Comparative and Superlative Grammar Guide

1. Comparatives and superlatives This icon indicates the slide contains activities created in Flash. These activities are not editable. This icon indicates that the slide contains sound. For more detailed instructions, see the User Guide presentation.

2. The comparative & the superlative 1

3. The comparative 1 When you compare two or more things, you will probably need to use the words plus and moins. Plusmeans “more” and you can use it to say that something is more important, bigger, smaller, more interesting, etc.

4. The comparative 2 Le train est plus cher que le bus. – The train is more expensive than the bus. Le lièvre est plus rapide que la tortue. – The hare is faster (literally “more fast”) than the tortoise.

5. The comparative 3 Moinsworks in the same way, but means the opposite. It is used to say that something is less big, fast, expensive, etc. than something else. Le football est moins intéressantque le rugby. – Football is less interesting than rugby. Le ski est moins difficile que l’escalade. – Skiing is less difficult than climbing.

6. The comparative 4 Aussiworks in the same way, but means ‘as… as’. It is used to say that something is as big, fast, expensive, etc. as something else. L’histoire est aussi ennuyeuse que les maths. – History is as boring as maths. La tortue est aussi lente que le lézard. – The tortoise is as slow as the lizard.

7. The comparative 5 With plus, moins and aussi it is important that you remember to make the adjective agree with what is being described. Le français est aussi intéressantque l’espagnol. – French is as interesting as Spanish. La voiture est moins lente que le vélo. – The car is less slow than the bicycle.

8. The comparative 6 There are some irregular forms to remember, however. If you want to say that something is better or worse than something else, you need to use these expressions: Mon vélo est meilleur que sa moto. – My bike is better than his motorbike. (feminine form = meilleure) Ma voiture est pire que la voiture de ma mère. – My car is worse than my mother’s car. (masculine form is the same)

9. The comparative 7

10. The comparative 8 Which of the following sentences do you agree with? • L’autobus est moins cher que le train. • L’Eurostar est plus confortable que le ferry. • L’histoire est plus intéressante que les maths. • Le français est moins ennuyeux que le dessin. • Le chocolat est plus délicieux que les épinards. • Le thé est plus rafraîchissant que l’eau minérale. • Le foot est moins passionnant que le cricket. • Le golf est plus difficile que la natation. How could you change the sentences that you don’t agree with to make them more acceptable?

11. The superlative 1 The superlative is used to say that something is the biggest, the best, the most interesting, the least exciting, etc. Look at the following sentences: Le TGV est le train français le plus rapide. – The TGV is the fastest French train. Sylvie est la plus intelligente du groupe.– Sylvie is the most intelligent in the group.

12. The superlative 2 You can see from these examples that to form the superlative, you use: le / la + plus / moins + correct form of the adjective: la plus belle voiture – the most beautiful car la plus bellevoiture – the most beautiful car le garçon le plus intelligent – the cleverest boy le garçon le plus intelligent – the cleverest boy You may also notice from the above examples that if an adjective usually goes before the noun (beau / belle), then the superlative will also go before the noun. If an adjective usually goes after the noun (agréable) then the superlative will also go after the noun.

13. The superlative 3 Just like the comparative, the superlative also has its irregularities: Le meilleur vélo The best bike La meilleure moto The best motorbike Le pire train The worst train La pire voiture The worst car

14. The superlative 4

15. Comparative adverbs 1 Both plus, moins and aussi can be used with adverbs as well as adjectives, to say that someone is doing something more quickly, less slowly etc. than someone else: Il roule plus lentement que toi. – He drives more slowly than you. Marie écrit moins souvent que Sophie.– Marie writes less frequently than Sophie.

16. Comparative adverbs 2 But it is important to remember that in this case there are also some irregular forms: Je conduis mieux que toi. – I drive better than you. (no plus or moins!) Je conduis pis que toi. – I drive worse than you. (no plus or moins!)

17. Comparative adverbs 3

18. Superlative adverbs 1 Both plus and moins can be used with adverbs as well as adjectives, to say that someone is doing something the most quickly, the least slowly etc.: Il court le plus vite. – He runs the fastest. C'est Alice qui parle le plus fort.– It’s Alice that speaks the loudest.

19. Superlative adverbs 2 C'est Anne qui travaille le mieux.– It’s Anne that works the best. C’est Ali qui chante le plus mal – It’s Ali that sings the worst. You can see from these examples that to form the superlative, you use: le* + followed by plus (more) or moins (less) before the adverb: If you want to say that something is performed in the best manner, you need to use this expression: le mieux – the best

20. The comparative & the superlative 2