<p>so
most clever is wrong, it’s “cleverest”
most big is wrong, it’s “biggest”</p>
<p>those are the very basic examples. the list goes on on what words are right or wrong for superlatives.</p>
<p>so my question is, how can you distinguish from a phony or real superlative?
are there rules? or is it common knowledge? </p>
<p>someone please help this kind of question pops up quite frequently in the writing section!!</p>
<p>Common knowledge, there is no rule.
You can’t say “goodest”
The more you read the more you will know about these cases.
No way other than common knowledge can help you here</p>
<p>And by the way … “most clever” is just fine.</p>
<p>“He’s the most clever puppy in the behavior training program.”</p>
<p>“cleverest” is a bit of tongue twister for some, myself included. And that often is the reason why the use of “most …” is acceptable.</p>
<p>But “most big” is definitely not. Here’s it’s definitely “biggest”.</p>