Les Comparatifs
Compare nouns and adjectives using plus/moins/aussi + adjective/adverb + que. Apply irregular forms: bon → meilleur, bien → mieux, mauvais → pire.
A lesson of French A2 — Elementary, in Comparaisons & Degré, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will compare people, things, and actions using plus, moins, and aussi, and apply the three important irregular comparative forms.
Comparing in French: Three Structures
French uses three comparison words:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| plus... que | more... than |
| moins... que | less... than |
| aussi... que | as... as |
These structures work with adjectives, adverbs, and nouns.
Comparisons with Adjectives
plus/moins/aussi + adjective + que
The adjective still agrees with the noun it modifies.
Marie est plus grande que Pierre. — Marie is taller than Pierre. Ce film est moins intéressant qu'on pensait. — This film is less interesting than we thought. Il est aussi fatigué que moi. — He is as tired as I am. Cette maison est plus moderne que l'autre. — This house is more modern than the other one.
The adjective agrees with the noun it modifies — not with the thing being compared to: Les filles sont plus grandes que les garçons. (grandes agrees with filles)
Comparisons with Adverbs
plus/moins/aussi + adverb + que
Adverbs do not agree — they are invariable.
Elle parle plus vite que moi. — She speaks faster than me. Il travaille moins bien que sa sœur. — He works less well than his sister. Tu cours aussi vite que lui. — You run as fast as him.
Comparisons with Nouns
plus de/moins de/autant de + noun + que
With nouns, use autant de (not aussi) for equality, and plus de / moins de for comparisons.
J'ai plus de temps que toi. — I have more time than you. Elle a moins de patience que lui. — She has less patience than him. Nous avons autant de travail qu'eux. — We have as much work as them.