Superlative Adjective Forms

A Superlative form is the highest degree of an adjective (think of the word super). In English, superlatives are words like fastest, smartest, greatest, etc. There are several ways of expressing superlatives in Tagalog. This section will discuss some of the most common forms.

1. Reduplication

    The superlative is expressed by repeating the adjective. The two adjectives are connected by the linker NA (na/-ng/-g). In a simple sentence, this adjective form comes before an ANG-phrase/pronoun, or in other words, this adjective describes a noun that is in focus. Here are some examples:

2. ANG + Adjective root (+ optional reduplication of the root)
   The superlative is expressed by placing ANG before the adjective root. The root word may be repeated for emphasis. In a simple sentence, the adjective form comes before a NG-phrase/pronoun (the word being described is not in focus). Here are some examples:

Let's take a look at the first sentence:

Ang ganda ng pelikula.

In this case the beauty (ganda) is so great that it is considered to be more important than the movie. Hence ganda is in focus and not the movie. Instead of saying something like "It was a beautiful movie" (maganda ang pelikula), saying "Ang ganda ng pelikula!" means something like: "Ah, the beauty of that movie!"

3. The affix NAPAKA-
    The superlative is expressed by attaching the prefix napaka- to the root word. In a simple sentence, this adjective form comes before a NG-phrase/pronoun (the thing being described is not in focus). Here, like ANG superlatives, the adjective is seen to be so great that it eclipses the thing/person being described (e.g., the beauty is more important than the film). Hence, the thing described is not in focus. Here are some examples:

4. The affix PAGKA- + Adjective root (+ optional reduplication of the root)  
    The superlative is expressed by attaching the prefix PAGKA- to the adjective root. The root word may be repeated for emphasis. In a simple sentence, this adjective form comes before a NG-phrase/pronoun. Like NAPAKA, the adjective is more important than the thing being described. Hence, the thing described is not in focus. Here are some examples:

5. Other Expressions
    There are other phrases that are used to express superlatives. Some of the more common ones are presented here.