What is the Superlative of Clever?

The superlative of clever is cleverest.

Understanding Degrees of Comparison

Adjectives in English have different forms to show varying degrees of quality or quantity. These are known as degrees of comparison:

• Positive Degree: The basic form of the adjective, describing a quality without comparison.
  • Example: She is a clever student.
• Comparative Degree: Used to compare two nouns or pronouns, indicating that one has more or less of a particular quality than the other.
  • Example: He is cleverer than his brother.
• Superlative Degree: Used to compare three or more nouns or pronouns, indicating that one has the most or least of a particular quality within a group.
  • Example: She is the cleverest person in her class.

Forming the Superlative Degree

The way a superlative is formed depends on the number of syllables in the adjective:

• One-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives: Typically form their comparative by adding "-er" and their superlative by adding "-est" to the positive form. "Clever" falls into this category, taking "-est" to become "cleverest."
• Most two-syllable adjectives and all three-or-more syllable adjectives: Form their comparative by using "more" and their superlative by using "most" before the positive form. For instance, the adjective "beautiful" forms its comparative as "more beautiful" and its superlative as "most beautiful."

Here's a quick reference table for common degrees of comparison:

Why "Cleverest"?

"Clever" is an adjective that, while having two syllables, follows the pattern of adding "-est" to form its superlative, rather than using "most clever." This makes "cleverest" the accurate and grammatically correct superlative form.

For more detailed information on forming degrees of comparison, you can refer to resources like the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL).