigste is also possible if Raum is understood as an elliptical noun phrase.
5. Complete before a noun: Das ist der __ Raum im Haus. (ruhig, superlative)
ruhigste. Add -e to superlative stem ruhigst- after masculine nominative der.
7. Form the superlatives of alt and groß with am.
am ältesten and am größten. The first needs -est-; the second does not become größesten.
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German comparatives and superlatives: besser, am besten or der beste? · Find another grammar topic
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