Superlatives (en + adjective)
A2
Adjectives
Superlative meaning in Turkish is expressed by placing en before an adjective. The structure indicates the highest degree of a quality within a set. The adjective remains uninflected.
1. Function
The superlative marks the maximal degree of an adjective.
The element en precedes the adjective and does not inflect.
2. Structure
The standard sequence is:
en + adjective + noun (attributive)
or
subject + en + adjective (predicative)
The adjective retains its base form.
3. Word Order
The position of en is fixed:
en + adjective + noun
Examples:
en büyük ev
en güzel şehir
en hızlı yol
In predicative use, the superlative marker remains directly before the adjective.
4. Predicate Use
When used predicatively, the adjective takes personal endings according to nominal predication:
• en büyük → en büyüğüm
• en güzel → en güzelsin
• en hızlı → en hızlıyız
• en sakin → en sakinler
The marker en does not change or move.
5. Usage
The superlative expresses:
• the highest degree of a property
• distinction within a group
• maximal contrast
No additional morphological marking is required.
Examples
• En büyük evi seçtim. — I chose the biggest house.
• Bu şehir en güzel. — This city is the most beautiful.
• O en hızlı. — He/She is the fastest.
• Biz en hazırız. — We are the most ready.
• Siz en sakin görünüyorsunuz. — You appear the calmest.
• Onlar en güçlü. — They are the strongest.
Notes
• Adjectives remain uninflected in superlatives.
• en precedes the adjective in all uses.
• Superlative meaning derives from the presence of en.
Superlatives – FAQ (A2)
Q: How is the superlative form expressed in Turkish?
A: The superlative is formed by placing en before the adjective. The adjective itself does not change.
Q: Does the adjective take any suffix in superlative structures?
A: No. The adjective remains in its base form; only en marks the superlative meaning.
Q: Can superlatives be used both before nouns and in predicate position?
A: Yes. en + adjective + noun is used attributively, and subject + en + adjective is used predicatively.