German · A2 · Everyday language
What works best? in German
Use German superlatives to talk about what feels easiest, works best or is your favourite among several choices. The pattern am ... -sten/-esten works both for describing something and for describing an action.
What you'll learn
- Ask and say which option is best among several possibilities.
- Use am ... -sten/-esten with descriptions and actions.
- Recognise forms such as am wärmsten and am leichtesten.
- Distinguish am besten, am liebsten and am meisten.
German phrases for what works best?
Welches Lied magst du am liebsten?
Which song do you like best?
With mögen, am liebsten asks about someone's favourite.
Dieser Sitz ist am bequemsten.
This seat is the most comfortable.
Am bequemsten describes the seat as the most comfortable among the choices.
Dieses Regal kann ich am leichtesten erreichen.
I can reach this shelf most easily.
Leicht becomes am leichtesten: most easily.
Deine gelbe Taschenlampe leuchtet am hellsten.
Your yellow torch shines the brightest.
Am hellsten describes how brightly the torch shines.
Welches Tier läuft am schnellsten?
Which animal runs the fastest?
Am schnellsten means fastest.
Diese Decke hält mich am wärmsten.
This blanket keeps me the warmest.
Warm gains an umlaut: am wärmsten.
Am liebsten spiele ich mit dir.
I like playing with you most of all.
Am liebsten expresses the strongest preference.
Dieser Deckel passt am besten.
This lid fits best.
Am besten describes which option works best.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
das Lied
song
Plural: die Lieder.
der Sitz
seat
Plural: die Sitze.
das Regal
shelf; shelving unit
Plural: die Regale. For one individual shelf board, use das Regalbrett; plural: die Regalbretter.
die Taschenlampe
torch; flashlight
Plural: die Taschenlampen.
das Tier
animal
Plural: die Tiere.
die Decke
blanket
Plural: die Decken.
der Deckel
lid
Plural: die Deckel.
bequem
comfortable
Superlative: am bequemsten.
erreichen
to reach
Use am leichtesten erreichen for 'reach most easily'.
passen
to fit
Use am besten passen for 'fit best'.
Describing things and actions
Use am + adjective + -sten to identify the highest degree among several options. After sein, this describes what something is like (predicative use). With an action verb, it describes how the action happens (adverbial use). Keep am and the ending in both uses, and write the superlative with a lowercase letter.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Description | bequem → am bequemsten | Dieser Sitz ist am bequemsten. — This seat is the most comfortable. |
| Action | schnell → am schnellsten | Welches Tier läuft am schnellsten? — Which animal runs the fastest? |
| Brightness | hell → am hellsten | Deine Taschenlampe leuchtet am hellsten. — Your torch shines the brightest. |
Extra -e- and umlauts
Some adjectives need -esten rather than -sten to make pronunciation easier, especially after -t, -d or a hissing sound. Some short adjectives also gain an umlaut. Learn these forms together with the adjective.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Extra -e- after -t | leicht → am leichtesten | Dieses Regal kann ich am leichtesten erreichen. — I can reach this shelf most easily. |
| Extra -e- after -ß | heiß → am heißesten | Diese Suppe ist am heißesten. — This soup is the hottest. |
| Umlaut | warm → am wärmsten | Diese Decke hält mich am wärmsten. — This blanket keeps me the warmest. |
Best, favourite and most
These three common forms have different jobs. Am besten usually expresses the best quality or result. Am liebsten expresses preference or what someone most enjoys. Am meisten expresses the greatest amount or quantity.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Best quality or result | gut → am besten | Dieser Deckel passt am besten. — This lid fits best. |
| Strongest preference | gern → am liebsten; also used with mögen | Am liebsten spiele ich mit dir. — I like playing with you most of all. |
| Greatest amount | viel → am meisten | Heute lachst du am meisten. — Today you laugh the most. |
More examples
Dieses Spiel macht am meisten Spaß.
This game is the most fun.
Am meisten expresses the greatest amount of fun.
Welcher Ball rollt am besten?
Which ball rolls best?
Use am besten to ask which option works best.
Hier sitze ich am bequemsten.
I sit most comfortably here.
Am bequemsten describes an action here, rather than the seat itself.
Welches Spiel spielst du am liebsten?
Which game do you like playing best?
Am liebsten asks about a favourite activity.