Language/French/Grammar/Comparative-and-Superlative-Adjectives

French Grammar → Adjectives and Adverbs → Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

In French, adjectives can be used to compare two or more people, things, or ideas. There are two main ways to form comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives:

• Adding plus or moins before the adjective to make the comparative form
• Adding le plus or le moins before the adjective to make the superlative form

Comparative Adjectives

To form the comparative form of adjectives, simply add plus or moins before the adjective. The word que (meaning "than") is used to make the comparison.

Examples

French	Pronunciation	English
Mon frère est plus grand que moi.	mon fr-air eh ploo grahn kuh mwah	My brother is taller than me.
La pizza est moins chère que le steak.	lah pee-zah eh mwah share kuh luh stayk	The pizza is less expensive than the steak.

Superlative Adjectives

To form the superlative form of adjectives, add le plus or le moins before the adjective. The word de (meaning "of") is used to make the comparison.

Examples

French	Pronunciation	English
Le chien de Marie est le plus mignon.	luh shee-ehn duh mah-ree eh luh ploo mee-nyohn	Marie's dog is the cutest.
Les pommes de cette région sont les moins chères.	lay pohm duh set ray-zyohn sohn lay mwah share	The apples from this region are the least expensive.

Irregular Forms

Like many other aspects of French grammar, there are some irregular forms for comparative and superlative adjectives. Some of the most common irregular forms are listed below:

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
bon(ne)	meilleur(e)	le meilleur (la meilleure)
mauvais(e)	pire	le pire (la pire)
petit(e)	moindre	le moindre (la moindre)
grand(e)	plus grand(e)	le plus grand (la plus grande)
beau/bel(le)	plus beau/belle	le plus beau (la plus belle)
joli(e)	plus joli(e)	le plus joli (la plus jolie)

Practice

Now it's time to practice! Use the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives to complete the sentences:

1. bon(ne)
• J'aime ce restaurant, mais celui-ci est ____________.
• De tous les chocolats que j'ai goûté, celui-là est ____________.
• Elle a une idée ____________ que la mienne.
2. grand(e)
• Je suis ____________ que toi.
• Le Mont-Blanc est ____________ montagne de France.
• Il est le ____________ de ses frères.
3. petit(e)
• La chambre est ____________ que la mienne.
• Il a un appétit ____________ que d'habitude.
• Je préfère les villes ____________ aux grandes métropoles.
4. beau/bel(le)
• Mon frère est ____________ qu'avant.
• Cette plage est ____________ que l'autre.
• Elle est la ____________ de la soirée.

Answers

1. bon(ne)
• J'aime ce restaurant, mais celui-ci est meilleur.
• De tous les chocolats que j'ai goûté, celui-là est le meilleur.
• Elle a une idée meilleure que la mienne.
2. grand(e)
• Je suis plus grand(e) que toi.
• Le Mont-Blanc est la plus grande montagne de France.
• Il est le plus grand de ses frères.
3. petit(e)
• La chambre est plus petite que la mienne.
• Il a un appétit plus petit que d'habitude.
• Je préfère les villes petites aux grandes métropoles.
4. beau/bel(le)
• Mon frère est plus beau qu'avant.
• Cette plage est plus belle que l'autre.
• Elle est la plus belle de la soirée.

Cultural Notes

• In France, it is common to compare different wine regions, with some of the most famous regions being Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley.
• The Mont-Saint-Michel is a famous island commune located in Normandy, France. It is known for its medieval architecture and is a popular tourist destination.
• The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most famous film festivals in the world. It takes place annually in Cannes, France and features prominent filmmakers and actors.

Sources

• <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative#French">Comparative</a>
• <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superlative#French">Superlative</a>

Table of Contents - French Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• The French Alphabet
• French Vowels and Consonants
• French Accent Marks
• Introductions and Greetings

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Gender and Number of Nouns
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Partitive Articles

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• Common Irregular Verbs
• Passé Composé
• Futur Proche

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Agreement of Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Formation and Use of Adverbs

  ---

Negation and Interrogation

• Negation
• Interrogation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
• Time and Dates

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Romantic Relationships

  ---

Food and Drink

• Food and Eating Habits
• Beverages and Drinking Habits

  ---

Hobbies and Interests

• Sports and Fitness Activities
• Music and Entertainment

  ---

Geography and Travel

• Regions and Cities in France
• Transportation and Accommodation

  ---

French Culture and Arts

• French Cuisine and Gastronomy
• French Cinema and Literature

  ---

French History and Society

• Major Events in French History
• French Society and Lifestyle

Other Lessons

• How to write and read numbers
• Grammatical and real gender
• Adjectives which normally follow the noun
• Subject verb agreement — Agreement with more than one subject
• Adjectifs possessifs
• Relative Clause
• Differences in the use of numbers in French and English Kings, queens and popes
• The irregular verb avoir
• Plurals of nouns ending in eu, au, eau
• Confusions English and French direct object

Sources

• Comparatives and Superlatives in French grammar
• French Grammar: comparative and superlative | Talk in French
• How To Form The French Comparative and Superlative