lo mai, la mai
The Most
Article plus mai plus an adjective means the most: lo mai grand.
How It Works
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| lo mai + masculine | Aquel ostal es lo mai vièlh de la carrièra. |
| la mai + feminine | Maria es la mai pichòta de la classa. |
| las mai + feminine plural | Aquelas flors son las mai bèlas. |
| los mai + masculine plural | Los mai bèls ostals son aicí. |
| lo mens (the least) | Aquel libre es lo mens car. |
After the superlative, de names the group: lo mai grand de totes, la mai pichòta de la classa.
When the adjective stands before a noun, the pattern is article, mai, adjective, noun: la mai bèla vila. Bon has its own superlative, lo melhor.
Examples (5)
- Aquel ostal es lo mai vièlh de la carrièra.
That house is the oldest in the street.
Lo mai vièlh is a masculine superlative.
- Maria es la mai pichòta de la classa.
Maria is the smallest in the class.
La mai pichòta is feminine.
- Aquelas flors son las mai bèlas.
Those flowers are the most beautiful.
Las mai bèlas is the feminine plural.
- Tolosa es la mai granda vila d'Occitània.
Toulouse is the biggest city of Occitania.
La mai granda stands before the noun vila.
- Aquel libre es lo mens car.
That book is the least expensive.
Lo mens is the opposite of lo mai.
Common Mistakes
Not making the adjective agree with the noun.
Es la mai bèl vila.Es la mai bèla vila.The adjective after mai still agrees: bèla goes with vila.
Adding an -s to mai.
Aquelas flors son las mais bèlas.Aquelas flors son las mai bèlas.Mai never takes an -s. Only the article and the adjective change.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The superlative builds on mai ... que, so that comparison comes first.
Related Patterns
- mens ... queLess than
Mens replaces mai for the least.
Level 2 - melhor, mièlhs, piègerBetter and Worse
Melhor is the comparative and, with an article, the superlative of bon.
Level 3 - Common Adjectives Before the Noun
These adjectives often come before the noun.
Level 2 - Adjectives After the Noun
Most adjectives come after the noun.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice lo mai, la mai in Bubblegum
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