Wrong rule for adjective placement

Claire W.B1Kwiziq community member

Wrong rule for adjective placement

A few years ago, Kenneth asked this question:

“This lesson is kind of confusing me. At school I learned that the superlative must come after the noun unless the adjective would come before the noun, and in that case the placement would be a choice. The French About page on superlatives also states this rule. So wouldn't "Marie est la plus intelligente fille de la classe" be incorrect?”

I am also confused and would appreciate clarification.

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Claire,

You can say both but I agree that in -

Marie est la fille la plus intelligente de la classe 

the superlative sits better after the noun.

 

Mary Anne B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I think your sentence is correct.  I have seen superlatives before and after the noun but I have never run across rules that restrict the placement to certain types of superlative adjectives.

Wrong rule for adjective placement

A few years ago, Kenneth asked this question:

“This lesson is kind of confusing me. At school I learned that the superlative must come after the noun unless the adjective would come before the noun, and in that case the placement would be a choice. The French About page on superlatives also states this rule. So wouldn't "Marie est la plus intelligente fille de la classe" be incorrect?”

I am also confused and would appreciate clarification.

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