Comparatives & Superlatives

📌 Note de grammaire

To say that someone or something possesses more of an adjective quality than another, use 'plus' + adjective + 'que'. The adjective must agree in gender and number with the subject being compared.

📌 Note de grammaire

To express that someone or something has less of a quality, use 'moins' + adjective + 'que'. The adjective still agrees with the first noun in gender and number.

📌 Note de grammaire

To show that two things share an equal quality, use 'aussi' + adjective + 'que'. Note that 'aussi' means 'also' in other contexts, but here it means 'as'.

📌 Note de grammaire

When comparing quantities with nouns, the structure changes. Use 'plus de', 'moins de', or 'autant de' followed by the noun, and then 'que'. Note that 'de' does not change to 'du/de la'.

📌 Note de grammaire

To compare actions, place 'plus', 'moins', or 'autant' directly after the verb, followed by 'que'. There is no adjective or noun involved here.

📌 Note de grammaire

To express the highest degree of a quality, use a definite article (le, la, les) + 'plus' + adjective. The article and adjective must agree with the noun being described.

📌 Note de grammaire

To express the lowest degree of a quality, use a definite article (le, la, les) + 'moins' + adjective, agreeing with the noun in gender and number.

📌 Note de grammaire

When the adjective normally follows the noun, the definite article must be repeated before 'plus' or 'moins'. Example: 'la voiture la plus rapide'.

📌 Note de grammaire

The adjective 'bon' (good) does not use 'plus bon'. Instead, it becomes 'meilleur(e)(s)' for better, and 'le/la/les meilleur(e)(s)' for the best.

📌 Note de grammaire

The adverb 'bien' (well) becomes 'mieux' (better) in the comparative, and 'le mieux' (the best) in the superlative. Do not confuse 'meilleur' (adjective) with 'mieux' (adverb).

📌 Note de grammaire

The adjective 'mauvais' (bad) can form its comparative regularly as 'plus mauvais', but it frequently uses the irregular form 'pire' (worse). The superlative is 'le/la/les pire(s)'.

📌 Note de grammaire

In English, we often use 'in' a place after a superlative (e.g., 'the tallest in the class'). In French, you must use the preposition 'de' (or 'du/des') instead of 'dans'.