Comparative and Superlative
April 26, 2011 § Leave a comment
When making comparisons, one is saying that something or someone is more, less, or as (an adjective) as another, or compares how someone does an action, using an adverb. We use the same construction in French.
The construction is
| more adjective or adverb than | plus adjective / adverb que |
| as adjective or adverb as | aussi adjective / adverb que |
| less adjective or adverb than | moins adjective / adverb que |
She runs faster (more fast) than Fred. Elle court plus rapidement que Fred.
You are working as hard as Fred. Tu travailles aussi dur que Fred.
This saleslady is nicer than the other saleslady. Cette vendeuse est plus sympathique que l’autre vendeuse.
Une Volkswagen est moins chère qu’une Porsche. A VW is less expensive than a Porsche
*good and bad change forms in French like they do in English.
| good – bon | well – bien |
| better – meilleur | better – mieux |
| best – le/la meilleur | best – le / la mieux |
| bad – mauvais | badly – mal |
| worse – plus mauvais (pire) | worse – plus mal (pire) |
| worst – le / la plus mauvais (pis) | worst – le /la plus mal (pis) |
Ils trouvent que le pain français est meilleur que le pain amèricain.
Les fruits et les légumes sont meilleurs pour la santé que les pâtisseries?
One uses the superlative to single out one item from the group and compare it to all the others. One forms the superlative in French by using le, la, or les and plus or moins with the adjective.
Cette robe est la plus jolie de la boutique. This dress is the prettiest of the store.
Robert est le plus intelligent de la classe. Robert is the smartest in the class.
Fred et Oscar sont les plus amusants de tous les élèves. Fred and Oscar are the funniest of all the students.
French Notes 
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