Lesson 19 - Superlative adjectives in Italian
In Italian there is the relative superlative and absolute superlative. They express the concept of “ the most ” and “ the least ” of the English version.
“ Superlative adjectives “ in Italian agree in gender and number with the noun they are associated with. In English they are expressed with “ the most ”.
The “ Relative superlative ” , in Italian, express the superiority or inferiority of an object in comparison of another.
It is written as “ definite article + noun + più(more)/meno(less) + adjective + di( * ) + the other object of the comparison ”.
*( in English it is used “in”)
ex.
Lei è la migliore insegnante della scuola —> She is the best teacher in the school.
Loro sono i meno professionali di tutti i lavoratori —> they are the least professional among/in all the workers .
The “ absolute superlative ” is the equivalent in English of “ most + adjective ” and “ very + adjective ” or “ adjective - est ”.
- the equivalent of “most” in Italian are : molto, tanto , parecchio , assai , veramente, estremamente , etc… put in front of the adjective associated with.
ex.
Questo profumo è molto inebriante —> this perfume is really intoxicated
Questo posto è tanto piccolo —> this place is really small
- Another alternative of the “ most/very + adjective ” in Italian are : -issimo, -issima, -issime and -issimi. ( they have the same gender and number of the noun they are connected to
ex.
Oggi è caldissimo —> Today is very hot
- another forms are : arci-, super-, stra-, ultra- and iper- , put before the adjective.
Ex.
Questa app è supercomoda —> this app is very convenient
Questa macchina è stravecchia —> this car is really old
-“ Absolute Superlative ” for adjective ending in -co, -go, -ca, -ga can be expressed in two ways:
Molto + the adjective or adding an -h to the end of the adjective and attach -issimo at the end.
Ex.
Luca è molto ricco
= Luca is really rich
Luca è ricc-h-issimo
Lungo —> lunghissima fila , lunghissimo viale
Largo —> larghissimo cortile
“Irregular comparative and superlatives”
|
Adjective |
Comparative |
Superlative |
|
Alto |
Superiore |
Supremo |
|
Cattivo |
Peggiore |
Pessimo |
|
Grande |
Maggiore |
Massimo |
|
Basso |
Inferiore |
Infimo |
|
Piccolo |
Minore |
Minimo |
|
Buono |
Migliore |
Ottimo |
There are some adjectives that already express an absolute superlative , some of them are :
Enorme = enormous
Eterno = eternal
Immenso = immense
Magnifico = magnificent
Meraviglioso = marvelous
Exercises