This deep dive covers Superlatives within The passive, superlatives and en + present participle for GCSE French. Revise The passive, superlatives and en + present participle in Core Grammar Toolkit for GCSE French with 15 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 3 of 6 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📋 Superlatives
Superlatives express the most or the least. In French, the structure is built around a definite article and plus or moins.
⭐ Superlative Structure
le / la / les + plus / moins + adjective (+ de + group)
The adjective keeps its normal position relative to the noun — before it if it usually precedes, after it if it usually follows.
| Normal position of adjective | Superlative structure | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| After the noun (most adjectives) | noun + le/la/les + plus/moins + adj | le film le plus intéressant | the most interesting film |
| Before the noun (BAGS adjectives: beau, bon, grand, etc.) | le/la/les + plus/moins + adj + noun | le plus grand bâtiment | the tallest building |
After a superlative, in (a group) is translated as de:
- le film le plus intéressant de l'année (the most interesting film of the year)
- le plus grand bâtiment de la ville (the tallest building in the city)
- l'élève la plus travailleuse de la classe (the hardest-working pupil in the class)
C'est la matière la plus difficile de toutes.
It is the most difficult subject of all.
- difficile normally follows the noun → superlative article la inserted after matière
- la plus difficile — article agrees with matière (feminine singular)
- de toutes — "in/of all" uses de, not que
C'était le plus beau jour de ma vie.
It was the most beautiful day of my life.
- beau is a BAGS adjective — it normally precedes the noun → superlative also precedes: le plus beau jour
- Article le agrees with jour (masculine singular)
- de ma vie — "in/of my life" — uses de
Practice questions for The passive, superlatives and en + present participle
Which sentence correctly uses the passive voice in French?
Which past participle form correctly completes this passive sentence? 'Les lettres ont été _____ par la secrétaire.'