Question

Can anyone help me with Spanish superlatives?! Please?

Answer 1

There are three levels of adjectives.

1. Adjective
2. Comparative
3. Superlative.

The superlative level is the greatest level.

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Let me give you some English examples of all three levels:

1. Good (adjective)
2. Better (comparative)
3. Best (superlative)

1. Bad (adjective)
2. Worse (comparative)
3. Worst (superlative)

1. Long (adjective)
2. Longer (comparative)
3. Longest (superlative)

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Again, do you see how the superlative level is highest, most intense level of each adjective?

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Making superlatives in Spanish is really easy. Easier than English.

What if we wanted to say.....
"Juan is the TALLEST in the class"?

"Juan es el más alto de la clase."

^ That's how we say it.

All we really had to do is write "el más," right before the adjective (alto).

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There's an EXCEPTION:

If the subject of the sentence is feminine,
we have to write "LA más,"
instead of "el más."

Here's an example.
What if we want to say...."Susana is the tallest in the class"?

Well, "Susana" is a girl."
That's a feminine subject.

So here's how we would say it:

"Susana es la más alta de la clase."

See how we said "LA más"?
It's because "Susana" is a feminine subject. Not masculine.

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So, here are some facts, as review:

1. To make a Spanish superlative,
we just write "el más" or "la más" before the adjective.

"Juan es el más inteligente de la clase" -- "Juan is the most intelligent in the class."

"Julia es la más inteligente de la clase" -- "Julia is the most intelligent in the class."



2. After the adjective, we always say "de."

Look at these sentences again:

"Juan es el más inteligente DE la clase."

"Julia es la más inteligente DE la clase."

We use "de,"
because we have to say what we're comparing the subjects to.

We had to say that "Juan is the most intelligent OF the class."



3. This is optional.

But we can write nouns in between "el" and "más."

Look at this sentence:

"Juan es el CHICO más inteligente de la clase."

"Juan is the most intelligent BOY in the class."


Look at this sentence:

"Julia es la CHICA más inteligente de la clase."

"Julia is the most intelligent GIRL in the class."


Again, it's optional.
But if we want, we can write a noun in between "el/la" and "más."

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If you have any questions, ask.

Answer 2

Yes, I understand this part; this is easy. But my electronic worksheet thing my teacher gave us isn't like this... if it was, I would totally understand how to do it. Here's an example:
La Torre Sears en Chicago es __3__. Es la torre más __4__ Estados Unidos. (alto)
I know that alto is the adjective, but I have no idea how to fill in the blanks. I've tried every combination of words and none of them are right. Ugh.

@InYourHead

Answer 3

I'm posting the rest, just for comparison.

Fernando Botero es un pintor __5__. Es tal vez el pintor más __6__ Colombia. (conocido)

En mi opinión, las esculturas antiguas son __7__. Para mí, son las más __8__ todas. (extraño)

La Gran Muralla de China es __9__. Es la muralla más __10__ mundo. (largo)

Las comedias de Shakespeare son __11__. Para mí son las más __12__ todas las obras de teatro. (divertido)

Answer 4

I'll do the first one for you.

La torre Sears en Chicago es *ALTA*.
Es la torre más *ALTA DE LOS* Estados Unidos.

Do you get it?

In the first blank, we just write the adjective.
Make sure to use the correct form, either masculine for feminine.

In the second blank, we write....
1. the adjective
2. de
3. el, la, los, or las....depending on the noun that comes after "de."

Answer 5

See, that's what I thought! But apparently that's not right, according to my textbook. This is actually stupid.
@InYourHead

Answer 6

WHAT.

Answer 7

Yeah I'm reading it now, and there is definitely no other way that I would do it. That's very very strange. Muy extraño.

Oh one thing --
we already talked about how we need to write adjectives either masculine or feminine, depending on the subject.

But there's another thing --
sometimes, adjectives also need to be plural.

Take a look at the last example you posted --

Las comedias de Shakespeare son __11__. Para mí son las más __12__ todas las obras de teatro. (divertido)

#11 needs to be "divertidaS."
With an S on the end, to make it plural.
Because we're talking about LAS comedias.
The subject is feminine, AND plural.

#12, in that same sentence, would be (divertidas de).

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If this doesn't work, bring it up with your teacher.
Because there's no other way that I see of doing it.

Do you want to show me your answers for all the blanks, and let me check for you?

Answer 8

I know. I've been taking Spanish since first grade, and my dad and uncle are both fluent. And this is so dumb.
And for #11 and #12, that's what I thought it would be too. But they're wrong.
Ugh, I'm talking to my teacher today. This is ridiculous.
@InYourHead