Adjectives can be used to show that a living being or object has more of a certain quality than another. There are three degrees of comparison. First, there is the positive, which is the basic uncompared degree. Then there are the comparative and superlative degrees of comparison. For the comparative and superlative, the adjectives take on special forms.

The comparative compares living beings or things and indicates a difference.

Example:
Leipzig ist schöner als Niederangelbach.

The superlative is the highest degree. It is used to show that a living being or object has the highest level of the quality expressed by the adjective.

It is formed by adding the suffix -(e)st.

Example:
Der ICE ist der schnellste Zug in Deutschland.

An "e" is included in the suffix for adjectives that end with emphasis on the last syllable and the last letters d, t, s, ss, ß, sch, z, tz or x. This extra "e" before the "st" makes the word easier to pronounce.

Example:
Heinz ist der verrückteste Mann in Niederangelbach.
 

There is one exception: "groß"

The superlative form can follows the word it modifies by using it in combination with "am". In that case, the superlative always ends with -en.

am + superlative adjective -(e)st) + ending –en

Example:
Leipzig ist am schönsten.
Der ICE fährt am schnellsten.

Irregular forms:
If the comparative adjective has an umlaut, then the superlative keeps it.