meest + Adjective
Superlative with Meest
While most Dutch adjectives use the suffix -st (e.g., snelst), meest is used for past participles, adjectives ending in -st or -isch, and many foreign loanwords.
How It Works
In Dutch, the superlative is usually formed by adding -st to the adjective. However, the periphrastic superlative with meest is required or preferred in several specific cases:
- Phonological reasons: Adjectives ending in -st (like vast or juist) or -isch (like logisch or praktisch) use meest to avoid awkward sound clusters (e.g., meest logisch instead of logischst).
- Participles: When a past participle is used as an adjective, meest is standard (e.g., meest gelezen). However, present participles ending in -end often still take the suffix (e.g., spannendst).
- Adjectives ending in -e: Words like roze or oranje use meest (e.g., meest roze).
- Foreign loanwords: Modern borrowings like relaxed or fancy typically use meest.
- Morphological reasons: Very long adjectives (e.g., gecompliceerd) often take meest for clarity.
Note that when the meest + adjective construction is used before a noun, the adjective still takes the inflectional -e (e.g., de meest interessante film). Participles in -en, such as gelezen, take no -e (het meest gelezen boek).
Examples (4)
- Dat is de meest logische verklaring.
That is the most logical explanation.
Word by Word: That is the most logical explanation.
Adjectives ending in '-isch' almost always use 'meest' because adding '-st' would create a difficult 'schst' sound.
- We zagen de meest interessante film van het jaar.
We saw the most interesting film of the year.
Word by Word: We saw the most interesting film of the year.
Longer adjectives like 'interessant' often use 'meest' for better flow and readability.
- Dit is het meest gelezen boek in de bibliotheek.
This is the most read book in the library.
Word by Word: This is the most read book in the library.
'Gelezen' is a past participle acting as an adjective, which requires 'meest' for the superlative.
- Hij is het meest begaan met de natuur.
He is most concerned with nature.
Word by Word: He is the most concerned with the nature.
'Begaan' is a predicative adjective that doesn't take the '-st' suffix easily.
Common Mistakes
Using 'meest' for short, simple adjectives.
Dit is de meest grote auto.Dit is de grootste auto.For short, common adjectives, you should always use the -st suffix instead of 'meest'.
Forgetting the inflectional -e when 'meest' precedes a noun.
De meest interessant film.De meest interessante film.Even when using 'meest', the adjective itself must follow standard inflection rules if it comes before a noun.
Using a double superlative.
De meest interessantste film.De meest interessante film.Do not use both 'meest' and the '-st' suffix at the same time. Choose one based on the adjective's length and ending.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'meest + adjective', you need to understand how adjectives are placed and inflected in Dutch, as well as the basic concept of superlatives. Since these constructions usually involve definite articles, familiarity with the de/het system is also required.
Related Patterns
- -erComparative Form
The comparative degree (more...) usually uses a suffix, similar to how the superlative usually uses -st.
Level 2 - Adjective + -eAdjective Inflection
Adjectives used with 'meest' before a noun still need to follow these inflection rules.
Level 1 - Participles Used as Adjectives
Participles almost exclusively use 'meest' to form their superlative degree.
Level 3 - het + SuperlativeSuperlative with Het
Explains how to use the superlative when it is not followed by a noun.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice meest + Adjective in Bubblegum
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