10.17 Adverbs: The Superlative-1

The superlative using "mögen"

In the previous chapter you learned how to form the comparative of German adverbs and to express ideas such as "more", "bigger" etc. In this chapter, we have met several instances of the superlative of German adverbs - i.e. how to say that you like something "best" or enjoy doing something "most of all".

 

When using the verb "mögen" to express a preference, you form the superlative by using "am liebsten" (which is the superlative of the adverb of manner "gern"):

 

Grammar 24: The superlative using "mögen"

Wir mögen Berlin (gern).

("We like Berlin.")

Wir mögen Berlin lieber.

("We prefer Berlin.")

Wir mögen Berlin am liebsten.

("We like Berlin most of all.")

 

Welchen Wein mögen Sie lieber?

("Which wine do you prefer?")

Ich mag Rotwein lieber.

("I prefer red wine.")

Ich mag Rotwein am liebsten.

("I like red wine most of all.")

 

To add even more emphasis to your preferences, you could also use "am allerliebsten" to describe something which you like "more than anything else". For example:

 

Was magst du am allerliebsten?

(What do you like more than anthing else?)

Am allerliebsten mag ich Fußball.

(I like football more than anything else.)