9.4. Le comparatif et le superlatif des adjectifs

The Comparative and Superlative of Adjectives

9.4.1. The Main Idea

Use the comparative to compare two people, places, or things.

Ma maison est plus grande que ton appartement.	My house is bigger than your apartment.
Cette chambre est moins calme que ma chambre.	This room is less quiet than my room.
Ce quartier est aussi tranquille que mon quartier.	This neighbourhood is as peaceful as my neighbourhood.

Use the superlative to say something is the most or the least.

C’est la plus grande maison.	It is the biggest house.
C’est le quartier le plus calme.	It is the calmest neighbourhood.

9.4.2. Comparative: More Than

Use plus + adjective + que to say more ___ than.

plus grand que	bigger / taller than
plus petit que	smaller / shorter than
plus calme que	calmer than
plus moderne que	more modern than
plus confortable que	more comfortable than

Examples:

Ma maison est plus grande que ton appartement.	My house is bigger than your apartment.
Cette cuisine est plus moderne que l’ancienne cuisine.	This kitchen is more modern than the old kitchen.
Mon quartier est plus calme que le centre-ville.	My neighbourhood is calmer than downtown.

9.4.3. Comparative: Less Than

Use moins + adjective + que to say less ___ than.

moins grand que	less big than / smaller than
moins cher que	less expensive than / cheaper than
moins moderne que	less modern than
moins confortable que	less comfortable than

Examples:

Mon appartement est moins grand que ta maison.	My apartment is less big than your house.
Cette chambre est moins confortable que ma chambre.	This room is less comfortable than my room.
Ce quartier est moins cher que le centre-ville.	This neighbourhood is less expensive than downtown.

9.4.4. Comparative: As… As

Use aussi + adjective + que to say as ___ as.

aussi grand que	as big / tall as
aussi calme que	as calm as
aussi moderne que	as modern as
aussi confortable que	as comfortable as

Examples:

Ma chambre est aussi grande que ta chambre.	My room is as big as your room.
Ce quartier est aussi calme que mon ancien quartier.	This neighbourhood is as calm as my old neighbourhood.
Cette maison est aussi confortable que mon appartement.	This house is as comfortable as my apartment.

9.4.5. Adjective Agreement

The adjective still agrees with the noun it describes.

Ma maison est plus grande que ton appartement.	My house is bigger than your apartment.
Mon appartement est plus petit que ta maison.	My apartment is smaller than your house.
Ces chambres sont plus grandes que les anciennes chambres.	These rooms are bigger than the old rooms.
Ces maisons sont moins modernes que ces appartements.	These houses are less modern than these apartments.

The comparison word does not change, but the adjective can change.

plus grand	more big / bigger, masculine singular
plus grande	more big / bigger, feminine singular
plus grands	more big / bigger, masculine plural
plus grandes	more big / bigger, feminine plural

9.4.6. Superlative: The Most

Use le / la / les plus + adjective to say the most ___.

le plus grand	the biggest / tallest, masculine singular
la plus grande	the biggest / tallest, feminine singular
les plus grands	the biggest / tallest, masculine plural
les plus grandes	the biggest / tallest, feminine plural

Examples:

C’est le plus grand appartement.	It is the biggest apartment.
C’est la plus grande maison.	It is the biggest house.
Ce sont les plus grandes chambres.	These are the biggest rooms.
C’est le quartier le plus calme.	It is the calmest neighbourhood.

9.4.7. Superlative: The Least

Use le / la / les moins + adjective to say the least ___.

le moins cher	the least expensive, masculine singular
la moins chère	the least expensive, feminine singular
les moins chers	the least expensive, masculine plural
les moins chères	the least expensive, feminine plural

Examples:

C’est le logement le moins cher.	It is the least expensive housing.
C’est la chambre la moins chère.	It is the least expensive room.
Ce sont les appartements les moins modernes.	These are the least modern apartments.
C’est le quartier le moins bruyant.	It is the least noisy neighbourhood.

9.4.8. Common Irregular Forms

Some adjectives have special comparative and superlative forms.

bon	good
meilleur que	better than, masculine
meilleure que	better than, feminine
le meilleur	the best, masculine
la meilleure	the best, feminine

Examples:

Ce café est meilleur que l’autre café.	This café is better than the other café.
Cette chambre est meilleure que l’autre chambre.	This room is better than the other room.
C’est le meilleur restaurant.	It is the best restaurant.
C’est la meilleure maison.	It is the best house.

9.4.9. Common Adjectives for Homes and Places

grand	big / tall, masculine
grande	big / tall, feminine
petit	small / short, masculine
petite	small / short, feminine
calme	calm
tranquille	quiet / peaceful
bruyant	noisy, masculine
bruyante	noisy, feminine
moderne	modern
ancien	old / former, masculine
ancienne	old / former, feminine
confortable	comfortable
pratique	convenient / practical
cher	expensive, masculine
chère	expensive, feminine
bon	good, masculine
bonne	good, feminine
meilleur	better / best, masculine
meilleure	better / best, feminine

9.4.10. Core Patterns

plus + adjective + que	more ___ than
moins + adjective + que	less ___ than
aussi + adjective + que	as ___ as
le / la / les plus + adjective	the most ___
le / la / les moins + adjective	the least ___
meilleur(e) que	better than
le / la meilleur(e)	the best

9.4.11. Practice

My house is bigger than your apartment. |

This room is less comfortable than my room. |

My neighbourhood is as calm as your neighbourhood. |

It is the biggest house. |

It is the least expensive room. |

This café is better than the other café. |

It is the best restaurant. |

These apartments are more modern than these houses. |

9.4.12. Answers

My house is bigger than your apartment.	Ma maison est plus grande que ton appartement.
This room is less comfortable than my room.	Cette chambre est moins confortable que ma chambre.
My neighbourhood is as calm as your neighbourhood.	Mon quartier est aussi calme que ton quartier.
It is the biggest house.	C’est la plus grande maison.
It is the least expensive room.	C’est la chambre la moins chère.
This café is better than the other café.	Ce café est meilleur que l’autre café.
It is the best restaurant.	C’est le meilleur restaurant.
These apartments are more modern than these houses.	Ces appartements sont plus modernes que ces maisons.

9.4.13. Short Dialogue

A : Ton appartement est comment ?	A: What is your apartment like?
B : Il est plus petit que ma maison d’enfance, mais il est plus moderne.	B: It is smaller than my childhood home, but it is more modern.
A : Et ton quartier ?	A: And your neighbourhood?
B : Il est aussi calme que mon ancien quartier, mais il est moins cher.	B: It is as quiet as my old neighbourhood, but it is less expensive.

9.4.14. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to compare people, places, and things with plus… que, moins… que, and aussi… que, form superlatives with le / la / les plus and le / la / les moins, and recognize the irregular form meilleur(e) for better or best.