Expressing "the most/least that I have (ever)..." with a superlative followed by the subjunctive mood in French (Le Subjonctif)

Written by qualified French expert Céline Pickard PGCE, BA

Last updated: 2024-04-18

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To highlight a specific quality in French, you can use a superlative structure, such as:

Je veux la plus belle robe qui soit disponible !I want the most beautiful dress [which is] available!

C'est le roman le moins captivant que je connaisse !This is the least captivating novel that I know!

Learn how to use "the most/least that + [conjugated verb]" in French

When a verb follows a superlative construction, it is usually conjugated in Mode subjonctif, either Le Subjonctif Présent or Le Subjonctif Passé.
That's probably because we can never be 100% sure that something is "the most" or "the least", or will remain so "forever"!

C'est le moins que je puisse faire.That's the least I can do.

Sophie est la fille la plus gentille que je connaisse !Sophie is the nicest girl I know!

C'est la pâtisserie la plus délicieuse qu'ils aient mangée.It is the most delicious pastry they ate.

Ce sont les dessins les plus incroyables que tu aies créés.These are the most incredible drawings you created.

Because the superlative applies to the direct object of the verb that follow, in Le Subjonctif Passé, the past participle is required to agree with that object.
See Special cases when the past participle agrees (in number & gender) when used with 'avoir' in the compound past in French (Le Passé Composé)

Note that to express “the best / the worst that + [conjugated verb]”, you will use:

le meilleur / la meilleure que + [conjugated verb] = the best that + [conjugated verb]

le/la pire que + [conjugated verb] = the worst that + [conjugated verb]

Ce sont les meilleures vacances qu'elle ait passées !It's the best vacation she's had!

Quelle horreur ! Ces chanteurs sont les pires que j'aie écoutés !How awful! These are the worst singers I've listened to!

que j'aie jamais [fait] = that/whom I have ever [done]

C'est le chien le plus mignon que j'aie jamais vu !This is the cutest dog I have ever seen!

Ce sont les pires chansons que nous ayons jamais entendues !These are the worst songs we've ever heard!

C'est l'émission la plus drôle que nous ayons jamais regardée !It's the funniest show we have ever watched!

C'est la plus belle fille qu'il ait jamais rencontrée !She's the most beautiful girl he has ever met!

To emphasise the superlative with the use of ever, in French you use:

Le Subjonctif Passé + jamais.

Note that when jamais is used in the sense of ever, it doesn't need ne.

Using Le Mode Indicatif or Le Mode Subjonctif

Note that you can use Le Mode indicatif or Le Mode subjonctif with the superlative structure. However, it is far more common to use Le Mode Subjonctif as you are expressing a personal opinion or judgment, i.e., not set in stone; there’s a level of uncertainty and subjectivity.

Therefore, Le Mode Indicatif can only be used in such cases where the sentence refers to established true facts or statements.

Parle-moi des meilleurs artistes que je connais.Tell me about the best artists I know.

-> You are sure they know which artists you are talking about.

Parle-moi des meilleurs artistes que je connaisse.Tell me about the best artists I know.

-> You are unsure if they know the artists you are talking about.

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