Essential French Grammar (2012)

Comparisons of Adjectives and Adverbs

How to Form the Comparative of Adjectives and Adverbs

In English, we have two ways of changing adjectives and adverbs from positive to comparative degree. Many of our most common adjectives and adverbs are changed by adding -er to them, i.e.: rich, richer; soon, sooner. Other adjectives and adverbs are made comparative by placing the words “more” (or “less”) in front of them, i.e. : beautiful, more beautiful; slowly, more slowly, less slowly.

In French, comparatives are formed by placing plus (or moins) in front of the adjective or adverb, i.e.: riche, plus riche; vite, plus vite, moins vite.

How to Use the Comparative in French

Elle est plus jolie que sa sœur.
She is prettier than her sister.

Vous parlez plus vite que lui.
You speak faster than he (does).

Ce village est moins intéressant que celui que nous avons visité
la semaine dernière.
This village is less interesting than the one we visited last week.

Jean est aussi intelligent que son frère.
Jean is as intelligent as his brother.

Parlez aussi lentement que moi.
Speak as slowly as I (do).

Observations on the uses of the comparative:

1. In comparatives, “than” is translated by que.

2. In French, a comparison of equality (as ... as) is expressed by aussi ... que.

Miscellaneous Comparative Expressions

Before nouns, “more” is translated as plus de, and “as much,” “as many” are translated by autant de. “So much,” “so many” are rendered by tant de.

La Cote d’Azur a plus de touristes que la Bretagne.
The Riviera has more tourists than Brittany.

II y a autant de aoitures ici qu’à Paris.
There are as many cars here as in Paris.

Nous avons encore tant de choses A faire!
We still have so many things to do!

The Superlative

The superlative degree is expressed in English by adding -est to an adjective or adverb (i.e.: rich, richest, soon, soonest), or by placing the words “most” or “least” in front of the adjective or adverb (i.e.: beautiful, most beautiful; slowly, most slowly, least slowly).

The superlative in French is expressed by placing the definite article and the words plus or moins in front of the adjective or adverb.

Je crois que c’est la région la plus pittoresque du pays.
I think that it is the most picturesque region in the country.

Pierre est le plus grand élève de la classe.
Peter is the tallest pupil in the class.

Jean lit le plus aite.
John reads the fastest.

Observations on the superlative:

1. The form of the definite article (le, la, les) used depends upon the noun which follows, to which the adjective refers and with which it agrees in gender and number. However, the article is always le in adverbial superlative expressions.

2. The word “in” after a superlative expression is translated as de.

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms

The comparative and superlative forms of the adjective bon (good) and the comparative of the adverb bien (well) are irregular in both languages:

Si nous allions à un meilleur restaurant, nous mangerions mieux.

If we went to a better restaurant, we would eat better.