Superlative adjectives in French express the highest or lowest degree of a quality within a group. They are used to say that something is the "most" or "least" of a quality. The superlative form is created by adding the definite article (le, la, les) before the comparative form of the adjective with plus (more) or moins (less).
Here are the key rules and examples:
Forming Superlatives
- Use le (masculine singular), la (feminine singular), or les (plural) before plus or moins.
- Use the comparative form of the adjective: plus + adjective (more ...) or moins + adjective (less ...).
- Add the adjective after the article and plus/moins.
- The adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes.
Examples:
- C’est le plus grand bâtiment.* (It’s the tallest building.)
- Elle est la moins patiente de la classe.* (She is the least patient in the class.)
- Ce sont les plus intéressants livres.* (These are the most interesting books.)
Superlative Examples
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| C’est le plus rapide du groupe. | He is the fastest in the group. |
| Elle porte la moins chère des robes. | She’s wearing the least expensive dress. |
| Ce sont les plus vieux quartiers de la ville. | These are the oldest neighborhoods in the city. |
Irregular Superlatives
Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms using le/la/les plus for the most, but the adjective stem follows the usual pattern. However, a few adjectives have special forms for the absolute superlative by adding -issime:
- bon → le/la/les meilleur(e)(s) (the best)
- mauvais → le/la/les pire(s) (the worst) — more literary; plus mauvais is more common in speech
- petit → le/la/les plus petit(e)(s) (the smallest) — no special form here, but usage is common
- grand → le/la/les plus grand(e)(s) (the biggest/tallest) — no special form here
Absolute superlative examples:
- C’est le meilleur restaurant du quartier.* (It’s the best restaurant in the neighborhood.)
- C’est le pire film que j’aie vu.* (It’s the worst movie I’ve seen.)
What is the literary superlative form for "the worst" in French?
- le pire
- la pire
- les pires
'pire' is a literary superlative form meaning "the worst." While 'plus mauvais' is common in speech, 'le pire' is more formal or literary. Forms like 'mauvaisissime' or 'plus pire' do not exist.
Additional Tips
- Superlatives are often followed by de to introduce the group being compared:
- le plus intelligent de la classe* (the smartest in the class)
- la moins bruyante des rues* (the quietest of the streets)
- When the superlative is used as a subject or object, the whole phrase (article + plus/moins + adjective + noun) acts as a noun phrase:
- Le plus vieux de la famille est parti.* (The oldest in the family left.)
- Be careful with adjective placement: most adjectives follow the noun, but some (like petit, grand, jeune, vieux, bon, mauvais) come before the noun even in superlative forms.
Summary
The superlative in French is formed as le/la/les + plus/moins + adjective, with the adjective agreeing in gender and number. It expresses the extreme quality ("most" or "least") within a group. Use de to specify the group, and watch out for a few irregular adjectives (meilleur, pire).
What is the formula for forming superlatives in French?
le/la/les + plus/moins + adjective (with agreement)
Superlatives are formed by placing the definite article (le, la, les) before plus (more) or moins (less), followed by the adjective, which agrees in gender and number.
Flashcards (1 of 3)
- English Example: He is the fastest in the group.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
