grammar
Le comparatif: How to compare in French.
Whether you are deciding which restaurant is better or explaining that a city has more tourists than another, you need comparatives. In French, the structure changes slightly depending on whether you are comparing an adjective/adverb or a noun quantity.
Comparing Adjectives and Adverbs
To compare qualities (adjectives) or how things are done (adverbs), you use a simple formula wrapping around the word, followed by que (than/as).
- Plus ... que (More ... than)
- Moins ... que (Less ... than)
- Aussi ... que (As ... as)
« Le train est plus rapide que la voiture. » (The train is faster than the car.)
« Ce film est moins intéressant que le livre. » (This movie is less interesting than the book.)
« Il parle aussi lentement que moi. » (He speaks as slowly as me.)
Just like in English we don't say "more good" or "more well", French has strict exceptions for "bon" (good) and "bien" (well).
Ne dites pas : plus bon ➔ Mais : meilleur
Ne dites pas : plus bien ➔ Mais : mieux
Comparing Nouns (Quantities)
When you are comparing the amount of things (nouns like monuments, hotels, or friends), you must add de (or d' before a vowel). Additionally, the word for "as much / as many" changes from aussi to autant.
- Plus de ... que (More of ... than)
- Moins de ... que (Less of ... than)
- Autant de ... que (As much/many of ... than)
« Paris a plus de monuments que Lyon. » (Paris has more monuments than Lyon.)
« Ce village a moins d'hôtels que la grande ville. » (This village has fewer hotels than the big city.)
« J'ai autant de travail que toi. » (I have as much work as you.)