The Superlative Form of Adjectives

The superlative form of adjectives is made by introducing the definite article (le/la/les) – or if appropriate, the possessive adjective – before the comparative form of the adjective.

• C’est ma plus belle peinture.
• It’s my finest painting.

• Ce sont les garçons les plus travailleurs de la classe.
• They are the most hardworking boys in the class.

The adjective bon has as its superlative form le meilleur.

• C’est le meilleur choix.
• It’s the best choice.

The adjectives mauvais and petit each have two superlative forms:

Le plus mauvais is used more frequently than le pire.

• C’est le plus mauvais acteur que j’aie vu.
• He’s the worst actor I’ve seen.

Le plus petit is used to refer to physical size, while le moindre is common with abstract nouns:

• C’est la plus petite salle.
• It’s the smallest room.

• Vous pouvez me consulter si vous avez la moindre difficulté.
• You can consult me if you have the least difficulty.

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It’s a new month! What do we want to see next on the blog?

Have a great week, everyone!

A bientôt !

Courtney

The Superlative

In English, the superlative is expressed by adding -est to an adjective or adverb (ex: small → smallest; slow → slowest), or by adding the words “most” or “least” in front of the adjective or adverb (ex: beautiful → most beautiful; happy → least happy).

The superlative in French is expressed by placing the definite article and the words plus or moins in front of the adjective or adverb.

• Je crois que c’est la région la plus pittoresque du pays.
• I think that this is the most picturesque region in the country.

• Eric est le plus grand élève de la classe.
• Eric is the tallest student in the class.

• Aurélie lit le plus vite.
• Aurélie reads the fastest.

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The form of the definite article (le, la, les) used depends upon the noun which follows, to which the adjective refers and with which it agrees in gender and number. However, the article is always le in adverbial superlative expressions.

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Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms

The comparative and superlative forms of the adjective bon (good) and the comparative of the adverb bien (well) are irregular in both French and English.

	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Adjective	Bon (good)	Meilleur (better, masculine)	Le meilleur (the best, masculine)
		Meilleure (better, feminine)	La meilleure (the best, feminine)
Adverb	Bien (well)	Mieux (better)	Le mieux (the best)

• Si nous allions à un meilleur restaurant, nous mangerions mieux.
• If we went to a better restaurant, we would eat better.

• Félicitations, je te souhaite le mieux !
• Congratulations, I wish you the best!

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Happy first day of December! As we get closer to wrapping up this year, I’d like to hear from you guys – what you like, what you don’t like, what you’d like to see more of. I want to make this blog work for everyone and their needs.

Merci à vous !

Courtney