---
title: superlative — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «superlative» in the school dictionary: A superlative is the form of an adjective or adverb that shows the most or least: biggest, fastest, most beautiful, best, worst. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# superlative

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** superlative, adjective, Superlatives, review, Tallest, you · **What happens:** be, show, mean, use, cook, run · **To what, where:** form, words, superlative, the, superlative meal, superlatives · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«superlative» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [superlative in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/superlative.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A superlative is the form of an adjective or adverb that shows the most or least: biggest, fastest, most beautiful, best, worst.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:m1:1
# text = A superlative is the form of an adjective or adverb that shows the most or least: biggest, fastest, most beautiful, best, worst.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	adverb	adverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	16	advmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
18	biggest	big	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	fastest	fast	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	23	advmod	_	_
23	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
25	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	23	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	worst	bad	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a superlative | the form |  |  |  | of a adjective or adverb | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | present | a adjective or adverb |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **be** |  | a superlative *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superlative means extremely good, of the highest quality: a superlative performance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:m2:1
# text = Superlative means extremely good, of the highest quality: a superlative performance.
1	Superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	extremely	extremely	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	highest	high	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	superlative	superlative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	performance	performance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Superlative |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superlatives can also be words of very high praise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:m3:1
# text = Superlatives can also be words of very high praise.
1	Superlatives	superlative	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	praise	praise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Superlatives | words |  |  |  | of high praise | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The review was full of superlatives."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:m3e:1
# text = "The review was full of superlatives."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	review	review	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	superlatives	superlative	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | past | the review |  |  |  |  | of superlatives; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Tallest" is the superlative of "tall".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:x1:1
# text = "Tallest" is the superlative of "tall".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Tallest	tall	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Tallest | the superlative |  |  |  | of tall | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The superlative of "good" is "best".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:x2:1
# text = The superlative of "good" is "best".
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the superlative |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use "the" before a superlative: the fastest runner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:x3:1
# text = Use "the" before a superlative: the fastest runner.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	fastest	fast	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	amod	_	_
11	runner	runner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the |  |  | before a superlative | the fastest runner *obl* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent the=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chef cooked a superlative meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:x4:1
# text = The chef cooked a superlative meal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chef	chef	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cooked	cook	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	superlative	superlative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cook** | past | the chef | a superlative meal |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent meal=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The critics ran out of superlatives to describe the show.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:x5:1
# text = The critics ran out of superlatives to describe the show.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	critics	critic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	superlatives	superlative	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | the critics |  |  | superlatives |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme out superlative=Trajectory |
| 2 | **describe** | to-infinitive | the critics *not said here* | the show |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent show=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Find the superlative: "Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth."

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:x6:1
# text = Find the superlative: "Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth."
1	Find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Mount	mount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Everest	everest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	highest	high	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	amod	_	_
11	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | imperative | you *not said here* | the superlative and the highest mountain |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent superlative=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Mount Everest | the highest mountain |  | Earth |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Most exciting" is a superlative made with "most".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superlative:x7:1
# text = "Most exciting" is a superlative made with "most".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	superlative	superlative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	obl	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Most exciting | a superlative |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a superlative *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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