French Comparison Structures: plus... que, moins... que, and Superlatives!

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In French, comparison structures are used to express relationships between objects, people, or concepts. Let's enhance your French expression by learning various comparison structures and their usages.

 

1. Basic Comparison Structures: plus... que, moins... que, aussi... que

 

• plus + adjective/adverb + que: more ... than
  • Example: Il est plus grand que moi. (eel ay ploo grahn kuh mwa) (He is taller than me.)
  • Example: Cette montagne est plus haute que cette colline. (set mohn-tahn ay ploo oat kuh set koh-leen) (This mountain is higher than that hill.)
  • Example: Elle court plus vite que lui. (el koor ploo veet kuh lwee) (She runs faster than him.)
• moins + adjective/adverb + que: less ... than
  • Example: Ce livre est moins intéressant que l'autre. (suh leevr ay mwah-zan-tay-res-sahn kuh lohtr) (This book is less interesting than the other.)
  • Example: Ce film est moins amusant que ce drama. (suh feelm ay mwah-za-mew-zahn kuh suh dra-ma) (This movie is less fun than that drama.)
  • Example: Il travaille moins dur que toi. (eel tra-vai mwah door kuh twa) (He works less hard than you.)
• aussi + adjective/adverb + que: as ... as
  • Example: Elle est aussi intelligente que lui. (el ay oh-see an-tel-lee-zhent kuh lwee) (She is as intelligent as him.)
  • Example: Ce restaurant est aussi bon que ce café. (suh res-toh-rahn ay oh-see bohn kuh suh ka-fay) (This restaurant is as good as that cafe.)
  • Example: Cette voiture est aussi chère que la tienne. (set vwa-tuer ay oh-see sher kuh la tyen) (This car is as expensive as yours.)

 

2. Comparing Adjectives, Adverbs, and Nouns

 

• Adjective Comparison: Most adjectives follow the basic comparison structures mentioned above.
  • Note: Some adjectives/adverbs have irregular forms, such as bon(ne) - meilleur(e)(s) and bien - mieux.
• Adverb Comparison: Adverbs follow the same basic comparison structures as adjectives.
• Noun Comparison: Use 'plus de', 'moins de', or 'autant de' to compare nouns.
  • Example: J'ai plus de livres que toi. (zhay ploo duh leevr kuh twa) (I have more books than you.)
  • Example: Il a moins de patience que moi. (eel ah mwah duh pa-syahns kuh mwa) (He has less patience than me.)
  • Example: Nous avons autant de temps que vous. (nooz a-vohn oh-tahn duh tahn kuh voo) (We have as much time as you.)

 

3. Superlative Expressions: le plus, le moins

 

• le plus + adjective/adverb: the most ...
  • Example: C'est le plus beau jour de ma vie. (say luh ploo boh zhoor duh ma vee) (It's the most beautiful day of my life.)
  • Example: Cet endroit est le plus joli que j'aie jamais vu. (set ahn-drwa ay luh ploo zho-lee kuh zhay zha-may voo) (This is the prettiest place I've ever seen.)
  • Example: Il parle le plus lentement de tous. (eel parl luh ploo lahnt-mahn duh tooss) (He speaks the slowest of all.)
• le moins + adjective/adverb: the least ...
  • Example: C'est le moins cher de tous. (say luh mwah sher duh tooss) (It's the least expensive of all.)
  • Example: Ce restaurant est le moins bon de cette rue. (suh res-toh-rahn ay luh mwah bohn duh set rue) (This restaurant is the worst on this street.)
  • Example: Elle chante le moins bien de la classe. (el shant luh mwah byan duh la klass) (She sings the worst in the class.)

 

Note: In superlative expressions, the definite article (le, la, les) should agree with the gender and number of the object being compared.

 

 

Additional Tips

 

• Emphasizing Comparatives: Use bien plus, beaucoup plus, bien moins, or beaucoup moins to emphasize comparatives.
• Emphasizing Equality: Use tout aussi to emphasize equality.

 

Enhance your French skills by utilizing various comparison structures! Feel free to ask any questions you may have.