The Present Perfect with Superlatives

present perfect with superlatives

First, review how to form the comparative and the superlative.

                                                comparative                           superlative              

a.    beautiful                   more beautiful (than)        the most beautiful

b.    long                          longer than                             the lonest

c.    fattening*                 more fattening than                the most fattening*使人发胖的, que engorda,

d.    interesting                 more interesting than              the most interesting    калори́йный, مسمِّن

e.    difficult                    more difficult than                 the most difficult

f.    expensive                 more expensive than              the most expensive

g.    good                                                                        better than                       the best

h.    bad                           worse than                              the worst

i.     scary*                       scarier than                             the scariest  *恐怖的,吓人的, que da miedo,                                                                                                                                        страшный, مُرعب ، مُخيف

When you have a superlative adjective plus a noun, the present perfect often follows. We often use ever with the verb, too.

1.   This is the most useful class that I have taken since I started studying here.

2.   This is the biggest raise that I’ve gotten. (since I began working here)

3.   He’s the dumbest person that I’ve ever met. (in my whole life)       

4.   This is the most expensive textbook that she has ever bought.

But use simple past:

5.     That was the most expensive textbook that I ever bought. (when I was studying there or: when I was a student. I’m not a student now, so I don’t have to buy textbooks anymore.)

Write a statement. Use the superlative form and the present perfect.

a.   Gary Danko is (good) place that I (eat) at in San Francisco.

      Gary Danko is the best place that I have eaten at in San Francisco.

b.   Crater Lake in Oregon is (beautiful) site^* that I (visit) in the U.S. *place, location

 

c.   Listening 3/4 with Mr. Rosen is (interesting) class¹ that I (take) so far at this school.

 

d.   Calculus* is (difficult) subject² that I (ever study).* 演算, cálculo, исчисление,

حساب التفاضل والتكامل                                           

 

e.   Flying from San Francisco to Paris is the (long) flight* that I (ever take). *航班, vuelo, полёт,  رحلة

 

f.   A new computer is (expensive) thing that I (buy) in the last six months.

g.   Friday the Thirteenth is (scary) American movie that I (ever see).                                  

h.  Going³ to jail is (bad) thing that (happen) to me since I came to this country.  Use -ing.  

    

¹Speaking 5/6 with Ms. Fontanella, CALL with Mr. Griffiths, etc.

²Subjects: 

mathematics (math) 数学、, matemáticas, математика, الرياضيات   

algebra 代数, álgebra, алгебра, جبر، علم الجبر                             

geometry 几何学, geometría, геометрия, هندسة

biology 生物学, biología, биология, البيولوجيا                 

chemistry 化学, química, химия, كيمياء  

physics  物理学, física, физика, الفيزياء

geography 地理、, geografía, география,  علمالجغرافيا

history 历史, historia, история, تاريخ    

foreign language 外语学习, estudios de idiomas, иностранные языки, اللغات الأجنبية 

³Use  -ing:  Getting fired is…, Losing my dog is…, Going to jail is…, Getting robbed is…

a.   Gary Danko is the best place that I have eaten at in San Francisco.

b.   Crater Lake in Oregon is the most beautiful site that I have visited since I came to this country.

c.   Listening 3/4 with Mr. Rosen is the most interesting class that I have taken so far at this school.

d.   Calculus is the most difficult subject that I have ever studied.

e.   Flying from San Francisco to Paris is the longest flight that I have ever taken.

f.   A new computer is the most expensive thing that I have bought in the last six months.

g.   Friday the Thirteenth is the scariest movie that I have ever seen.

h.  Going to jail is the worst thing that has happened to me since I came to this country.