Superlative Adverbs
Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs, and superlative adverbs show the extreme degree of how an action is performed. This guide covers how to form and use superlative adverbs with clear examples.
Formation
Adverbs in French often come from adjectives by adding -ment to the feminine form, and they remain invariable. To form a superlative adverb, you typically modify the adjective into a superlative and place the adverb where it naturally emphasizes the action.
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Placement
Adverbs that modify a verb usually follow the verb, while adverbs that modify an adjective or another adverb come immediately after the word they qualify. Intransigent placement can change the meaning or emphasis, so pay attention to natural order.
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Key Vocabulary
Familiar adverbs and adjectives used in comparisons help you express nuance when highlighting extremes in manner, time, or degree. Learn common adverbs and their opposite adjectives to see how they function in sentences.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| adverbe | adverb |
| adjectif | adjective |
| lentement | slowly |
| rapidement | quickly |
| très | very |
| extrêmement | extremely |
| plus | more |
| moins | less |
| le plus | the most |
| le moins | the least |
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🍳 Je prépare la sauce d'abord, puis je cuis les pâtes. | I make the sauce first, then I cook the pasta. |
| 🔥 Le feu est trop fort; je baisse la chaleur. | The heat is too high; I turn down the heat. |
| ⏱️ Je laisse mijoter longtemps pour plus de saveur. | I let it simmer for a long time for more flavor. |
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Comparisons
Use plus, moins, and aussi to compare adverbs when describing how an action is performed relative to another. For an extreme degree, turn the adjective into a superlative and place the adverb accordingly.
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Superlatives
The superlative adverb is expressed by combining the definite article with plus or moins and placing the adverb so it clearly modifies the intense action. Sometimes restructuring the sentence with a noun phrase highlights the extreme manner more naturally.
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Summary
Adverbs are invariable modifiers that tell us how, when, or to what extent an action occurs, and superlative adverbs emphasize the extreme degree of that manner. Form adverbs from adjectives, place them according to what they modify, and use comparative and superlative constructions to express precise nuance.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025