French Grammar: Comparatives – Basics
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French Grammar: Comparatives – Basics
la grammaire française: le comparatif – une introduction
Comparatives (le comparatif) are used when we contrast one person or thing with another. Some of the comparative words are used when computing numbers or even alone. Comparatives are important to understand in conversations and in reading French.
Study:
Comparatives are expressions used to compare two people or things. In English, comparative adjectives are formed by adding –er to the end of a word or by using the words more, less, and as. Most comparisons in French use the following phrases and constructions (Remember that the adjectives need to agree in gender and number with the FIRST noun):
plus + (adjective) + que
more (adjective) than
moins + (adjective) + que
less (adjective) than
aussi + (adjective) + que
as (adjective) as
When a comparison involves an adverb, use the following similar constructions:
plus que : more than
moins que : less than
autant que : as much as
There are a few irregular comparative adjectives and adverbs. Irregular comparative adjectives must agree in number and gender with the first noun they describe. Irregular comparative adverbs don’t have to agree in number or gender with the verb(s) they modify.
bon(ne)(s) : good –> meilleur(e)(s) : better (this form is an adjective; it describes nouns, so it must agree in number and in gender with the noun it describes)
bien : well –> mieux : better (this form is an adverb; it modifies verbs, and it doesn’t change its form)
mauvais(e)(s) : bad –> plus mauvais(e)(s) OR pire(s) : worse (these forms are adjectives; they describe nouns, so they must agree in number and in gender with the noun they describe)
mal : badly –> plus mal OR pire : worse (these forms are adverbs; they modify verbs, and they don’t change their form)
Examples:
Les Yankees sont meilleurs que les Mets.
The Yankees are better than the Mets.
Les Mets sont plus mauvais que les Yankees. / Les Mets sont pires que les Yankees.
The Mets are worse than the Yankees.
Les Yankees jouent mieux que les Mets.
The Yankees play better than the Mets.
Les Mets jouent plus mal que les Yankees. / Les Mets jouent pire que les Yankees.
The Mets play worse than the Yankees.
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Anne est plus intelligente que Jacques.
Anne is more intelligent than Jacques. / Anne is smarter than Jacques.
Le français est moins difficile que le chinois.
French is less difficult than Chinese.
Tes soeurs sont aussi sérieuses que le professeur.
Your sisters are as serious as the professor.
Mon grand-père est plus âgé que ma grand-mère.
My grandfather is older than my grandmother.
Adapt:
Mon mari ne chante pas aussi bien que moi.
My husband doesn’t sing as well as I (do).
Jeanne est aussi petite que Patrick.
Jeanne is as short as Patrick.
Le brocoli est meilleur que le chou-fleur.
Broccoli is better than cauliflower.
Elle est plus âgée que moi.
She is older than I (am).
Ce train-ci est plus rapide que celui-là.
This train is faster than that one.
Le nouveau restaurant est moins cher que l’ancien.
The new restaurant is less expensive than the old one.
Ma valise pèse moins que votre sac à dos.
My suitcase weighs less than your backpack.
L’avion est plus grand que le bateau.
The plane is bigger than the boat.
