French Superlatives - Comparing with Adjectives

French superlatives have three parts: definite article, superlative word (either plus or moins), and adjective. For example:

Adjective: vert (green)
   le plus vert (the greenest)
   le moins vert (the least green)

Like all adjectives, the adjectives used in superlatives have to agree with the nouns that they modify, and therefore have different forms for masculine, feminine, singular, and plural. In addition, the article that goes in front of the superlative also needs to agree with the noun.

Masculine singular
   le plus vert (the greenest)
   le moins vert (the least green)
Feminine singular
   la plus verte (the greenest)
   la moins verte (the least green)
Masculine plural
   les plus verts (the greenest)
   les moins verts (the least green)
Feminine plural
   les plus vertes (the greenest)
   les moins vertes (the least green)

Note: The above is true for all adjectives except bon and mauvais, which have special superlative forms for superiority.

Superlative constructions with adjectives

1. Adjective plus noun:
When using a superlative with an adjective to modify a noun, there's one more thing you have to think about: word order. Most French adjectives follow the nouns they modify, but there are some adjectives that precede nouns, and the same is true for superlatives.

a) With adjectives that follow the noun, the superlative also follows. In addition, the definite article precedes both the noun and the superlative. For example:

   David est l'étudiant le plus fier.
   David is the proudest student.

   C'est la voiture la moins chère.
   It's the least expensive car.

b) With adjectives that precede the noun, you have a choice: you can use the above construction, or you can have the superlative precede the noun. If you choose the latter, you need only one definite article.

   David est le garçon le plus jeune.
   David est le plus jeune garçon.
   David is the youngest boy.

   C'est la fleur la plus jolie.
   C'est la plus jolie fleur.
   That's the prettiest flower.

2. Adjective on its own
If the noun that you are referring to has already been stated or implied, you can leave it out:

   David est le plus fier
   David is the proudest.

   Ayant considéré trois voitures, j'ai acheté la moins chère.
   Having considered three cars, and bought the cheapest (one).

3. Adjective plus de
With either of the above constructions, you can add de plus whatever you are comparing to:

   J'ai acheté la voiture la moins chère de la ville.
   I bought the cheapest car in town.

   David est le plus fier de tous mes étudiants.
   David is the proudest of all my students.

4. Adjective plus que
With either 1 or 2, above, you can add que plus a clause that provides more detail. The verb in the clause may need to be in the subjunctive.

   J'ai acheté la voiture la moins chère que j'aie pu trouver.
   I bought the cheapest car I could find.

   Elle est la plus jolie que je connaisse.
   She's the prettiest that I know.


French comparatives and superlatives
Introduction to superlatives
Superlatives with adjectives
Superlatives with adverbs
Superlatives with nouns
Superlatives with verbs