найбольш / як мага

1. Найбольш and найменш. Put найбольш (most) or найменш (least) before a plain adjective to make a superlative:

• найбольш важнае пытанне (the most important question)
• найбольш папулярны від спорту (the most popular sport)
• найменш зручны час (the least convenient time)

Only the adjective agrees with the noun; найбольш never changes. This form is common in writing and formal speech. In everyday speech you will also hear самы (самы важны) and the one-word forms with най- (найлепшы); see superlatives with най- and самы.

Найбольш also works on its own with verbs, meaning most of all: Што табе найбольш спадабалася? (What did you like most?)

Use only one superlative marker. Найбольш never combines with найлепшы or with a comparative such as цікавейшы.

2. Як мага. Put як мага before a comparative adverb to say as ... as possible. The comparative forms are covered in comparative adverbs:

• як мага хутчэй (as soon as possible, as fast as possible)
• як мага больш (as much as possible) / як мага менш (as little as possible)
• як мага раней (as early as possible)
• як мага лепш (as well as possible)

You will also see як най- with the same meaning: як найхутчэй, як найлепш. Як мага can also stand alone, meaning with all one's might: бегчы як мага.