We use the comparative to compare two things or two individuals, to assess what they have in common and what differentiates them.
If we want to show that there is an equal quantity/amount of something or to express similarity, we use the “equality comparative” (comparatif d’égalité). It can take two forms:
aussi + adjective/adverb + que / autant de + noun + que
Tu es aussi grand que ton frère.
EN: You are as tall as your brother.
Vous travaillez aussi bien que lui.
EN: You work as well as him.
Elle a autant de frères que son amie.
EN: She has as many brothers as her friend.
If we want to show that there is an inferior quantity/amount of something, we use the “inferiority comparative” (comparatif d’infériorité). It can take two forms:
moins + adjective/adverb + que / moins de + noun + que
Je suis moins riche que toi.
EN: I am less rich than you.
Tu chantes moins bien que moi.
EN: You sing less well than I do.
Vous avez moins de problèmes que moi.
EN: You have fewer problems than I do.
If we want to show that there is a superior quantity/amount of something, we use the “superiority comparative” (comparatif de supériorité). It can take two forms:
plus + adjective/adverb + que / plus de + noun + que
Je suis plus grand que toi.
EN: I am taller than you.
Tu cours plus vite que moi.
EN: You run faster than me.
Elle a plus de chance que lui.
EN: She is luckier than him.
The superlative is used to say that something or someone is extreme, that it has no equivalent. This characteristic can be extremely high or extremely low.
le / la / les moins + adjective + de + noun
With this construction, the article (le / la / les) and the adjective agree in gender and number with the noun.
Cet élève est le moins attentif de la
classe.
EN: This pupil is the least attentive of the class.
Ces chaussures sont les moins chères
du magasin.
EN: These shoes are the least expensive of the store.
le / la / les plus + adjective + de + noun
With this construction, the article (le / la / les) and the adjective agree in gender and number with the noun.
Cet élève est le plus intelligent de la
classe.
EN: This pupil is the smartest in the class.
Ces chaussures sont les plus chères
du magasin.
EN: These shoes are the most expensive of the store.
The adjectives bon and mauvais as well as the adverb bien have irregular comparatives and superlatives. Here they are:
| comparative | superlative | |
|---|---|---|
| Bon | meilleur | le meilleur |
| Bien | mieux | le mieux |
| Mauvais | pire = plus mauvais |
le pire = le plus mauvais |
Ce gâteau est bon, mais celui-là est
meilleur que l’autre.
EN: This cake is good, but this one is better than the other.
Ce gâteau est le meilleur de toute la boulangerie.
EN: This cake is the best of the whole bakery.
Cet élève travaille bien, mais celui-là travaille
mieux que lui.
EN: This pupil works well, but this one works better than
him.
C’est lui qui travaille le mieux de toute la
classe.
EN: He is the one who works the best in the whole class.
Ce film est mauvais, mais celui-là est encore
pire (= plus mauvais).
EN : This film is bad, but this one is even worse.
C’est le plus mauvais film (= le pire film) de
la semaine.
EN: This is the worst film of the week.
To compare two propositions, the comparative is formed in two parts:
Plus … plus / moins … moins
Plus on est de fous, plus on rit.
EN: The more the merrier.
Moins on écoute le professeur, moins on
comprend ses explications.
EN: The less we listen to the teacher, the less we understand
the explanations.