First, the words used to compare:
- plus…que (more…than/___er than) for superior comparisons
- moins…que (less…than) for inferior comparisons
- aussi…que (as…as) or autant que (as much/many as) for equal comparisons
1/ With adjectives/adverbs
- Le chat est plus* petit que le chien. → The cat is smaller than the dog.
- Le chat est moins petit que le chien. → The cat is less small than the dog.
- Le chat est aussi petit que le chien. → The cat is as small as the dog.
*The “s” of “plus is not pronunced before an adjective or adverb.
Liaison:
Liaison is the pronunciation of a latent word-final consonant immediately before a following vowel sound.
- Paul est plus élégant que Pierre. → Paul is more elegant than Peter.
- Paul est moins élégant que Pierre. → Paul is less elegant than Peter.
2/ With nouns: “de/d‘” are added.
- Paul a plus* de livres que Pierre. → Paul has more books than Peter.
- Paul a moins de montres que Pierre. → Paul has fewer watches than Peter.
- Paul a autant de stylos que Pierre. → Paul has as many pens as Peter.
Élision with “de“
- Paul a plus d’argent que Pierre. → Paul has more money than Peter.
- Paul a moins d’argent que Pierre. → Paul has less money than Peter.
- Paul a autant d’argent que Pierre. → Paul has as much money as Peter.
*The “s” of “plus is pronunced before an adjective or adverb.
3/ With verbs
- Paul travaille plus* que Pierre. → Paul works more than Peter.
- Paul travaille moins que Pierre. → Paul works less than Peter.
- Paul travaille autant que Pierre. → Paul works as much as Peter.
*The “s” of “plus is pronunced before an adjective or adverb.
Élision with “que” becoming “qu’“
- Paul travaille plus qu’elle. → Paul works more* than she does.
- Paul travaille moins qu’elle. → Paul works less than she does.
- Paul travaille autant qu’elle. → Paul works as much as she does.
When using “plus”. No change with “moins” or “aussi”.
Irregular comparative:
bon(ne) (good) → meilleur(e) (better)
mauvais(e) (bad) pire/ plus mauvais (worse).
- Cette pizza est meilleure que celle-là. → This pizza is better than this one.
- Cette pizza est moins bonne que celle-là. → This pizza is not as good as this one.
- Cette pizza est aussi bonne que celle-là. → This pizza is as good as this one.
