A2
plus, moins, aussi — comparing
How French forms comparatives and superlatives with plus, moins and aussi, and the irregular forms of bon and bien.
French does not change the adjective. A word goes in front, and que introduces what you are comparing with.
| plus … que | more … than |
| moins … que | less … than |
| aussi … que | as … as |
Le train est plus rapide que le bus.
the train is more fast than the bus
The train is faster than the bus.
Elle est aussi grande que moi.
she is as tall as me
She’s as tall as I am.
After que, a pronoun takes its stressed form: moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles.
The superlative adds the article
C’est le plus grand musée de Paris.
it-is the most big museum of Paris
It’s the biggest museum in Paris.
Note de where English says in. The group being compared within always takes de — le meilleur restaurant de la ville.
The adjective keeps its position
If it normally follows the noun, it still does, and the article repeats.
la voiture la plus chère
the car the most expensive
the most expensive car
That doubled la looks wrong to an English eye and is correct.
bon and bien are irregular
| bon → meilleur | better (adjective) |
| bien → mieux | better (adverb) |
Ce livre est plus bon.
Ce livre est meilleur.
Plus bon does not exist. The adjective is meilleur; the adverb is mieux — il chante mieux que moi.
Plus mauvais is allowed alongside pire, so the irregularity runs one way only.