Grammar Spotlight
The English Grammar Profile (EGP) is a sister resource to the English Vocabulary Profile, and has been put together by Anne O'Keeffe (Limerick University) and Geraldine Mark, the co-authors, along with Ron Carter and Mike McCarthy, of English Grammar Today (Cambridge University Press). Mark and O'Keeffe investigated the extensive data in the Cambridge Learner Corpus to establish when learners begin to get to grips with different linguistic structures.
A series of insights from their research will be posted on this page, each one putting the spotlight on an interesting aspect of learner grammar development. Please note that all of the learner examples come from the Cambridge Learner Corpus, a 55-million word electronic collection of written learner data. The examination and the candidate’s first language are given in brackets after each learner example.
See the latest Grammar Spotlight entry below. Scroll right down to the bottom of this page to browse through previous entries.
At the A1 level, the only superlative being used confidently by learners is the irregular best, which is seen in the phrases best friend and best wishes. Best is used more widely as a comparative adjective at the A2 level. However, its counterpart worst is only used with frequency once the B1 level is achieved.
See you soon! Best wishes, (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Romanian)
She’s my best friend. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Polish)
Shahin is my best friend. (Skills for Life: Entry 1; Urdu)
Similar to how A1 and A2 learners use best but not worst, learners at the A2 level can form a range of superlative adjective phrases using the most + longer adjective but don’t often use the least. It is not until the B1 level that the least + longer adjective appears in learner work.
We love football competitions because here in Uruguay football is the most popular sport. (Cambridge English: Key; Spanish - Latin American)
It is the most famous place in Edinburgh and it is interesting too. (Cambridge English: Key; Chinese)
The problem was that it was the most expensive mobile in the shop. (Cambridge English: Key; Catalan)
Learners can also demonstrate an understanding of basic spelling rules as they form superlative adjectives at the A2 level. For example, with two syllable adjectives that end in -y, learners can change the y to an i and add -est. Learners can also double the final consonant and add –est to one syllable adjectives containing a short vowel and can add only –st for one syllable adjectives ending in e.
The easiest way to get my house is by Underground. (Cambridge English: Key; Portuguese - Brazil)
I prefer the bedroom because it’s the biggest room. (Cambridge English: Key; French)
I like it because it’s the largest. (Cambridge English: Key; Italian)
Learners at the A2 level can also use the superlative to form noun phrases with the + superlative adjective + noun as well as my or your + superlative adjective + noun. Yet, collocation is key to which phrases are used with my or your + superlative adjective + noun. Learners use “my best friend” with exceptional frequency, which is continued until the C1 level is reached (and the frequency in the use of the phrase matches that of a native speaker).
I am happy because you are my best friend. (Cambridge English: Key; Spanish-European)
I bought these clothes for my youngest brother. (Cambridge English: Key; Chinese)
Please wear your oldest clothes. (Cambridge English: Key; Chinese)
A2 level learners can also form a limited range of complex noun phrases with a superlative adjective + prepositional phrase in order to talk about something unique.
It is the biggest zoo in the world. (Cambridge English: Key; Chinese)
It’s the best in my town. (Cambridge English: Key; Japanese)
They were the happiest days of my life. (Cambridge English: Key for Schools; Spanish - Latin American)
In and of are used after superlative adjectives to present place names or to denote groups, parts and quantities.
I bought them because they are the cheapest clothes in the shop. (Cambridge English: Key; Italian)
My teacher said that it was the best project of all. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Russian)
I learned to surf, this was the best part of the trip. (Skills for Life: Entry 2; Portuguese)
Finally, A2 level learners can use the with a limited range of superlative adjectives without a following noun when the noun is understood (ellipsis with the).
My relatives gave me presents but the computer game was the best. (Cambridge English: Key; Turkish)
My mobile phone is the best because it’s new. (Cambridge English: Key; Catalan)
But Mark’s present was the most beautiful! (Cambridge English: Key; Russian)
By the A2 level learners can clearly demonstrate an awareness of the rules that are followed in forming superlative adjectives. However, some high frequency examples serve as more of an example of learner awareness of collocates than learner mastery of the superlative. As learners move on to the B1 and B2 levels, complex contexts will push them forward, yet some of these go-to phrases will remain a significant part of their vocabulary until the C1 level is achieved.
