Superlatives: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 21

Hello, and welcome to today’s Grammar Gameshow!

I’m your host, Will!

It’s what separates us from the beasts!

And of course, let’s not forget Leslie,

our all-knowing voice in the sky.

Hello, everyone!

Tonight we’re going to ask you three questions about…

Superlatives!

Those comparative structures that tell us when

something is outstanding in a particular way!

OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants!

Hello, all. My name’s Liz!

And contestant number two?

It’s nice to meet you.

Reginald Fortescue Smythe the Third.

It’s nice to see you again, Liz.

This is the third in a row for you, eh?

It’s going to be your hat trick!

And Reginald…

Fortescue Smythe the Third…

Fortescue Smythe the Third… yes.

So nice to have a little bit of blue blood around here.

Makes a change from the riff-raff we usually get.

Are you actually related to the royals?

4962nd in line. Yes! I say! Eh, what what?

What what?

Exactly!

Tally ho!

OK! Let’s get going and don’t forget

you can play along at home too.

Our first round is a quick-fire round.

I’m going to give you some adjectives

and I want you to give me the superlative form.

Ready?

Posh.

Poshest.

Correct!

Strange.

Strangest.

Correct!

Upper-class.

Most upper-class.

Correct!

Bad.

Worst.

Correct!

Dopey.

Dopiest.

Correct!

Drab.

Drabbest.

Correct!

Leslie?

Jolly good!

Superlatives are used when one thing or person

in a group is outstanding in some way.

To make a superlative, modify an adjective.

If it has one syllable, add 'EST'.

If it has two syllables,

it may take 'EST' or 'most' or either!

Check a dictionary.

If it has three syllables or greater, we add ‘most’.

The last group is irregular, such as ‘best’ and ‘worst’.

Well done both of you! Have 15 points each.

Hang on a moment…

Now, I do hope none of those superlatives

were directed at me,

eh what what?

At you, sir? Heaven forbid!

I mean, you are blue blood after all.

I like the cut of your jib, young lad, eh what what?

Why, thank you, sir.

Let’s move on to our second round.

We often use the word ‘than’ in comparative sentences,

but what ‘th’ word do we often use

in superlative sentences?

We use ‘the’!

Will is the best!

Correct!

Flattering and correct! Very good.

Now, which other type of phrase

commonly goes with a superlative?

A prepositional phrase.

Will is the best person in the world!

Stop it, you!

This is the last question of this round.

When do we use a prepositional phrase

beginning with ‘of’?

Is it something to do with using a plural noun?

Leslie?

Well done!

We almost always use ‘the’ in a superlative phrase.

If we wish to define the superlative further

with a group or place, we can use a prepositional phrase.

If the place or group is singular, we usually use ‘in’.

For example, …in the world.

Before a plural, we can use ‘of’.

For example, he’s the fastest of them all.

Good work Liz…

have twenty-eighty-sixy points for you.

I say… should she be answering before me?

I am royalty, you know!

I’m sorry, sir… but she was quicker than you!

But she’s…

a member of the public, eh, what what?

My apologies, but that’s the game, eh, where why?

Let her have this one, eh, who who?

I mean, she’s one of ‘those people’ after all.

Ah, yes, of course. Eh, what what?

Exactly, which which!

On to our third round then!

Which verb form can be used to complete

all three of these sentences?

She’s the youngest person _______.

We need the best-qualified candidates _______.

This the most expensive coffee _______.

It’s the infinitive!

Blast it all!

Can you give me an example?

She’s the youngest person to fly around the world.

Excellent. Leslie?

Spot on, eh, what what!

After a superlative,

we can use an infinitive to further define the noun

– much like a relative clause.

For example,

we need the best-qualified candidates to do the job.

Well done Liz. Another sixty points for you.

And that brings us to the end of today’s

Grammar Gameshow.

Let’s count out the points. And the winner is…

Liz!

With 4962nd in line for the throne points.

Well done, Liz! Here’s what you’ve won!

It’s a

monkey statue!

We’ll see you again next week,

where you can play for another prize.

And Reginald…

Fortescue Smythe the Third…

Fortescue Smythe the Third, yes.

How does it feel to lose to the great unwashed?

Oh, it’s not so bad.

She put up a good fight.

I do have one request, though.

Yes?

Do make sure they are the

poshest animals you can find, please.

Pure pedigree?

I’ll do my best.

Daddy always wanted me to fall in a war.

For King and country!

Release the extremely

working-class bees,

eh, what what?

It looks like we’ll need another contestant.

Thanks for joining us.

Say goodbye Leslie

Khodafez, Leslie!

See you next time.