Introduction

Section Objectives
0. Key Concepts for this Lesson a Differentiate between
the comparatif and
This lesson is all about comparing things in French. superlatif in terms of
The comparatif and superlatif are two French grammar meaning.
structures used to make comparisons. b Understand the
grammatical concepts of
superiorité, infériorité,
Comparatif and superlatif and égalité.

We use the comparatif (just like the comparative in

English) to compare between two things or people.
Ex. Ahmad is taller than Karim.
This textbook is less useful than the old one.

We use the superlatif (superlative) to show how one person or

thing is different to all others of its kind.
Ex. Ahmad is the tallest person in the family.
This textbook is the least useful one I ever used.

Superiorité, infériorité, and égalité

+ =
-
Read these comparative / superlative sentences in English:
 There are more people here than in my country.
Here, the word “more” was used to show something is
higher in degree than something else. This is known as
superiorité in French grammar.

In English, superiorité expressed with “more,” the suffix

“-er,” and words like “best”. In French, it has a different
set of rules that we will explore throughout this lesson.

Comparatif and Superlatif Lesson

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 Regret is the worst feeling.
This sentence uses a superlative, comparing regret to all
other feelings. Here, since a person or thing is less in
degree than something else (or the least), it expresses
infériorité .

 Alex is as smart as his sister is.

Did you know?
This sentence expresses that two things or Égalité literally translates
people are equal or similar. In French, to “equality”. It is used in
expressing two equal things or people is France’s slogan, Liberté,
égalité, fraternité (liberty,
called égalité . equality, fraternity).

Comparatif and Superlatif Lesson

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I. Comparatif with Adjectives Section Objectives
a Form the comparatif
Adjectives with adjectives.

b Master adjective
An adjective (un adjectif ) is a word that modifies or agreement.

describes a noun or pronoun.

Ex. This is a beautiful house. The tall boy nodded. Review The comparatif
Adjectives can be used in comparisons. is used to say how two
people or things are
Ex. This house is more beautiful than our old one. different (or similar!)

The city is as crowded as the countryside.

This section focuses on using the comparatif with adjectives to
compare two things or people, just like the two sentences
above.

Key structures
There are 3 French phrases that you need to know in order to
create comparatif sentences with adjectives:
English vs French
+ plus + adj. + que = more + adj. + than
In English, we sometimes
- moins + adj. + que = less + adj. + than use the ending “-er” instead
of the word “more”. For
example, you can say
= aussi + adj. + que = as + adj. + as “funnier” instead of “more
funny”. However, in French,
you can only use plus
Look at these sentences that use the above structures:
(“more”) to express
superiorité ; there’s no
 Maria, tu es plus intelligente que Alex. ending like -er!
Maria, you are more intelligent than Alex.
 Les chats sont moins beaux que les chiens.
Cats are less beautiful than dogs. REMEMBER !
 Je suis aussi stressé qu’elle. Lesson
Que becomes qu’ in front
I am as stressed as her. of a vowel or a silent h.

Comparatif and Superlatif Lesson

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Like you saw in the previous examples, the comparatif, when
used with an adjective, is usually formed in this order:

1st item in plus 2nd item in

comparaison
+ être + moins + adj. + que + comparaison
aussi

Adjective agreement 📖 Tip:

In French, adjectives must agree in gender and in number When you’re stuck and
can’t remember this
with the word they describe. In the comparatif, adjectives order, it helps to translate
must agree with the 1st item being compared. from English, where the
structure of comparative
 As a general rule, add –e to a masculin singular sentences is often similar.
adjective to make it féminin ; add –s to make it plural.
Ex. Un grand magasin, deux grands magasins. Verbe Être
Je suis
Une grande maison, deux grandes maisons. Tu es
Il, Elle, est
 Most adjectives already ending in –e are the same for On
masculin and féminin nouns. Nous sommes
Vous êtes
Ex. Un garçon calme, une fille calme. Ils, sont
Elles
 Adjectives ending in –x change to –se for féminin nouns,
but remain –x for masculin plural.
Ex. Un film ennuyeux, une histoire ennuyeuse. Un peu plus !
Des films ennuyeux, des histoires ennuyeuses. Instead of using est
when putting the verb
 Adjectives ending in –s are the same as masculin être, you can use c’est.
plural. In this case, you
shouldn’t make the
Ex. Un homme français, des hommes français. adjective agree!

 Adjectives ending in –f change to –ve for féminin nouns. Ex. Cette maison, c’est
plus beau que la nôtre.
Ex. Il est actif, elle est active. This house is more
beautiful than ours.
 Some adjectives, like beau and vieux, are irregular.

Comparatif and Superlatif Lesson

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 APPLICATION
I. Comparatif with Adjectives
Further examples and practice exercises on the comparatif
with adjectives.

EXERCISE 1 Adjective agreement

What was the rule?

 Generally, add –e to an adjective to make it féminin, and add –s to make it plural.
 Most adjectives already ending in –e are the same for masculin and féminin nouns.
 More

Fill in the blanks.

📖 Tip:
1 L’âne est These adjectives are
important! Note down
Make the 2nd exercise this one: their translation on a
sheet of paper. They will
allow you to progress to
a level where you can
compare between the city
and the countryside and,
later on, between any 2
items or people.

Include the comparatif adjectives rule

Comparatif and Superlatif Lesson

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 EXERCISE 3 Comparing between life in the city & in the
countryside using adjectives
The adjectives from Exercise 1 can
help you to compare between life in
the city (la vie en ville) and life in
the countryside (la vie à la
campagne).
Read the following sentences:
 La vie en ville est moins tranquille
que la vie à la campagne.
Life in the city is less peaceful than life in the countryside.
 L’air à la campagne est plus pur que l’air en ville.
The air in the countryside is purer than the air in the city.
 La campagne, c’est aussi propre que la ville. Un peu plus !
The countryside is as clean as the city. Différent(e)(s) de
means “different
 La vie à la campagne est différente de la vie en ville. from”.
Life in the countryside is different from life in the
city.
Complete the sentences below:
1 La vie à la campagne est moins …

2 La ville est plus …

3 La campagne, c’est plus …

4 Les rues de la ville sont aussi …

Comparatif and Superlatif Lesson

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 EXERCISE 4 Comparing between any two things using
an adjective

Lesson Design
Section 0. Key Concepts for this Lesson
Section 1. Comparatif with Adjectives
Un peu plus: different de
Section 2. Comparatif with Nouns
Un peu plus: comparatif with verbs
Section 3. Superlatif
Lesson Summary and Formative Assessment

Comparatif and Superlatif Lesson

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