Learn the comparative and superlative in French
Often, you will have the urge to express a comparison in an oral expression exercise or a conversation in French.
In fact, when speaking foreign languages, not knowing how to compare two things can be frustrating.
You want to talk about superiority, inferiority or equality: more than, less than, so … like, less, more, so much, etc.
How do you say “his hand is evidently smaller than his father’s”?: Learn the comparative and superlative in French
We have to remember that the comparison can be made on an adjective, an adverb, a noun, or a verb. The training is as follows:
Superiority: plus … than – more …. than
Inferiority: moins … that – less … than
Equality: aussi… that – so / so …. like
Examples:
The plane is faster than the train. The plane is faster than the train.
Arthur parle l’allemand more easily than Maurice . Arthur speaks German more easily than Maurice.
Paul is moins grand than Jacques . Paul is shorter than Jacques.
You drive more prudemly than Charlotte . You drive less cautiously than Charlotte.
Kim is also gentile than Diana . Kim is as kind as Diana.
Paul also spoke faster than Jacques . Paul speaks as quickly as Jacques.
As for the superlative, we can distinguish between the relative superlative and the absolute. First, let’s talk about the relative
To form the superlative of an adjective we will use: LE / LA / LES + PLUS / MOINS + adjectif. Example: Ma voiture est la most rapide de toutes . My car is the fastest of all.
To form the superlative of an adverb we will use: LE PLUS / LE MOINS + adverb. We do not use LA or LES items. Example: C’est Paul que je vois le plus souvent . It’s Paul I see most often.
The absolute superlative is used when we want to express the highest degree of a quality. It is formed with an adverb that expresses a very high intensity ( très, fort, bien, extrêmement , etc.) and an adjective. Examples:
Mon velo is extremely fast . My bike is extremely fast.
Il est très intelligent . He is very intelligent.