Эта книга самая интересная.

This book is the most interesting.

Breakdown of Эта книга самая интересная.

• книга: the book
• интересный: interesting
• самый: most
• эта: this

Questions & Answers about Эта книга самая интересная.

What does самая mean here, and how is it formed?

Самая is the superlative form of the adjective самый, meaning “the most.” To form the superlative in Russian you take самый (or самая, самое, самые) and place it before the adjective you want to emphasize. In this sentence самая интересная literally means “the most interesting.”

Why is there no verb like есть (“is”) in Эта книга самая интересная?

In Russian, the present-tense copula есть (“to be”) is normally omitted. The full logical structure is Эта книга (есть) самая интересная, but the verb есть is dropped in everyday speech and writing.

Why are both самая and интересная in the feminine singular nominative form?

Adjectives in Russian agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. Here книга is feminine, singular, and in the nominative case (it’s the subject). So both самая and интересная take the feminine singular nominative endings.

Could you put a dash between книга and самая интересная, as in Эта книга — самая интересная?

Yes, a dash is optional before a predicate when there’s no verb, especially for emphasis or style. So Эта книга — самая интересная is also correct. However, the dash is not required.

How would you say “more interesting” (comparative) instead of “most interesting” (superlative)?

There are two common ways: • One-word form: интереснее (e.g. Эта книга интереснее той – “This book is more interesting than that one.”)
• Two-word form with более: более интересная (e.g. более интересная книга – “a more interesting book”).

How do you ask “Which book is the most interesting?” in Russian?

You use the interrogative какая (feminine nominative) and the same superlative construction:
Какая книга самая интересная?

What’s the difference between самая интересная книга and эта книга самая интересная?

• Самая интересная книга is a noun phrase meaning “the most interesting book,” used when you’re naming or listing it.
• Эта книга самая интересная is a full sentence stating that “this book is the most interesting (of all),” often in response to a question or in comparison.

How do you decline самый in the nominative case for all genders and number?

Nominative case forms of самый:
• Masculine singular: самый
• Feminine singular: самая
• Neuter singular: самое
• Plural (all genders): самые