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formation and placement
In French as in English, the superlative is a form of an adjective expressing 'the best', 'the smallest', 'the most interesting'.
To form the superlative, use the definite article (le, la,
les) and the adverb plus or moins before the adjective.
Note that the superlative of an adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and in number.
The placement of the superlative corresponds to the usual placement of the adjective.
In other words, if the adjective follows the noun, then the superlative will follow the noun, too.
And conversely, if the adjective precedes the noun, then the superlative adjective will precede the noun, too.
Note that if the adjective follows the noun, the definite article is used twice.
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superlative |
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le (la, les) plus (the most) |
le (la, les) moins (the least) |
| adjective after noun |
Bette est la chatte la plus rusée du monde.
Bette is the slickest cat in the world. |
Tammy est la tatou la moins rusée du monde.
Tammy is the least slick armadillo in the world. |
| adjective before noun |
Tammy est la plus gentille tatou du monde.
Tammy is the nicest armadillo in the world. |
Bette est la moins gentille chatte du monde.
Bette is the least nice cat in the world. |
Note that instead of the definite article, you may use a possessive determiner (mon, ma, mes, etc.), so Tex might say: 'Edouard est mon ami le plus distingué' (Edouard is my most distinguished friend).
irregular superlatives
The adjectives bon and mauvais have irregular patterns in the superlative. Note there are two forms for expressing 'the worst': the irregular form le (la) pire and the more commonly used le (la) plus mauvais(e).
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superlative of bon (good) |
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| the best |
the least good |
| le meilleur campus |
le moins bon campus |
| la meilleure université |
la moins bonne université |
| les meilleurs profs |
les moins bons profs |
| les meilleures notes |
les moins bonnes notes |
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| superlative of mauvais (bad) |
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| the worst |
the least bad |
le pire campus
le plus mauvais campus |
le moins mauvais campus |
la pire université
la plus mauvaise université |
la moins mauvaise université |
les pires profs
les plus mauvais profs |
les moins mauvais profs |
les pires notes
les plus mauvaises notes |
les moins mauvaises notes |
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The superlative of mauvais is always either le pire or le plus mauvais. But while you may say 'la plus mauvaise université' or 'la pire université,' you may only say 'les pires ploucs,' 'les pires catastrophes,' 'les pires crimes' etc. Why? Because 'plouc,' 'catastrophe,' 'crime' are already negative and it would be redundant to use 'mauvais' or its superlative, 'le plus mauvais,' in front of them. |
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| Tammy: Texas A&M est la plus mauvaise université du monde. Elle a la moins bonne équipe de foot. Elle attire les pires ploucs! Les meilleurs étudiants viennent à UT parce qu'Austin est la ville la plus cool du Texas! |
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Tammy: Texas A&M is the worst university in the world! It has the worst football team. It attracts the worst rednecks! The best students come to UT because Austin is the coolest city in Texas! |
| Joe-Bob: Tu parles! UT craint! C'est la plus grande université du Texas! En plus, les étudiants de UT sont les plus snobs! College Station est la plus belle ville du monde! |
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Joe-Bob: Go on! UT sucks! It's the largest university in Texas! And, UT students are the most snobbish! College Station is the most beautiful city in the world! |
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